May 13, 2008

“Mushrooms, Ecology, and Santa Claus” will be the topic when Dr. Jim Farrar of the Fresno State Plant Science Department speaks at the Dec. 3 meeting of Central Valley Cafe Scientifique.

Just in time for the Christmas season, he will discuss the role of the mushroom in forest ecology, art, shamanistic rituals and its potential connection to Santa Claus.

The meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at DiCicco’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria, 408 Clovis Ave. in downtown Clovis. The main presentation will begin at 7, followed by discussion.

Central Valley Cafe Scientifique meets the first Monday of each month to provide a forum for Fresno State and other scientists to engage in casual discussion of scientific topics with community members. The next gathering will be Jan. 7.

Partners in organizing Central Valley Cafe Scientifique are the College of Science and Mathematics at California State University, Fresno and Clovis Technopolis.