faculty
explore advaya’s teachers

Explore advaya's faculty of teachers, scientists, practitioners, philosophers and storytellers, 
who share multidimensional, local and diverse 
narratives from across the world.

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Bayo Akomolafe picture

Bayo Akomolafe

5 courses
Sophie Strand picture

Sophie Strand

3 courses
Satish Kumar picture

Satish Kumar

1 courses
Vandana Shiva picture

Vandana Shiva

6 courses
Veronica Strang picture

Veronica Strang

1 courses
Manda Scott picture

Manda Scott

2 courses
Beloved Sara Zaltash picture

Beloved Sara Zaltash

1 courses
David Abram picture

David Abram

2 courses
Dr Andreas Weber picture

Dr Andreas Weber

5 courses
David Whyte picture

David Whyte

1 courses
Helena Norberg-Hodge picture

Helena Norberg-Hodge

2 courses
Dr. Predrag Slijepcevic picture

Dr. Predrag Slijepcevic

1 courses
Charles Eisenstein picture

Charles Eisenstein

3 courses
Aisha Paris Smith picture

Aisha Paris Smith

2 courses
Brontë Velez picture

Brontë Velez

3 courses

Dr Patricia Kaishian

Dr. Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian is the Curator of Mycology at the New York State Museum, and a professor of biology with Bard Prison Initiative. Her research focuses on fungal taxonomy, diversity and evolution, as well as queer theory and philosophy of science.

Patricia received her B.A in Biology with a concentration in Environmental Studies in 2013 from Wheaton College, MA. In 2020, she received her Ph.D. in Forest Pathology and Mycology from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Her doctoral work was focused on the taxonomy, biodiversity, and ecology of Laboulbeniales (Ascomycota) fungi. Patricia is broadly trained in the taxonomy of macro and micro fungi, with considerable field experience in numerous biodiversity hotspots around the world.

Following her Ph.D Patricia worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Aime Lab at Purdue University where Patricia served as curator of fungi at the Arthur Fungarium and Kriebel Herbarium. There Patricia focused on taxonomy and barcoding of Rust fungi, a group of plant pathogens. Results from this project are in progress.

Beyond more traditional scientific work, Patricia also works in the realms of philosophy of science, feminist bioscience, ecofeminism and queer theory, exploring how mycology and other scientific disciplines are situated in and informed by our sociopolitical landscape. Patricia's publication, The science underground: mycology as a queer discipline, appears in journal Catalyst: Feminism, Theory and Technoscience.

She is a founding member of the International Congress of Armenian Mycologists, a research organisation comprised of ethnically Armenian mycologists who seek to simultaneously advance mycological science and Armenian sovereignty and liberation.

Currently, Patricia is Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology at Bard College. her research will continue to focus on new species discovery and exploration of the use of certain fungi as potential indicators of ecosystem health. Course topics include: Fungal Ecology, Natural History, Evolution and Phylogenetics, Fungal Diversity and Climate Change, and Queer Ecology. Patricia also serve as faculty for the Bard Prison Initiative.

Patricia's forthcoming books are: Forest Euphoria, will be published by Spiegel and Grau.

What's at the end of species lines? Picture

article

What's at the end of species lines?

In this conversation with advaya, Dr. Patricia Kaishian discusses biodiversity and colonialism; extinction and regrowth; evolution and pleasure; and wild ways of knowing. She shares from her lived experience as a member of the Armenian diaspora, and from her wisdom gained from being a trained scientist.

Wild ways of being Picture

article

Wild ways of being

This is the transcript of the third episode of REBIRTH, a limited podcast series produced by advaya, in partnership with Stella McCartney Beauty.

Queer ecology and collective liberation: the science underground Picture

article

Queer ecology and collective liberation: the science underground

Ahead of advaya's upcoming online course: Queer Ecology: the science underground, with Dr. Patricia Kaishian, we speak with host and curator Patty, about how the study of mycology, ecology and queer theory can bring us towards a more expansive way of looking at the world. In this conversation, we discuss: how fungi can be our teachers in interbeing, redefining 'normal', and noticing the margins; dissolving the distinctions between humans and nature; what we have sacrificed in constructing the world as we have; and traditional ecological knowledge. How can looking at how we relate and how we think about the world lead us toward liberation?

The Science Underground: In conversation with Dr. Patricia Kaishian & So Sinopoulos-Lloyd Picture

article

The Science Underground: In conversation with Dr. Patricia Kaishian & So Sinopoulos-Lloyd

Dr Patricia Kaishian and So Sinopoulos-Lloyd discuss their backgrounds in environmental education, wildlife tracking and theology with a focus on meaning and the more than human, blending social and natural sciences.

Queer ecology and collective liberation: the science underground Picture

film

Queer ecology and collective liberation: the science underground

Ahead of advaya's upcoming online course: Queer Ecology: the science underground, with Dr. Patricia Kaishian, we speak with host and curator Patty, about how the study of mycology, ecology and queer theory can bring us towards a more expansive way of looking at the world. In this conversation, we discuss: how fungi can be our teachers in interbeing, redefining 'normal', and noticing the margins; dissolving the distinctions between humans and nature; what we have sacrificed in constructing the world as we have; and traditional ecological knowledge. How can looking at how we relate and how we think about the world lead us toward liberation?

The Science Underground: Webinar with Dr. Patricia Kaishian & So Sinopoulos-Lloyd Picture

film

The Science Underground: Webinar with Dr. Patricia Kaishian & So Sinopoulos-Lloyd

Dive into the fascinating world of Queer Ecology with mycologist Dr. Patricia Kaishian and wildlife tracker So Sinopoulos-Lloyd in this thought-provoking discussion hosted by Priya Subberwal. Uncover what Queer Ecology truly means and discover how it challenges heteronormativity in science and ecological thinking. How can queer ecology challenge traditional scientific narratives and inspire new ways of relating to and understanding the more-than-human world?

What's at the end of species lines? Picture

film

What's at the end of species lines?

In this conversation with advaya, Dr. Patricia Kaishian discusses biodiversity and colonialism; extinction and regrowth; evolution and pleasure; and wild ways of knowing. She shares from her lived experience as a member of the Armenian diaspora, and from her wisdom gained from being a trained scientist.