Last year on August 10, 2023 we welcomed the renowned ethnobotanist and anthropologist Dr. Glenn Shepard to do a talk in Sala 3 about his extensive research with the Matsigenka people of Manu and the science of ethnobotany from his 40 years of experience throughout the Peruvian Amazon. Dr. Shepard shared his direct experiences, research and personal insights on the science of ethnobotany, the power of plants amongst Indigenous peoples like the Matsigenka and other stories that have shaped his experience in the Amazon. This video highlights some key moments from the talk.

Dr. Shepard is also known for his Emmy award winning documentary "Spirits of the Rainforest" set in the remote Amazon rainforest of Manu National Park, Peru. He speaks a dozen languages, including the native languages of the Matsigenka, Yaminahua, and Piro of Peru. He has published over 100 research papers on topics ranging from shamanism, botany, and Indigenous rights. Dr. Shepard's research and field photography have been featured in National Geographic, The New Yorker, Financial Times among others. He is a staff researcher at the Goeldi Museum in Belém, Brazil and a research associate at the American Museum of Natural History (NY). He is currently a consultant for Rainforest Flow; an NGO that delivers clean water and sanitation to Indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon.

Learn more about Dr. Shepard and his work at ethnoground_photography or visit his blog at: ethnoground.blogspot.com.‍

We would like to dedicate this work to Dr. Shepard's longtime friend and mentor Mateo Italiano. May his soul rest in peace.

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