CV

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daniel Winkler, M.Sc.   
Kirkland, WA - USA


 
Daniel Winkler Tibet

Expertise:
Sustainable ecosystem & natural resource management
Community development & participatory planning
Wild edible mushrooms & mushroom markets
Sustainable collection of wild mushrooms and other NTFP and NLFP (non-livestock grassland products)
Medicinal & aromatic plant cultivation
Project management
Community forestry & forest-ecology
Geobotany & vegetation studies
Regional focus on environment, conservation and development related issues of the Tibetan Plateau, China, and the Himalayas
In-depth familiarity with Tibetan, Chinese, Indian and adjacent cultures.
Eco-Tourism & Tour-Guiding in Tibetan areas & Andean Amazon
Education:

1989-1992: Diplom Geographer with honors (master of science equivalent) in physical geography, minors in ecology, biology and development strategies at "Freie Universität Berlin", Germany.
1986-89: BS in physical and social geography (Institute of Geography), soil science and phyto-sociology (Institute of Forestry) as well as botany (Institute of Biology) from Ludwig Maximillians Universität, Munich, Germany.

Work Experience:

2012 - 1993:
Independent research, published in scientific journals and conference proceedings [publication list], on SW Chinese, Tibetan and Himalayan land use practices, economic and medicinal plants & fungi, forest ecology, ecosystems, conservation, development, and forestry related issues. I started out with geobotany and soils, got intrigued with causes and the extent of deforestation, moving on to possible solutions including sustainable management and utilization of local resources, especially medicinal plants and mushrooms and their conservation.
2012 - 2004: “Fungal activities”: Mushroom identifier and instructor for Puget Sound Mycological Society, Freelance writer & presenter of educational mushroom lectures, mushroom guide.

2012-2006: Annually organized and guided a Fungal tours in the Tibetan areas of China and conducted filed work on the Cordyceps trade in this context.

2012-2010: Blog specialized on Cordyceps at www.Ophiocordyceps.com

2011

May/July: Fieldwork on sustainability of Cordyceps harvest in Qinghai Province, China and design of a sustainable harvest project for WWF-China.

