From the Editor Every year this is one of my favorite issues of Plant Science Bulletin because we get to recognize the accomplishments of some of our most worthy members. The Merit Awardees have been elected to the most select group of professional botanists in North America. Begun at the Fiftieth Anniversary meeting, 55 years ago, the Merit Award recognizes individuals for their outstanding contributions to the mission of the Botanical Society. These are people whose names we recognize from their publications, presentations, and service to the society. They are leaders at their own institutions, in the Botanical Society and in other scientific organizations. What I find more interesting, though, are the younger members being recognized for their potential. These are graduate students beginning to make their mark in botanical research and being invested with the opportunity to help direct the evolution of the Society. They are also undergraduates being recognized by their mentors for their initiative, enthusiasm and drive to make discoveries and share their love of plants with others. There is excitement here that can drive the Society forward through its second century. Particularly striking are two trends apparent in our Young Botanist awardees. The first was originally identified by Victor Gruelach in the first issue of Plant Science Bulletin. He noticed that while large research universities produced 29% of undergraduate botanists, liberal arts colleges were next at 23%. Some things haven’t changed much in the past 60 years! It’s also evident that individual mentors have a major impact on students. Again, there is nothing new here—Past-President Neil Stevens noted this in 1944 (Agronomy Journal 36: 324-336). Nevertheless, the lesson for us is that we can all make a difference —lets do!
-Marsh
PLANT SCIENCE BULLETIN Editorial Committee Volume 59 Elizabeth Schussler (2013) Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 37996-1610 eschussl@utk.edu
Christopher Martine (2014) Department of Biology Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA 17837
chris.martine@bucknell.edu
Carolyn M. Wetzel (2015) Department of Biological Sciences & Biochemistry Program Smith College Northampton, MA 01063 Tel. 413/585-3687
Lindsey K. Tuominen (2016) Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources The University of Georgia Athens, GA 30605 lktuomin@uga.edu
Daniel K. Gladish (2017) Department of Botany & The Conservatory Miami University Hamilton, OH 45011 gladisdk@muohio.edu Summer 2013 Volume 59 Number 2