The Botanical Society has a wonderful opportunity to bring up to 12
undergraduate students to the BOTANY conference this summer (July
9-13) at no cost to the students or their university.
The PLANTS program (Preparing Leaders and Nurturing Tomorrow's
Scientists: Increasing the diversity of plant scientists) will fund
up to 12 undergraduates from throughout the US to attend the meeting,
receive mentoring from graduate students, postdocs and faculty, and
participate in networking events including the Diversity Luncheon and
career-oriented activities. The program covers the costs of travel,
registration, and food and accommodation at the meetings. The
application deadline is June 1, but admissions will be reviewed as
they are received. Applications are welcome from all undergraduates;
the admissions goal is to create a diverse pool of students.
The theme of the meeting this year is "Healing the Planet". This is a
wonderful opportunity for undergraduate students to experience the
ins and outs of a scientific conference. The meetings include
symposia on medicinal plants, economic botany, and conservation of
the world's tropical forests (including forest management by
indigenous people), as well as sessions on a wide diversity of topics
including plant systematics, plant genomics, pollination biology,
population and community ecology, and incorporating microbes into
plant community ecology. There are also workshops for students on
professional development (e.g., how to apply to graduate school and
beyond, how to prepare manuscripts for publication, botanical
photography, etc), and for teachers (e.g., creative ways to use
botanical resources in teaching). A highlight is field trips to
natural areas and an economic botany tour.
For more information on the grant and how students can apply, please
see:
<http://www.botany.org/awards_grants/detail/PLANTS.php>http://www.botany.org/awards_grants/detail/PLANTS.php
In addition, we are soliciting names of graduate students, postdocs
and faculty members who would like to serve as mentors during the
meetings. Mentors take pairs of students and attend talks with them,
introduce them to colleagues, network and generally make the meetings
a welcoming place for them. Although costs are not covered for
mentors, it is an unusually rewarding experience. BSA will provide
complimentary 2012 memberships to all mentors who participate in the
program. Contact Ann Sakai (<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected])
or Ann Hirsch (<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]) if you are
interested in serving as a mentor.
Please pass along this opportunity to students and colleagues. We
hope to see you and your students in St. Louis!
All the very best,
Bill Dahl, Executive Director
Botanical Society of America
4475 Castleman Ave | St. Louis, Missouri, 63110-3201 | 314-577-9566 |
Fx 314-577-9515