2010 / 2009
needs update
 
2008
July/August: Leader for Betchart Expeditions “Eclipse Silk Road” tour organized for members of the American Astronomical Society to Shanxi, Xinjiang (PR China), Hunza (Pakistan).
May/June: Organizer and leader of mushroom tourism & study tour on Cordyceps sinensis & morels to Deqing TAP, Yunnan
2007
July/August: Organizer and leader of "MushRoaming's" Fungal and Floral Foray to Eastern Tibet from NW Yunnan via Litang to Chengdu, Sichuan.  
2006
August: Chief researcher for field study on the life cycle of Thitarodes ghost moths, the host of Cordyceps sinensis, Tibet AR for Aloha Medicinals Inc., Santa Cruz, CA.
July: Leader for Betchart Expeditions “The Tibetan Plateau” tour organized for members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science & Sigma Phi through Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai and Tibet AR.
June: Scientific adviser and coordinator for Cordyceps sinensis study tour in alpine areas of Lhasa and Nyingchi, Tibet AR for Aloha Medicinals Inc., Santa Cruz, CA.
2005
July: Leader for Betchart Expeditions “The Tibetan Plateau” tour organized for members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science & Sigma Phi through Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai and Tibet AR.
June: Research cooperation with China Tibet Research Institute, Beijing. Four week CTRI financed field work in Lhasa, Nyingchi, Chamdo and Nagchu researching fungi markets with special interest in Cordyceps sinensisand Tricholoma matsutake.
2004
March/April: Scientific adviser and participant in  `Extremes', a Keo Film Production Special for BBC and National Geograpic TV on extreme living conditions in Tibet.
April: Consultant for Winrock International. Collected data on site and provided input for Winrock's successful application to USAID grant Supporting Sustainable Development, Environmental Conservation and Cultural Preservation in Tibetan Areas of China'.
2003
Nov./Dec.: Assessment of commercial feasibility of developing locally controlled sustainable harvesting schemes of MAPs and NTFPs in eastern Arunachal Pradesh. Consulting on natural resource based rural income generation for Inner Asian Conservation, NGO, USA, in Lohit District, Eastern Arunachal Pradesh.
2002
March/April/May: Community Forestry, NTFP, MAPs and Development Mission to West Sichuan, The Bridge Fund. Project development and supervision mission to Litang and Nyarong / Xinlong Counties (reforestation, community forestry and development, nursery development, culinary mushrooms, conservation) and Barkam/ Ma'erkang County (medicinal plant cultivation, revegetation, fruit trees), West Sichuan for The Bridge Fund (TBF), environmental NGO based in San Francisco. Coordinated project implementation with local communities, administrations.
2001
Nov./Dec.: Community Forestry, NTFP, MAPs and Development Mission to West Sichuan, Qinghai, and Yunnan, The Bridge Fund. Project development and supervision mission to Litang and Nyarong Counties (reforestation, community forestry, nursery development, NTFP, conservation) and Barkam (medicinal plant cultivation, revegetation, fruit trees), West Sichuan.
July/August: Community Forestry, NTFP, MAPs and Development Mission to West Sichuan, Qinghai, and Yunnan, The Bridge Fund. Project development and supervision mission to Litang, Sertar, Derge and Nyarong (Xinlong) Counties (reforestation, nursery development, NTFP, conservation) and Barkam (revegetation, fruit & medicinal trees, MAP cultivation), West Sichuan as well as Nangchen and Yushu Counties, Yushu Tibetan Aut. Prefecture, Qinghai Province (revegetation, MAPs, nursery development) and Gyalthang (Zhongdian), Deqen TAP, Yunnan Province for The Bridge Fund.
2001
March/April: Community Forestry, NTFP, MAPs and Development Mission to West Sichuan and Qinghai, The Bridge Fund. Project development and supervision mission to Litang, Sertar, Derge, Nyarong/Xinlong and Sershul/Shiqu Counties (reforestation, nursery development, NTFP, conservation) and Barkam (revegetation, fruit trees, MAPs), West Sichuan as well as Nangchen County, Yushu Tibetan Aut. Prefecture, Qinghai Province for The Bridge Fund (TBF), NGO, San Francisco.
2000
September/October: Community Forestry, NTFP, MAPs and Development Mission to West Sichuan and Qinghai, The Bridge Fund. Project supervision mission to Litang (reforestation, nursery development, NTFP & conservation) and Barkam (revegetation, fruit trees, MAPs) County, West Sichuan for The Bridge Fund. Also preliminary study in Rebkong County, Huangnan Tibetan Aut. Prefecture, Qinghai for orchard project development.
May/June: Community Forestry, NTFP, MAPs and Development Mission to West Sichuan, The Bridge Fund. Project supervision mission to Litang, Sertar and Barkam County, West Sichuan for The Bridge Fund (TBF), NGO, San Francisco. Joined World Bank/EU mission in Songpan County, Aba Prefecture (W-Sichuan) for integrated forest conservation and poverty alleviation project preparation.
