Science on Tap w/ Dr. Gabriela Shirkey

Date: Monday, September 14, 2025, 6:00 PM

Lecture is 6:00 to 7:00, but arrive early to get a seat.

Possible dinner afterwards, TBD

Venue: Chapman Crafted Beer
123 N. Cypress Street Old Towne Orange, CA 92866

Free and open to the public. No ticket required.

Drinks available for purchase. There may or may not be a food truck on the premises. You can bring in food. Optional dinner / drinks around the Orange Circle nearby after the presentation. TBD.

Join us for the first Science on Tap of fall 2026!

Dr. Gabriela Shirkey - Too Much of a Good Thing?
A Tropical Forest's Future Under Elevated Atmospheric CO2
https://events.chapman.edu/schmid/index.php?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D1427063017

Atmospheric CO₂ continues rise at an accelerating rate, but tropical forests response to the now chronically elevated CO₂ remains unknown. Dr. Shirkey recently participated in field work in Costa Rica, where she researched volcanic CO₂ fumaroles that provided a natural experiment for investigating tropical forest responses to elevated CO₂.

The team combined cutting-edge UAV LiDAR technology with measurements of stem efflux and leaf gas exchange to examine how forest structure, carbon storage, and plant physiology are shifting in response to elevated CO₂. Join us for an inside look at the science of how elevated CO₂ is impacting our ecosystems.

Dr. Gabriela Shirkey is a geographer, landscape ecologist, and academic mentor at Chapman University. She serves as a Postdoctoral Fellow within the university's prestigious Grand Challenges Initiative (GCI), a joint program spanning the Schmid College of Science and Technology and the Fowler School of Engineering. [1, 2]
Her work focuses heavily on human-nature relationships, climate change mitigation, and utilizing advanced spatial technology to track environmental changes. [1]

SCIENCE ON TAP is a series of casual moderated discussions featuring experts who explore the intersection of science and culture. Science on Tap is for any and every science enthusiast in the community. All ages are welcome. Beer is available for purchase for those 21+. Remember: Great questions get you a free beer!

Can't make it to this one?

Mark your calendars: Our first Science on Tap of the new year is currently slated for Monday, February 9.