The Great Silence of Lichens
The Great Silence of Lichens: Biology, Ecology, and Listening
Tuesday, March 24, 2026 @ 7 PM via Zoom
Presenter: Dennis Waters
Registration required: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/V1nKySGmSfC9yqR7rnyO8A
What do lichens—those quiet crusts on rocks and trees—have to do with intelligence, communication, and loss? Lichens are not single organisms but living partnerships between fungi and photosynthetic partners, thriving in some of the harshest environments on Earth and recording ecological change over centuries. Their slow growth, long lives, and sensitivity to disturbance make them powerful indicators of what we notice—and what we overlook—in the natural world.
In this online talk, biologist and author Dennis Waters explores the remarkable biology and ecology of lichens through the lens of Ted Chiang’s acclaimed short story The Great Silence. No background in biology or literary theory is required—just curiosity about the living world and the stories we tell about it.
About Our Presenter: Dennis Waters is a scientist, historian, author, and retired internet entrepreneur. He is a visiting scientist at Rutgers University, where he studies the lichens of central Ne
w Jersey. Dennis previously served as Township Historian in Lawrence Township and coordinates the History Along the LHT program for the Lawrence Hopewell Trail. He also serves on the Mercer County Library Commission and chairs the endowment committee of the Philadelphia Botanical Club. His book Behavior and Culture in One Dimension: Sequences, Affordances, and the Evolution of Complexity was published by Routledge in 2021.
This event is part of our 2026 Beyond the Page – an initiative designed to broaden our imaginations and understanding of our world, our neighbors, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. The featured book Exhalation contains nine stunningly original, provocative, and poignant stories, where author Ted Chiang tackles some of humanity’s oldest questions, along with new quandaries only he could imagine. Please visit PenningtonLibrary.org/2026BeyondThePage for a full calendar of events and more information.