1999
June/July/OctoberCommunity Forestry Development Mission to West Sichuan, The Bridge Fund. Conducted 2 follow-up visits to Litang County, Ganzi Prefecture, W-Sichuan for TBF. Evaluated proposed reforestation, nursery development and non-timber forest product/ MAPs income generation project. Assessing phase 1 project implementation. Formulated mission report including outlining phase 2 activities recommendations. Initiated a fruit tree project aimed at poverty alleviation in Barkam County, Aba TAP. Feasibility study on a nursery and forest conservation project in Sertar County, Ganzi TAP.
1999
June: Prefeasibility study for reforestation and nursery development project in Barkam County, Aba Prefecture, W-Sichuan. Barkam's head conifer nursery was inspected, pine, cypress & Japanese larch afforestation sites visited. Issues concerning increase of local participation, species selection & local ecology were addressed in meetings with County, poverty alleviation and forestry officials.
February/March: Conducted study tour to Litang County, Ganzi Pref., W-Sichuan. Formulated mission report including activities recommendations. Inspected previous reforestation efforts and state of nursery development. Collected data and non-timber forest products.
1998: Follow up mission to Riwoqe and Qamdo for evaluation of official support of ASIA's project proposal. The new administration in the Prefecture made it impossible to continue project development in Riwoqe.
     Proposal development. Formulated and submitted proposals for environmental projects in Riwoqe, Qamdo Prefecture, Tibet AR for ASIA, NGO, Rome - Italy. The project focused on local capacity building, nursery development, reforestation, integration of local people into forest management as well as conservation area establishment and deer farm development.
     Workshop on Tibet's Biodiversity: Conservation and Management Participated in Tibet Autonomous Region Forest Bureau / WWF China Programme's workshop on Tibet's Biodiversity: Conservation and Management' in Lhasa August 30th - September 4th. Presented on threats to forest ecosystems in Tibet AR. Met with Tibet AR forest bureau officials to discuss reforestation and sustainable forestry issues regarding project feasibility in Qamdo Prefecture.
1997: Conducted feasibility tour for ASIA (NGO, Rome) for environmental projects in Riwoqe County (Lèiwuqí Xian), Qamdo (Changdu), Tibet AR. ASIA was requested by the County to support development of the forestry sector, which so far focused on logging and had lacked forest regeneration and establishment of Chamoling (Pinyin: Changmaoling) Red Deer Nature Preserve. Special interest was expressed for assistance in the development of the deer farm. Submitted mission report, developed project proposals and researched funding resources.
     Participated in Future Generation's (NGO, USA) biodiversity inspection tour to Arunachal Pradesh, NE India, February/March 1997. Three potential sites for conservation and integrated rural development were visited assessing environmental conditions. Meetings held with state and local officials discussing implementation.
1995-1996: Coordinated ASIA's (NGO, Rome) proposed sustainable forestry and wildlife protection projects in Riwoqe. Raised funds for a feasibility study mission from Trace Foundation.
Translation from English into German of the entire traditional Tibetan materia medica of "Tibetan Medical Paintings - Blue Beryl - Sangye Gyatso (Tib.-Engl.: Y.Parfionovitch, G.Dorje, F.Mayer, London 1992), 2 vol., 340p..
1992-1994Development and resource manager for 140 ha conference center. Responsibilities included scientific consulting (vegetation survey, hydrology), landscaping (erosion fighting, planting), budgeting and team coordination as team leader in L'Herault, France.
1991: Vegetation and soil science research in Jiuzhaigou (Zitsa Degu) Nature Reserve (West-Sichuan). Collection and identification of plants, forest stand measurements, mapping, and ecological analyses of vegetation distribution. Soil tests including sample analyses. Fieldwork conducted in cooperation with Chengdu Institute of Mountain Disaster and Environment (CAS) under the scientific guidance of Prof. Georg Miehe, Marburg. Further travels in Qinghai and TAR.
1989: Internship at Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Nepal (3 month). Participated in activities relating to conservation education, resource management (nursery, agro-forestry), participation and eco-tourism.
Languages:
Fluent in English, German, and passable French; Latin (8 years).
Working knowledge of Chinese, Italian and Spanish. Very limited Tibetan.
 
