Plant Science Bulletin 60(1) 2014 Fellow BSA member Jack Horner echoed those sentiments, saying he started presenting his work in BSA in 1960 as a graduate student and has been a member ever since. “It’s a Society of happy, pleasant people wanting to involve people. BSA allows graduate students to get involved and present their work,” he explained, adding that the dimension of dynamic young scientists mentored by the older scientists gives the Society an exciting yet familial feel. “BSA is like a family,” says his wife Cecilia Horner, who has been coming to the meetings alongside him all these years. “You always know you’ll strike up a relationship that will carry on for years.”
Ann Sakai, who helps to coordinate the program from the volunteer side, says the relationshipbuilding side of the PLANTS program sends fingers of learning in both directions. “Everyone is learning something,” both the students and the mentors. “You never know what might pique your interest in one of these conversations,” said botanist Roger Rosentreter. “You have a conversation at the meeting, but that connection extends far beyond that day.” For young plant scientists like Morgan Gostel and Jon Gibbons, the conference offers connections, networking opportunities, and good science. Gibbons said, “I came not knowing anyone and left with real friends I will have a long time. Now I use my TA position and friends to get the word out, and go into classes. The meetings are interesting— if you’re lost and trying to find your way, go to a variety of sessions and find out what’s interesting. If you know what you want to do, focus on that. You will meet the people you read articles about, the rock stars, the legends in botany!”
Many come to the meeting for the chance to see friends they haven’t seen since the last conference, says professor Steve Weller. Then they add to that delight the excitement of learning the new scientific
Gostel, from George Mason University, came for the first time knowing no one. He described how he was embraced by the members, and went to a crosssection of talks to learn as much as possible about a lot of things. By the next year, he was prepared to take on more networking, interacting, and getting more involved. “We’re breaking the initial misconception that plants aren’t cool,” Gostel said, laughing. Spooner says he “hears all the time that the meeting just has a good feeling about it,” a feeling born of camaraderie, of family, of good people. “There is a lot of activity in the meeting that brings people of different disciplines together, resulting in long-range friendships,” he said. The world of botanical science is a relatively small group, the scientists will tell you. And there are both bigger and smaller meetings to attend than the Botany Conference. “People who don’t attend don’t know how much they’re missing out on,” said Professor Joe Armstrong. “I have some very good friends I wouldn’t have if not for the meetings and the field trips over the years.”
Many attendees participate in Botany-In-Action, the conference’s annual service project —Giving back to the local community and networking! Botany 2013 focused on helping Bayou Rebirth in New Orleans.
“I’ve had the opportunity to sit at tables with some amazing leaders I never would have met if it had not been for leadership positions with the Society,” Spooner said in agreement. “Coming to scientific meetings is a key part of my own education.” 3