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Science & Nature

#BlackBotanistsWeek Honors Field Museum Scientist Who Died from COVID-19

Patty Wetli | July 8, 2020 4:32 pm

Chicagoan Lynika Strozier was honored by her peers during #BlackBotanistsWeek. (Field Museum / Corrie Moreau)Chicagoan Lynika Strozier was honored by her peers during #BlackBotanistsWeek. (Field Museum / Corrie Moreau)

Following on the heels of the celebratory and empowering #BlackBirdersWeek and #BlackHikerWeek social media campaigns, a group of Black plant scientists from around the world created #BlackBotanistsWeek, running through Saturday on platforms including Twitter and Instagram.

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The event is designed to “promote, encourage, create a safe space for, and find more Black people (and BIPOC) who love plants,” organizers said. “This plant love manifests in many ways, ranging from tropical field ecologist to plant geneticist, from horticulturalist to botanical illustrator.”

Bucknell University post-doctoral researcher Tanisha Williams, a member of the week’s organizing team, kicked off #BlackBotanistsWeek by first paying tribute to a “falling angel,” Chicagoan Lynika Strozier, a 35-year-old researcher at the Field Museum and professor at Malcolm X College, who died June 7 from COVID-19.

Strozier’s work at the Field involved extracting DNA from eyelash-sized plants, according to the museum.

“Lynika radiated passion for science, research, teaching, and mentorship. She was incredibly hardworking, compassionate, dedicated, and inspiring,” the Field said in announcing Strozier’s death, which was covered by the New York Times and Chicago Tribune.

A GoFundMe campaign, set up to help Strozier’s grandmother cover medical and funeral expenses, has far exceeded its goal, raising nearly $85,000. Funds beyond those required for expenses will be used to establish a scholarship for young Black women at STEM institutions in Chicago.

The idea behind #BlackBotanistsWeek is to both inspire the next generation of Stroziers and create connections among those too often operating in silos or isolation. 

As Williams told the Pennsylvania newspaper The Daily Item: “I want this to bring people joy and give them a community so they don’t feel alone.”

Participants have been posting stories and photos linked to the week’s daily themes, including sharing how they first fell in love with plants and describing their research fields.

There’s still plenty of time for people to add their own experiences or amplify the voices of participants. Black Botanists Week continues through Saturday.

Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 |  [email protected]

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Tags: 
Field Museum
Social Media
Coronavirus
Lynika Strozier
Animals & Nature

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