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Welcome to the Fall 2009 Mentored Plant Inquiries Session!

In this issue:

• Special welcomes and what to expect
• New ways for teachers and mentors to connect
• What to do if you cannot participate
• Celebrating the 2009 Summer Institute and teacher achievements
• Participating classes across the country
• How to get technical or other help

Greetings all!

We are thrilled to bring students, teachers, and scientists from across the country together again to help students understand what it is to work and think like a scientist, by sharing their inquiry experiences with online scientist mentors. The Fall 09 online session will run Oct.-Nov.

This session we are trying a new way of connecting teachers and mentors to share information that will help all in supporting the student teams. We are offering an online discussion forum for the mentors working with a particular teacher/school. Give it a try, and let us know if it's helpful!

Welcome new and returning teachers - Please take this opportunity to share details about your students and class that might help your teams' mentors pose questions and feedback appropriate for the students' preparation and abilities. Links to information on your registered students and teams are on your personalized Teacher Page. You'll also find your profile. We invite you to add a photo.

Welcome returning mentors - If you have been with the program before, you are receiving this newsletter because we think you are interested in mentoring this fall. If you are not available, please reply now before we match you with a team. You'll find much familiar on your personalized scientist page again this session. However, we've made it even easier for you to update your own profile and availability online.

Welcome new mentors - We look forward to supporting your first experience as an online scientist mentor. Typically mentors are matched to 2 teams. Unfortunately we usually cannot tell you exactly when to expect your teams. When your teams come online, you'll receive an email and see links to the team on your Scientist page.

If you need help remembering your login, or navigating the web site, please email psteam@plantingscience.org or call Jennifer toll free at 1-888-778-3265.

Connecting in Discussion Forums

Each teacher will have a dedicated Discussion Topic in the Teacher and Mentor Forum. Links to the Forums are on your personalized Teacher or Scientist page. The Forums are accessible only to logged in teachers and mentors in the program.

Celebrations and Kudos

The 2009 Summer Institute held at Texas A&M University with the support of project co-PI Carol Stuessy and her graduate student was great learning fun. We focused on pollination with scientist leader Dr. Beverly Brown and genetics, with one strand working on Brassica with Dr. Paul Williams and Amber Roberston, and one strand working on Arabidopsis with Dr. Larry . Griffing. It is very exciting that majority of teachers attending the summer session are participating this fall.

Congratulations to PlantingScience teacher Betty Indriolo, who received an ASM grant to purchase lab materials for her Physical Science classes and was named Akron Area Catholic Elementary Educator of the Year by the Akron Notre Dame Alumni Club. Well deserved!

Thanks to all for continuing to support science literacy!

Middle schools investigating seeds
Saint Michael School (IL) - Nancy Ramig - Now Online!
St. Rose of Lima (NJ) - Christina Wage
Nautilus MS (FL) - Everrett Evansky
Oakridge MS (FL) - Georgia Stamp
Kutztown MS (PA) - Jennifer Reis*
Sisters MS (OR) - Carol Packard
Opelika MS (AL) - Ruth Meadows
David Hinson MS (FL) - Kathi Weaver
Stuart Public MS (NE) - Kayla Fischer

High schools investigating seeds
Long Branch HS (OH) - Evlyn Cruz, T. Monroe - Now Online!
Moss HS (OK) - Cappi Coleman
Northwest HS R1 (MO) - Dick Willis
Commack HS (NY) - Dr. James McCaughran
Cromwell Wright (MN) - Lori Wester
Springfield Central HS (MA) - Naomi Volain
Gateway Early College HS (GA) - Teresa Johnson
Amundsen HS (IL) - Todd Johnson
Matanzas HS (FL) - Wendy Vidor

High schools investigating photosynthesis
Woodstock HS (GA) - Jennifer Forsyth
North Zulch (TX) - Angela Turner*

Middle & High schools field-testing pollen & pollination
St. Sebastian (OH) - Betty Indriolo*
Pershing County High (NV) - Valdine McLean

High schools field-testing genetics with Arabidopsis
Louisiana Sch. Math, Science & the Arts (LA) - Allison Landry*
Wyandotte High (KS) - Michael Hotz*
C.H. Yoe High science club (TX) - Toni Lafferty*

High schools field-testing genetics with Brassica
Appleton West HS (WI) - Kathy Vanderloop* - Now Online!
Wichita North HS (KS) - Bill Welch*
Wyandotte High (KS) - Michael Hotz*
St. Andrews (TX) - Dina Tucker*, Jeff Osborn
Lake Orion HS (MI) - Jenn Carlson Coury*
C. Milton Wright HS (MD) - Joann Chartrand*

*teachers attending the 2009 Summer Institute

Jennifer Potratz   Project Coordinator.   8-5 Central. 314-577-9535
Rob Brandt   IT and Web Manager.  8:30-5:30 Pacific. 806-879-1590
Claire Hemingway  Project Manager. 8:30-5:30 Pacific. 562-308-0075

Email logistic or technical questions to the team: psteam@plantingscience.org.

Call Jennifer toll free at 1-888-778-3265

Mailing address:
PlantingScience Program
Botanical Society of America
4475 Castleman Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110