Suzanne Simard and Carl Zimmer: When the Forest Breathes

Renowned science writer and trailblazing ecologist Suzanne Simard — author of Finding the Mother Tree and a scientist who pioneered our understanding of sophisticated communication between trees — and award-winning science writer Carl Zimmer join us for a conversation about Simard’s new book, When the Forest Breathes: Renewal and Resilience in the Natural World. Raised in a family of loggers committed to sensible forest stewardship, Suzanne Simard has watched as logging has left forests at higher risk for wildfires, water crises — even extinction. But her research has the potential to chart a new course. In When the Forest Breathes, she reorients our understanding of what happens in a forest ecosystem: a symphony of finely honed cycles of regeneration, from mushrooms breaking down logs to dying elder trees passing their genetic knowledge to younger ones. Her book — a vital and deeply personal ode not only to forests, but the interconnected nature of life on earth — is a triumph of science writing. Join Simard and Zimmer for an unforgettable, eye-opening evening of conversation about the unseen life of forests and the intricate caretaking practices that have long sustained them — a vital and fascinating exploration of adaptability, resilience, community, and the natural world. Recorded April 8, 2026 at The 92nd Street Y, New York. Your support helps us continue creating online content for our community. Donate now: http://www.92NY.org/Donate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/92ndStreetY Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/92ndStreetY TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@92ndstreety Archives: https://www.92ny.org/archives