Ethnobotany and exploration in Oman with Dr. Darach Lupton

This week, we take a closer look at the plants and agricultural traditions of Oman, situated on the Arabian Peninsula. Our guest is Dr. Darach Lupton—an ethnobotanist who manages the collection and documentation of plants and seeds from across Oman in his role at the Oman Botanic Garden! He gives us a sneak peek behind the scenes of this incredible garden, which uniquely showcases native plants of the region in a variety of specialized habitats and biomes.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

In the mid-1990s, Darach Lupton studied horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland in Dublin; on completing studies there he applied to read Botany at Trinity College Dublin, where he spent 4 wonderful years; not yet satisfied he then embarked on postgraduate research. On completing his PhD, Dr. Lupton then returned to the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland where he spent  3 fun years working on various elements of the Irish flora – red listing;  rare plant genetics; rare plant surveying; documenting crop wild relatives in Ireland; developing ex-situ collections, and the development of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Jordan. In 2010 he answered a job advert for a botanist position at the emerging Oman Botanic Garden; he was offered the job and a few months later  arrived with his wife and children in Muscat, Oman – diving straight into a wildly different culture, landscape, flora and of course climate – a pale Irish man in the hot desert is not a natural fit. 

His career has brought him to many wonderful parts of the world – Africa, Central and South America and the Middle East; he has met countless wonderful people along the way. He is deeply passionate about plant conservation, and the promotion of botanic gardens as centers of conservation and learning.

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ABOUT FOODIE PHARMACOLOGY 

Now in Season 2 with more than seventy episodes! Tune in to explore the food-medicine continuum with Dr. Cassandra Quave as she meets with award-winning authors, chefs, scientists, farmers and experts on the connections between food and health. New episodes release every Monday! Like the show? Please leave us a rating on Apple Podcasts and share your favorite episodes with your friends! 

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PODCAST DESCRIPTION:

Have you ever wondered where your food comes from? Not just where it’s grown today, but where it originally popped up in the world? Have you ever bit into a delicious ripe fruit and wondered, hey – why is it this color? What’s responsible for this amazing flavor? Is this good for my health? Could it even be medicinal? Foodie Pharmacology is a science podcast built for the food curious, the flavor connoisseurs, chefs, science geeks, plant lovers and adventurous taste experimenters out in the world! Join American ethnobotanist Dr. Cassandra Quave on this adventure through history, medicine, cuisine and molecules as she explores the amazing pharmacology of our foods. 

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SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW: 

Subscribe to Foodie Pharmacology on Apple Podcasts for audio and the TeachEthnobotany YouTube Channel to see full video of new episodes. You can also find more than 50 episodes of the show at https://foodiepharmacology.com/ Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @foodiepharma or on Facebook at "Foodie Pharmacology with Cassandra Quave" 

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PODCAST REVIEWS: 

“Professor Cassandra Quave brings quality Science to the public. She covers a wide range of topics in-depth in a seemingly effortless way. Learn from a passionate researcher, and be inspired!” – Ina on Apple Podcasts Reviews

“You are what you eat — and what you listen to. Dr. Quave combines science with food, culture and history in this enjoyable, educational podcast.”--Carol on Facebook Page Reviews 

“We have needed this podcast for a long time. Dr. Quave's willingness to share her knowledge of plant usage and history make these podcasts interesting and helpful. The interviews from around the world are always loaded with information. Waiting on a new episode every week.”--Alan on Apple Podcasts Reviews 

“Great podcast about favorite foods! If you love food, you will love this podcast! Dr. Quave makes the science behind the food approachable and easy to understand. Love it!”--Liz on Apple Podcasts Reviews 

“Dr Quave is amazingly informative. I could listen to her talk all day. And thanks to these podcasts I can! Thank you!”-- Wendy on Facebook Page Reviews 

“Fascinating and entertaining! Dr. Quave is not just one of the foremost experts on the subject, she is also an incredibly gifted teacher and storyteller. I highly recommend Foodie Pharmacology to anyone with any interest in the subject.”-- John on Facebook Page Reviews 

“Dr. Quave is a brilliant scientist and storyteller, which makes this program both entertaining and accessible!”-- Ernest on Facebook Page Reviews 

“Dr. Quave is my go to source for all things Ethnobotany. Her new podcast is a great way to learn about plants and their many uses, ranging from food to medicine and so much more. I can’t wait for the newest episode!”--Paul on Apple Podcasts Reviews