Come explore the wonders of nature with me.

Hi everyone! My name is Kennedy Brinson, but I prefer to go by K. I was born in Raleigh but grew up in a small town, where I spent most of my childhood playing outdoors. This inspired a love and fascination with nature early on in my life that my parents fostered into a growing passion. It wasn’t long before my interests turned into a full-on obsession with everything science and nature! At a very early age, I decided I wanted to be like Steve Irwin and pursue a career in herpetology, only to find myself traveling down many different paths.

Obviously, I am not at the level of the Crocodile Hunter, but I still love engaging in science communication and outreach like he did to inspire others through his passion for the natural world. After many twisting roads and rediscovering myself despite difficulties during the COVID-19 Pandemic, I decided to enter a doctoral program to pursue a career in scientific research. After talking to many different people, I ended up in my current degree program studying ethnobotany to learn more about the role plants play in our daily lives. I was especially interested in the intersection of plants, people, and pollinators. Upon recommendation, I read the amazing book, Tales of a Shaman’s Apprentice, by the renowned ethnobotanist and Amazon conservationist, Dr. Mark Plotkin, and found my calling. I am a proud member of The Ethnobotany Lab. Please visit https://www.ethnobotanylab.org/ to learn more about the amazing work we do together.

To learn more about my journey and come with me on my travels, please consider reading my blog. Subscribe and share with others, and if you can, please consider donating a small gift. All proceeds directly fund my research with the Maya of Belize to support the revitalization of traditional beekeeping practices, the conservation of vital plants, and the protection of sacred ethnoecological knowledge for a better future.