Jordan TeisherDirector, Herbarium Jordan Teisher still vividly remembers visiting the Missouri Botanical Garden when he was exploring graduate school opportunities in plant research. He started his visit in the Lehmann Building, which holds part of the Garden’s herbarium, and then took a walk around Garden grounds. He was in awe. “You have this combination of…
Tag: spotlight on science
Spotlight on Science: Tariq Stevart
Tariq StevartAssociate Scientist, Africa and Madagascar Program When Tariq Stevart was around 10 years old, his grandfather took him on a trip to Switzerland, where they climbed mountains and discovered alpine flora, in particular orchids. It sparked a lifelong interest for Stevart, who grew up in Belgium and always admired the beautiful orchids of Europe….
Spotlight on Science: Armand Randrianasolo
Dr. Armand RandrianasoloCurator at the William L. Brown Center Many botanists’ careers are the realization of a lifelong goal, born in a childhood exploring the natural world and followed by a series of carefully-planned steps to attain that goal. Armand Randrianasolo did spend much of his time outdoors during his childhood in Vatomandry, Madagascar, but…
Spotlight on Science: Adam Smith
Adam Smith, Assistant Scientist, Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development Studying climate change can be bleak, but there have been a couple times Garden Scientist Adam Smith has been truly shocked with the results of his studies. Smith, Assistant Scientist in the Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development (CCSD) at the Missouri Botanical Garden, uses…
Spotlight on Science: Training the Next Generation
As the Principal Investigator of the Garden’s Conservation Genetics Lab, Christy Edwards already has plenty on her plate. But equally important to Edwards is her work with graduate students. To her, it’s essential because despite the efforts of plant scientists, we still know relatively little about many plant species, and many are still undiscovered. At…
Spotlight on Science: Matthew Albrecht
Dr. Matthew Albrecht, Associate Scientist Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development Growing up in St. Louis, the Missouri Botanical Garden was, of course, a destination for Matthew Albrecht on family outings. He always thought it was a great institution in his hometown, but it wasn’t until later that he grasped the impressive scope of its…
Spotlight on Science: Olga Martha Montiel
Olga Martha MontielVice President, Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development Olga Martha Montiel is not a scientist by training. In fact, Montiel, who co-authored the Flora de Nicaragua and heads the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development(CCSD), actually holds a master’s degree in photography. She intended to pursue a career in documentary…
Spotlight on Science: Ashley Glenn
Ashley Glenn, Research Specialist, William L. Brown Center For many people, holidays bring warm memories of a delicious meal shared with family or friends. Maybe it’s a Christmas feast or traditional Hanukkah foods. For Garden Scientist Ashley Glenn, the holidays mean Christmas cookies baked with heirloom recipes and time spent making and jarring gallons of…
Spotlight on Science: Dr. Aaron Floden
Dr. Aaron Floden Assistant Scientist, Flora of Missouri When Aaron Floden first started collecting plants, he purposefully chose a geographic area with low collection numbers. In fact, the 498 square mile area only had about 300 documented species. By the time Floden finished, that number surpassed 1,500 species, including seven species not previously known to…
Spotlight on Science: Dr. Robbie Hart
Dr. Robbie Hart Assistant Curator, High Elevation Ethnobotany and GLORIA Robbie Hart has always been a mountain man. No, he doesn’t sport a long beard and flannel apparel, but since Hart was a kid, he’s loved spending his days immersed in the unique ecosystems of the mountains. He grew up above Port Angeles, Washington, in…
Spotlight on Science: Dr. Pete Lowry
Dr. Pete Lowry Senior Curator and Director of the Africa & Madagascar Program When Pete Lowry thinks about the beginnings of the Missouri Botanical Garden’s work in Madagascar, he is still taken aback by what the program has become. Lowry was among the first Garden scientists who traveled to Madagascar decades ago to collect plants…
Spotlight on Science: Dr. Alan Graham
A monthly look at the people behind plant science at the Missouri Botanical Garden Dr. Alan Graham Curator of Paleobotany & Palynology, Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development Consultant When most people saw Jurassic Park in theaters 25 years ago, they walked away amazed by the towering T-rex or the cunning velociraptors brought to life…