Finding Inspiration in the Natural World

Will Dwyer (2023 cohort) imagines a world where future generations can look towards the natural world for joy and inspiration. He joins hosts Willie Thompson, Taylor Goss, and guest host Sydney Hunt to discuss his experience immigrating to the US from France, his love for plants and their otherworldly biochemistry, being captain of an ultimate frisbee league, and expressing himself through writing. (Also, special guest appearance by Taylor’s guitar and original song, flower facts!)

Highlights from the episode:

• (6:23) Will’s experience growing up in France and moving to America as a teenager and running track in high school
• (16:40) How Will became interested in plant biology through reflecting on plants during a summer in New York City
• (21:53) Will’s experiences working at the Carnegie Institute before matriculating as a PhD student at Stanford, and his current research using electron microscopes
• (27:20) Will’s Imagine a World statement about creating ways for future generations to have non-extractive and joyful relationships with nature
• (29:10) The role of storytelling in Will’s experiences with Knight-Hennessy, from a story he told in a weekly storytelling workshop about going to see Hyperion and subsequently published on Knight-Hennessy's website, to leading last quarter’s Community Reads program
• (35:59) Will’s thoughts on the importance of language and writing in science, from his research on the language of scientific taxonomies to his work writing and editing newsletters for the nonprofit The Good Scientists
• (44:52) Will’s hobbies at Stanford, getting to sf to play ultimate frisbee in a queer league, and taking weekend trips into nature
• (48:56) How Knight-Hennessy has shaped Will’s Stanford experience, including his friendship with Imagine a World co-host Sydney Hunt
• (52:28) Will’s improbable facts collecting the periodic table of elements as a kid and affection for the snooze button of his alarm clock
• (57:18) Flower Facts with our friend, Will Dwyer (featuring an original composition by Taylor Goss)
• (59:16) Will’s advice to applicants to Knight-Hennessy, to not be afraid to think out of the box and put your “weird foot forward” in the application