Georgia Lichens Project

Liking Lichens: Exploring Lichen Ecology and the Environment:
An Educator Enhancement Initiative to Train Teachers
and Build a State-wide Bio-Monitoring Project

Lichens are symbiotic organisms comprised of algae and fungi.  They color trees, rocks, boulders, and soil - covering 8% of the Earth's surface - and have many uses, including to monitor environmental quality due to their pollution sensitivity.

The goal of the Georgia Lichens Project is to collect, document and map the lichens of Georgia.  To do this, we have invited educators to participate in a fully-subsidized TEACHER WORKSHOP designed to enhance educators' understanding of LICHEN biology, ecology, natural history, identification, and uses through classroom, laboratory, and field studies; to assist in building a lichen biomonitoring network; and to develop geospatial knowledge and mapping skills. We are now in our 4th year of the annual workshops funded by the Georgia's Teacher Quality Higher Education Program.