From the Editor As the Summer 2015 Plant Science Bulletin goes to press, many of us are transitioning from the spring semester into the summer. I find this an especially bittersweet time of year as I wrap up classes and say goodbye to Creighton’s graduating seniors. It is a time to reflect on the past academic year, celebrate achievements, and eat University-catered petit fours. Fortunately, this time of year also means honoring members of the Botanical Society with well-earned awards. In this issue, we are proud to announce the winners of the Kaplan Memorial Lecture and Public Policy Awards. We also present the winners of several student awards, including the Karling and BSA Graduate Student Research, Undergraduate Student Research, Cheadle Travel, and Young Botanist Awards. You can find the winning Triarch images on pages 33-34 and I encourage you to view all the Triarch submissions at http://botany.org/PlantImages/ ConantSTA2015.php. Congratulations to all of these commendable botanists! The Society will be considering many additional awards over the next few months and we will profile more winners in the Fall issue. These will include those named to the Society’s highest honor, Distinguished Fellow of the Botanical Society of America (previously the Merit Award). In addition to these award winners, I am particularly pleased to draw your attention to two articles in this issue that focus on diversity in botany. The article by Michael J. Dockry (page 35) discusses the value of human diversity and inclusion for science and explores strategies for fostering diversity in scientific research. The essay by Jessica M. Budke (page 40) also speaks to strategies for achieving inclusion by enhancing postdoc visibility and facilitating professional success at this critical career stage. Both of these articles should provide ample food for thought. Also in this issue, you’ll find news from the Education, Investment, and Public Policy committees and I encourage you to participate in the survey developed by the Public Policy Committee (link on page 63). This committee needs your responses to help guide their activities and shape the role of our in society in the public policy arena. As July approaches, I am looking forward to heading North for this year’s Botany meeting. I hope that many of you will be able to join me and, as always, the Plant Science Bulletin will bring you the highlights. See you in Edmonton!
PLANT SCIENCE BULLETIN Editorial Committee Volume 61 Carolyn M. Wetzel (2015) Biology Department Division of Health and Natural Sciences Holyoke Community College 303 Homestead Ave Holyoke, MA 01040 cwetzel@hcc.edu
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
Kathryn LeCroy (2018) Biological Sciences, Ecology and Evolution University of Pittsburgh 4249 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 kalecroy@gmail.com
Melanie Link-Perez
(2019) Department of Biology Armstrong State University 11935 Abercorn Street Savannah, GA 31419 melanie.link-perez@armstrong.edu
Summer 2015 Volume 61 Number 2