Ryan Huish

Background

About Ryan Huish

Ryan Huish is planted at The University of Virginia's College at Wise and has taught classes in Conservation Biology, Plant Biology, Ethnobotany, Plants of Virginia, and other topics. He is also the curator of the UVa-Wise Herbarium. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University studying botany and cultural anthropology, and received his Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Plant Sciences at the City University of New York and The New York Botanical Garden, studying under Dr. Michael Balick. With a background in botany and cultural anthropology, he is fascinated with how historic and modern peoples around the world use plants for food, medicine, art, and metaphor. He is also interested in studying the commodification and conservation of these plants. His research interests incorporate an interdisciplinary approach to address basic and applied questions in ethnobotany, ecology, and plant conservation. Research projects include Appalachian ethnobotany, forest farming, responsible harvesting of goldenseal, Tongan ethnobotany, community-mediated conservation of sandalwood, and the effect of climate change on sugar maple trees and the resulting ecological and socio-economic responses. He currently leads the Southern Appalachian Maple Research Activities (SAMaRA) team of interdisciplinary researchers and community members, whose aim is to conserve sugar maple and assess alternative maple species for sugaring in the region, and to increase awareness of maple ecology, conservation, and socio-economic potential through research and educational activities. He is also initiating the Oak Conservation Alliance to prevent/monitor pathogens (such as Sudden Oak Death) affecting trees in the oak family.