John Acorn
Topic: Some thoughts on science communication
April 2, 2025| 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM| Maple Leaf Room, Lister Conference Centre
John Acorn is a biologist, and he teaches at the University of Alberta. John has
been a lifelong naturalist, and he is best known for his television series Acorn, The
Nature Nut, in which he blended a broad knowledge of animals with a flair for music and
humour. He is also the author of some twenty books on natural history subjects, and
dozens of research articles and papers. From cutting edge science to old-fashioned nature
study, John enjoys and promotes a broad appreciation of the natural world around us.
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Sheri Strydhorst
Title: Expanding opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and networking
April 2, 2025| 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM| Maple Leaf Room, Lister Conference Centre
Sheri has over 20 years of experience in research and the agricultural industry. Her career
has focused on enhancing the profitability of Canadian crop producers. She believes in
research that aligns with grower needs, while upholding scientific rigor.
Sheri completed her BSc, MSc, and PhD at the University of Alberta. After graduate school,
Sheri worked as the Executive Director for the Alberta Pulse Growers and then returned to
research in 2013 where she focused on cereal agronomy with Alberta Agriculture. After
Alberta Ag, she worked for Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions now, Alberta Grains.
In fall 2024, Sheri began leveraging her relationships across academic and industry in her
new role as the Research Program Manager for Crops, at RDAR – Results Driven
Agriculture Research.
On a personal note, Sheri farms with her husband, Shane, in Neerlandia, Alberta where
they are raising a daughter (Sarina) to appreciate the hard work and intricacies of food
production.