Spring is on its way and it is time for an update on BSA student news!

We are busy making preparations for Botany 2007 and I am once again asking for your feedback. Dr. Sherwin Carlquist has graciously agreed to host a free lunch session on career planning at Botany again this year. He is hoping, however, to make this year’s conversation a panel discussion. We will have the opportunity to submit topics of discussion or specific questions before the lunch, but the discussion will be very free flowing. The first question, however, is: whom would you like to hear from? Some possibilities for the panel might be a new professor; someone from a Botanical Garden; a curator of an herbarium; a professor at a smaller institution or, alternatively, a larger institution; a representative from the USDA (or similar organization) or some of the major corporations targeting botanical graduates. You don’t have to mention anyone specifically, just the type of person, persons or organizations you would like to see on the panel. The second question is: topics, what would most interest you as part of the discussion?

As you begin to think about this, please send me any suggestions you have for potential panel members and the actual content of the discussion. Anything that occurs to you will be helpful. - mackenzie@utk.edu

I will be attending the BSA executive council meeting as your representative on March 23rd. If you have any feedback or issues that you would like me to discuss, let me know by that date. On a similar note, keep an eye out for an upcoming online survey. This will be brief and very easy for everyone to fill out and should help pinpoint which resources students are using the most and what additional things might be done.

Also remember that the applications for Student Travel Awards are posted at www.botany.org (closing soon) and that abstract submission for Botany 2007 will close on April 4th.

Cheers,

Mackenzie Taylor
Student Representative - Botanical Society of America Executive Council
mackenzie@utk.edu

All Student Rep e-Messages can be found at www.botany.org/news/emails.php