Dr. Eugene Marakis, research scientist, publishes children's book that explores cultural links among people, plants, animals
Dr. Eugene G. Maurakis, adjunct professor of liberal arts and visiting research scientist in the department of biology, has released a grant-funded children’s book and companion video that exlores cultural links among the Virgin Island’s people, plants and animals.
Maurakis works as a research scientist in the School of Arts & Sciences’ department of biology in addition to his teaching as adjunct professor in the School of Professional & Continuing Studies.
The two-year project—which Maurakis and his team completed to heighten awareness of local plants in the U.S. Virgin Islands along with their current and historical uses—includes a children’s book titled Musical Seeds and Medicine Leaves and supplementary educational DVD.
The book offers elementary and middle school students and tourists an educational journey exploring historical and contemporary links among people, plants and animals. Its cover invites readers to join the adventure: “Unexpected circumstance, curiosity, and exploration lead to discover of the ‘old ways’ that have been forgotten. Join a teenager from New York City as he discovers the natural treasures that the island of St. John has to offer. He then comes to realize how much fun he can have ‘unplugged’ while still learning about his heritage and the environment.”
The suppmentary DVD offers video and still color photographs of plants covered in the text along with their common and scientific names and presentation by an expert botanist.
Maurakis’ team includes Penelope G. Maurakis, who provided cover design, illustrations and photography, and Suzy Short, a freelance writer.
In addition to the children’s book and companion DVD, Maurakis also produced a 27-minute documentary, So Many Plants... So Little Time, as another outlet for heightening people’s awareness about the loss of plant knowledge in the Virgin Islands. The documentary follows a similar pattern to the documentary Lost Crab – Lost Culture that Maurakis produced about the environmental and cultural changes occuring in Crete, Greece.
The research project was funded by the Kantner Family of the Community Foundation, the University of Richmond and the Virginia Academy of Science. In-kind support came from the U.S. National Park Service on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, and from Dr. James Narduzzi, dean of the School of Professional & Continuing Studies, and Diana Vincelli, Director of Grant Support in the office of Foundation, Corporate and Government Relations at the University of Richmond.