Selected Peer Reviews:
      Economic Botany, Mountain Research & Development, Herbalgram, Silva Fennica
Publications & Selected Reports:
2008: The Mushrooming Economic Fungi Market in Tibet AR Exemplified by Cordyceps sinensis and Tricholoma matsutake. In: Proc. 11th Seminar of International Association for Tibetan Studies, Bonn 2006. Editors Kenneth Bauer, Geoff Childs, Andrew Fischer & Daniel Winkler. Journal of the International Association for Tibetan Studies.
2008: Yartsa Gunbu (Cordyceps sinensis) and the Fungal Commodification of the Rural Economy in   Tibet AR. In:Economic Botany 62.3 - Special on mushrooms - editor David Arora. p.291-305.
2008: Present and Historic Relevance of Yartsa Gunbu (Cordyceps sinensis). An Ancient Myco-Medicinal in Tibet. In:Fungi 1.4:6/7.
2008: Das Pilzwunder. Süddeutsche Zeitung Wissen 9/2008, p.34-35
2008: Die beliebtesten Speisepilze im Pazifischen Nordamerika. Der Tintling - Die Pilzzeitung 55:11-22.
2007: The Return of the Cuckoo or Morels in Tibet. In: Mushroom - The Journal of Wild Mushrooming 97:5-8.
2007: Der Tibetische Raupenpilz: Yartsa Gunbu. In: Der Tintling - Die Pilzzeitung 2007, Heft 52:39-43
2006: Infested by the Caterpillar Fungus (Cordyceps sinensis): A Tibetan once in a lifetime experience. In: Mushroom - The Journal of Wild Mushrooming 89 vol. 24.2:7-12.
2005: Yartsa Gunbu - Cordyceps sinensis. Economy, Ecology & Ethno-mycology of a Fungus Endemic to the Tibetan Plateau. In: A.Boesi & F. Cardi (eds.). Wildlife and plants in traditional and modern Tibet: Conceptions, Exploitation and Conservation. In: Memorie della Società Italiana di Scienze Naturali e del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, Vol. 33.1:69-85.
2005: Economy, Ecology & Ethno-mycology of Yartsa Gunbu, a Medicinal Fungus Endemic to the Tibetan Plateau. In: International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms 7.3:481-482.
2004: Forest Use and Implications of the 1998 Logging Ban in the Tibetan Prefectures of Sichuan: Case Study on Forestry, Reforestation And NTFP in Litang County, Ganzi TAP, China. In: The Ecological Basis And Sustainable Management Of Forest Resources (eds Z. Jiang, M. Centritto, S. Liu & S. Zhang). Informatore Botanico Italiano 35, Supplemento 1:116-125.
2003: Rural Income Generation for Anjaw District, Lohit, Arunachal Pradesh, India, unpubl. Mission Report for Inner Asian Conservation.
2002: Participation in Forestry in Tibetan Southwest China. A Strategy to Resolve Resource Use Conflicts. In:Mountain Research and Development 22.4: 397-399.
2001: Major Threats to Tibetan Forest Ecosystems and Strategies for Forest Biodiversity Conservation. In: Tibet's Biodiversity: Conservation and Development - Proceedings of WWF China Programme / TAR Forestry Bureau International Workshop, Lhasa, September 1998, Beijing, China Forestry Publishing House, 62-67.
2000: Xizang senlin shengtai xitong he baohu senlin duoyanghua de celü. In: Xizang Shengwu Duyangxing Baohu Yu Guanli, Zhongguo Linye Zhubanshe, Beijing, 53-58.
2000: Patterns of Forest Distribution and the Impact of Fire and Pastoralism in the Forest Region of the Tibetan Plateau. In: G.Miehe & Zhang Yili (Eds.) Environmental Change in High Asia, Marburger Geogr. Schriften 135, 201-227.
2000: Contributed to Mountain People, Forests, and Trees: Strategies for Balancing Local Management and Outside Interests. Synthesis of an Electronic Conference of the Mountain Forum, April 12 - May 14, 1999.
1999: Spring Mission Report to Litang County- Reforestation and Forest Conservation Project in Litang County, Ganzi TAP, Sichuan Province, PR China, unpubl. 36p..
1999: Forestry, Floods, and Hydroelectricity - China's National Natural Forest Protection Project and its Impact on Tibetan Areas. In: Sinosphere Volume 3, Issue 2, published at <www.chinaenvironment.net/sino/sino5&gt;.
1999: Mission Report - Reforestation and Forest Conservation Project in Litang County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, PR China, unpubl. 58p..
1998: Deforestation in Eastern Tibet: Human Impact - Past and Present: In: G.E. Clarke (ed.) Development, Society and Environment in Tibet, Papers Presented at the Panel of the 7th Seminar Intern. Assoc. for Tibetan Studies (IATS) Graz 1995. Proc.7th Seminar IATS, vol.5, Vienna, 79-96.
