CF launches biodiversity trail

The College of Central Florida invites the public to the grand launch of the Biodiversity Trail at the CF Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus, 3800 S. Lecanto Highway, on Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The Biodiversity Trail is a hybrid open-air/digital museum dedicated to the biodiversity and ecology of Citrus County and the Nature Coast of Central Florida. With 32 permanent physical exhibits, each paired with a unique digital exhibit, this STEAM museum incorporates music, photography and visual arts to teach visitors about the science of the community. Exhibits include animal and plant diversity, fire and wetland ecology, and economic impacts of local ecosystems on Citrus County residents.

The grand launch event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with refreshments and exhibit viewing, with the keynote presentation at 6 p.m. Steve Schenk, CF associate professor of biological science and the Biodiversity Trail creator, will present “The Stories I Could Tell,” which will focus on the trail’s origin, the contribution of students, staff and community members, and the importance of storytelling in education and our shared community experience. The multimedia presentation will feature music, videography and photo highlights from the trail.

“I call it BioDiT (pronounced ‘bye-odd-it-ee’) for short,” Schenk said of the Biodiversity Trail project he’s been developing since 2023. “At the heart of BioDiT Citrus is a collection of photography and artwork, mostly submitted by CF students and staff. This means that BioDiT Citrus allows CF students to build up their resumes and develop professionally useful skills while aiding in construction of an educational community resource.”

For more information about the Biodiversity Trail, visit https://library.cf.edu/BioDiT_Citrus.