PSB 62 (3) 2016
PLANTS Grant Continues to Increase the Diversity of Plant Scientists The PLANTS program (Preparing Leaders and Nurturing Tomorrow’s Scientists) is now in its sixth year. The program is funded by the National Science Foundation with support from the BSA. Currently managed by Co-PIs Ann Sakai (UC-Irvine), Anna Monfils (Central Michigan U), and Heather Cacanindin (BSA Membership and Subscriptions Director), the goal of the PLANTS program is to encourage students from under-represented populations to become part of the scientific botanical community—and in particular, to help them understand the opportunities possible with an advanced degree and to learn about careers in the plant sciences.
The program brings between 10 and 14 students each year to the annual Botany conference. PLANTS students attend scientific talks with mentors, a workshop on applying to graduate school, the Human Diversity Luncheon, and numerous social and networking events. With the assistance from Dr. Sakai and Dr. Ann Hirsch (UCLA) as well as all those who served on the PLANTS grant selection committee, 61 students have been funded over the first five years of the PLANTS grant (2011-2015). In 2016, 11 students were selected to attend the Botany 2016 Conference in Savannah, Georgia. At the core of the program are the mentors who serve to guide the students through what to expect at a scientific conference of this magnitude. Each student is assigned a peer and a senior mentor. Mentors contact students before the meeting, attend social activities and scientific talks with the students, help the students network with other students and faculty at the meeting, and in general, introduce stu-
From left to right: Peer mentor James McDaniel (University of Wisconsin), peer mentor Jon Giddens (University of Oklahoma), peer mentor Chelsea Pretz (University of Colorado Boulder), David Thomas (University of Oklahoma), and former PLANTS Grant recipient Maryam Sedaghatpour (George Mason University). 121