1998: The Forests of the Eastern Part of the Tibetan Plateau. A Case Study from Jiuzhaigou (Zitsa Degu; NNW-Sichuan). In: Plant Research and Development 47/48, Focus: Forest Management and Sustainability, 184-210.
1998: Die waldfreien Sonnhänge Osttibets am Beispiel Jiuzhaigous (Zitsa Degu) und der Einfluß von Feuer und Weidewirtschaft. In: Petermanns Geographische Mitteilungen 1998.3/4, 165-174.
1998: Project Proposal for Sustainable Forestry and Forest Conservation in Riwoqe County, Qamdo Prefecture, Tibetan Autonomous Region, PR China. (unpubl.)
1997: Waldvegetation in der Ostabdachung des Tibetischen Hochlands und die historische und gegenwärtige Entwaldung - Das Beispiel Jiuzhaigous (Zitsa Degu; NNW-Sichuan). In: Erdkunde 51 , p.143-163.
1997: Mission Report on ASIA'S Feasibility Study Tour for Environmental Projects in Riwoche County, Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet AR, June/July 1997 (unpubl.)
1997: On the Road to Environmental Projects in Riwoche County, Chamdo Prefecture. In: The Mirror 30, Arcidosso - Italy, Conway, Ma.
1996: Forests, Forest Economy and Deforestation in the Tibetan Prefectures of West-Sichuan. In: Commonwealth Forestry Review 75.4, p.295-301.
1995: The Forests of East-Tibet - An Enchanted and Endangered Treasure. In: The Mirror 30, Arcidosso- Italy, Conway, Ma., 3p..
1995: Die Waldzerstörung in Osttibet. In: Tibet Forum, Bonn, Heft 2, p.27-30.
1994: Die Waldvegetation in der Ostabdachung des Tibetischen Hochlandes - Dreidimensionale Vegetationszonierung mit Bodenuntersuchungen am Beispiel des Jiuzhai-Tals in NNW-Sichuan [The forest vegetation in the eastern Tibetan Plateau - Spatial vegetation zonation with soil tests in the Jiuzhai-Valley].Berliner Geogr. Abhandlungen - Beiheft 2, Berlin, 128 p. (English & Chinese abstract)
1992: Die Waldvegetation in der Ostabdachung des Tibetischen Hochlandes. Diplomarbeit (master thesis),Geographisches Institut der Freien Universität Berlin.
Selected Conferences & Presentations
2008: Invited to present at Institute of Geography, University of Colorado, Boulder on fungal research in Tibet.
2008: Invited to present at Institute of Asian ResearchContemporary Tibetan Studies Program,  Vancouver, University of British Columbia, Canada.
2008: Invited to present at Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, Missoula,  University of Montana on Environmental Issues in Western China.
2007: Presented at the 4th International Medicinal Mushroom Conference, Ljubljana - Slovenia,  “Yartsa Gunbu - Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc:- Present and Historic Relevance in Tibet”.
2007: Invited to present at Puget Sound Mycological Society, Center for Urban Horticulture, University of Washington, Seattle, “The Mushrooming Fungi Markets in Tibet AR”.
2006: Invited to present at China Tibet Research Institute, Beijing. Paper presented: The Mushrooming Fungi Markets in Tibet AR.
2006: Co-organized and co-chaired panel “Tibet in Transition: Challenges to Development and Environment in the Shadow of the Leaping Dragon” for 11th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies, Bonn, Germany.  Paper presented: Herders to Hunters - The Mushrooming Fungi Markets in Tibet.
2005: Presented at the 3rd International Medicinal Mushroom Conference, Port Townsend - USA: “Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc:- Economy, Ecology & Ethno-mycology of Yartsa Gunbu, a Medicinal Fungus Endemic to the Tibetan Plateau”.
2006: Invited to present at University of Washington, Seattle, on "Vegetation, Vegetation Patterns and History in the Min Shan Mountains with an emphasis on Jiuzhaigou” for Landuse and Ecology of West Sichuan class.
2005: Invited to present at Sichuan University, Chengdu Conference on Economic Development for Rural Tibetan Communities in the Context of “Develop the West” (Xibu Dakaifa). Paper presented: Local Income Generation through Fungi Collection.
2004: Invited to present at Vancouver Mycological Society, Van Dusen Botanical Gardens, Vancouver BC, “Economic Mushrooms in Tibet”.
2004: Invited to present Breitenbush Hot Spring's Mushroom Conference: Caterpillar Fungus (Cordyceps sinensis) in Eastern Tibet
2003: Attended 10. Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies, Oxford, England, Paper presented: Mushrooms Collection and Herb Cultivation - Income Opportunities for Rural Communities in Kham.
