Like many holiday traditions, trees grow from strong roots and remind us of simple wonders we often miss amid the daily grind. At USC Dornsife, our scholarly endeavors branch out like trees in many directions, but connect to a sturdy trunk of curiosity. We approach complex issues across the broad canopy of disciplines — from environmental studies to neuroscience to history — while stretching our limbs into the community. May your health and happiness remain evergreen this holiday season and beyond.
Amber D. Miller Dean of USC Dornsife Anna H. Bing Dean’s Chair
N
orwegian painter Edvard Munch was considered one of modernism’s most significant artists. This 1906 painting titled “New Snow in the Avenue” was one of many winter landscapes Munch created from the late 1800s to early 1900s. Download the free Layar app, hold your device over this panel, scan and watch video.
C
P
lants and trees that remain green even in wintertime had a special meaning for people in ancient times. They hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows, as it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illness.
atalina Island, Calif., home to USC Wrigley Marine Science Center, may look like an island paradise now, but those ubiquitous palm trees were not always there. They were planted in the 1930s by movie production companies to add a visually appealing background of healthy, lush vegetation.
F
rontier law in the 1880s allowed people to lay claim to land simply by planting 50 apple trees. John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, traveled the Midwest scattering seeds. While many thought his journey was random, there was actually a firm economic basis for his behavior. He died owning more than 1,200 acres of valuable nurseries.
D
endrochronology, or tree-ring dating, provides a window on the past for scientists. By examining tree rings, researchers can analyze historical climate conditions and even deduce past sunspot activity.
S
ustainable practices are critical for maintaining the health of our environment. Forests, covering nearly a third of the planet, are home to more than 80 percent of the world’s biodiversity and hold nearly half of the world’s carbon, making them one of the globe’s most important resources in helping to offset climate change. California has 21 million acres of forest, including Redwood National and State Parks. Here stands one of the tallest trees in the world, a Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) known as Hyperion. The tree measures more than 379 feet in height and is 700 to 800 years old.
T
he Kalpa Tree, or Kalpavriksha, is known in some mythologies as a tree that could grant wishes. It is revered not as a genie that can fulfill desires but rather as a connection to the divine. Alexander the Great searched for these trees in the hopes of having his ambitions fulfilled.
Branch Out
Use your smartphone or tablet to watch a video about how our community of scholars views trees.
1.
I took a walk
Download the free Layar augmented reality (AR) app on your smartphone or tablet via your mobile app store.
and came out taller
2.
Open the Layar app and hold your device over the painting on the opposite page and click scan. No mobile device? You can view the video at dornsife.usc.edu/trees.
in the woods
than the trees. — Henry David Thoreau,
whose writings on natural history and philosophy inspire those around the world who seek solutions to critical environmental and societal challenges