2002: Invited to present Breitenbush Hot Spring's Mushroom Gathering, Oregon: Mushhroom Markets, Monasteries and Mineral Hot Springs in Eastern Tibet
2002: Invited to present at Vancouver Mycological Society, Van Dusen Botanical Gardens, Vancouver BC, “Mushroom Markets in Eastern Tibet.
2001: Invited to participate and present at 2nd Symposium on Sustainable Development in Contemporary Tibet, Brandeis University, Waltham, Ma. Title of Paper: Sustainable Development in the Tibetan Areas after the Logging Ban Central Planning and Local Realities
2001: Invited to present at Puget Sound Mycological Society, Center for Urban Horticulture, University of Washington, Seattle, “Mushroom Markets in Eastern Tibet.
2000: Invited to present at University of Washington, Seattle, for “Social Anthropology Colloquium. Title: `The Clearcuts Are Our Best Grazing Grounds' - Local Forest Use, Deforestation and Reforestation in Litang County, Ganzi Tibetan Prefecture, Sichuan.
2000: Invited to present at University of Washington, Seattle, for “Tibetan Culture and Civilization” class: Title: Recent Developments in the Tibetan Areas of China
2000: Attended 9. Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies, Leiden, Holland, June 24 -30. Paper presented: Sustainable Development in the Tibetan Areas of West Sichuan after the Logging Ban.
2000: Invited to lecture at the University of Washington, Seattle: Tibetan Culture and Civilization - Recent Developments in the Tibetan Areas of China.
1999: Attended “International Conference on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable DevelopmentMen and Nature”, October 1999, Kunming. Paper presented: The Logging Ban - Challenge and Opportunity for Sustainable Development in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures of Sichuan.
1999: Attended the 1. NGO Forum on US-China Environmental Cooperation & International Symposium on 21. Century China and the Challenge of Sustainable Development, in Washington D.C., September 2-5. Paper presented: The Logging Ban: Challenge and Opportunity for Sustainable Development in Tibetan Areas.
1999: Participated Mountain People, Forests, and Trees:Strategies for Balancing Local Management and Outside Interests. Paper presented: Electronic Conference of the Mountain Forum, April 12 - May 14, 1999. Tibetan Plateau Forest Ecosystems: Geo-ecology, Major Threats and Recent Developments.
1998: Invited to present on forest biodiversity and conservation in Tibet for WWF China Programme's “An International Workshop on Tibet's Biodiversity: Conservation and Management', Lhasa August 30 - September 4, 1998”. Paper presented: Major Threats to Tibetan Forest Ecosystems and Strategies for Forest Biodiversity Conservation.
1998: Attended 1. International Conference on Tibetan Medicine, Washington DC, Nov. 6- 9.
1997: Attended International Symposium on Environmental Change in High Asia, University of Marburg & UNESCO in Marburg, FRG. Paper presented: Forest-free south slopes of Zitsa Degu (Jiuzhaigou) and the impact of fire and pastoralism (May 30). Paper submitted for publication.
1996: Invited to present at Nature and Culture in Tibet: Social Consequences of Ecological Degradation.Kornhaug Norwegian Peace Center, Norway, Title: The Forests of Eastern Tibet.
1996: Invited to present at Bavarian Botanical Society, Munich. Title: The Flora of Eastern Tibet
1995: Invited to present at Universitäts Club Bonn, German-Tibetan Cultural Society, Title of talk: The Forests of Eastern Tibet - A Case Study from Jiuzhaigou (May 20).
1995: Attended 7th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies in Seggau, Austria. Paper presented: Deforestation in Eastern Tibet: Human Impact - Past and Present (June 21). Paper submitted for publication.

Professional Memberships:
IATS - International Association for Tibetan Studies since 1995.
PSMS - Puget Sound Mycological Society since 1996, 2004-2005: Member of Board of Directors
NAMA - North American Mycological Society since 2007.

Other:
2006 - 2004: Taught classes on mushroom identification for PSMS, Seattle.

Personal:

Born August 28, 1964 in Munich, Germany - German nationality by birth
US-Resident since 1996, US citizen since 2012
 
  

Last edited on Sat, October 6, 2012, 8:53 am