Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 2d

🍂 Fall (or spring in the south!) is the perfect time to join the Botanical Society of America. Join now and get 3 extra months of membership free—through Dec 2026!

Enjoy journal access, $125K+ in awards, Botany 2026 discounts, & more.

Join today: crm.botany.org
Benefits: botany.org/home/members...

Promotional flyer with a red and orange fall theme. Across the top in large white text: “Join BSA Today.” A banner below reads: “Join TODAY and get 3 FREE MONTHS of membership!” A bold heading asks, “WHY JOIN?” followed by bullet points:
Discounts to publish research in, and access to, society journals
Access to over $125,000 in awards and grants
Discounted Botany 2026 registration
Leadership opportunities
At the bottom, a group photo of ten smiling BSA members stands against the fall background, with scattered leaves and a QR code in the lower right corner.

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 6d

Applying to Grad School: Q&A Panel

Thinking about grad school in botany or the plant sciences? Join us for a free virtual #Botany360 Q&A next Thur, Oct. 9 at 4:30 p.m. ET. Panelists from diverse institutions will answer your questions about the application process.

us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Flyer titled “Applying to Grad School: Q&A Panel.” Background of pale pink and white flowers with a mauve overlay. Text reads:
“Are you interested in applying to a graduate program in botany or the plant sciences? Join us for an informational 1-hour panel on October 9th at 4:30 p.m. U.S. Eastern (virtual). Panelists will represent a diversity of institution types and backgrounds and will be available to answer attendee questions. Register using the QR code below!”
Box at bottom: “Sponsored by the BSA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.”
Logos of the Botanical Society of America and Botany360 appear at the bottom left, with a QR code at the bottom right.

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 5d

Drawing your attention to an effort to convince NSF to re-open this year's GRFP competition to second year PhD students. Please consider signing or sharing the petition asking NSF to broaden the application eligibility to what it has been previously. laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/

Petition to NSF to Restore Eligibility for the 2026 Graduate Research Fellowship Program Competition

laurenkuehne.github.io

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 6d

🌵Deadline alert! #Botany2026 Symposia & Colloquia Proposals are due October 16. Help shape the scientific program for our Tucson meeting, themed Biodiversity at the Boundaries!

Submit your proposal and get details here: mailchi.mp/botany.org/b...

or here: www.botanyconference.org

#iamabotanist

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Heather Cacanindin @hcacanindin.bsky.social · 6d

Are you making your plans yet? Botany 2019 in Tucson was one of the highest rated Botany meetings ever- and we are returning in 2026. Proposals for Symposia, Colloquia and Workshops due on October 16. Get talking and get writing! #Botany2026 www.botanyconference.org

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 26d

We’re excited to announce the Call for Symposia, Colloquia, & Workshop Proposals for #Botany2026, Aug. 1–5, 2026 in Tucson, AZ.

Help us explore this year’s theme: Biodiversity at the Boundaries.

There is a hard deadline of October 16 for Symposia and Colloquia proposals.

www.botanyconference.org

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 13d

Meet our August #BSASpotlight, Sarita Munoz-Gomez!

Sarita is a graduate student at Clemson University investigating sex determination in Baccharis species using genomic and developmental approaches.

🌱 Learn more about Sarita on her BSA Spotlight page: botany.org/home/careers...

#IamaBotanist

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 9d

The latest American Journal of #Botany is now online at bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/15372197...!

Check out these issue highlights at botany.org/file.php?fil...!

#botany #plantscience #fossils #phylogenetics #mycorrhizae

When evaluating insect visitation on diploid Centaurea aspera, tetraploid C. seridis, and their triploid hybrids (C. × subdecurrens) on the dunes of El Saler (Valencia, Spain), Halictus scabiosae was identified as one of the most frequent visitors. Females usually played the primary role in pollination. In this image, a male H. scabiosae approaches a female while she visits the flower head of a tetraploid C. seridis. See “Insect visitation patterns in diploid Centaurea aspera and its related allotetraploid and triploid hybrids: Similar rates but distinct assemblages” by Alfonso Garmendia et al. in this issue.

(Photo credit: Alfonso Garmendia.)

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 9d

📢 Happening this Friday! Join us for the #Botany360 Graduate Research Fellowship Writing Panel on Oct 3, 2025 at 1 pm ET.

Hear from reviewers & grad students on writing strong NSF GRFP applications + fellowship tips. Free & open to students!

Register:
us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

#IamaBotanist

Flyer for the Graduate Research Fellowship Writing Panel hosted by the Botanical Society of America’s Early Career Professional Development Committee. Event date: Friday, October 3, 2025, at 1:00 pm ET. The flyer background is green ferns. At the top are large white letters with the event title. Photos of five panelists are displayed in circles: Dr. Sally Chambers (Assistant Professor, Eastern Kentucky University), Dr. T. Michael Anderson (Professor, Wake Forest University), Julianna Harden (PhD Student, Cornell University), Cynthia Webster (PhD Student, University of Connecticut), and Savanna Brown (PhD Student, University of Connecticut). A text box describes the session: a one-hour panel on writing strong research and personal statements for fellowships like the NSF GRFP, with perspectives from reviewers and graduate students, strategies for effective applications, and broadly useful guidance for fellowship or grant proposals. A large QR code with the label “Students register here!” appears on the right. At the bottom are logos for NSF GRFP, the Botanical Society of America, and partner organizations.

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 6d

Environmental versus phylogenetic control of leaf anatomical traits in #Fabaceae, across a continental scale

New #AJB research by Kexiang Huang, Ying Li, Jianming Wang, Wanting Liang, Keyu Zhao, Changsheng Long, Nianting Yu et al.

doi.org/10.1002/ajb2...
#plantscience #legumes #phylogeny

Anatomical cross-section of a leaf with distinct epidermis, palisade, and spongy tissues.

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 15d

BSA’s Graduate Research Fellowship Writing Workshop is back! Whether you’re applying for the NSF GRFP or another graduate-level fellowship, this workshop will help you craft clear, compelling research statements.

Apply by Sept. 26: forms.gle/wfFPhVUELj47...
Workshop date to be announced soon!

Flyer with a stone and moss background advertising the Graduate Research Fellowship Writing Workshop for Plant Researchers. Large header text at the top announces the workshop. Main text explains that the Botanical Society of America’s 2025 workshop is open to students preparing research statements for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) or other graduate-level grants.
Program includes:
A panel discussion in late September (date TBD) on how to write a winning proposal.
Small working groups with students, a grad student mentor, and a senior mentor to share proposals and give feedback.
On the right is a QR code with the text “Students register here!” and a shortened URL. Logos of NSF GRFP, the Botanical Society of America, and Botany360 are at the bottom.

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 15d

📢 The Darbaker Prize in Phycology nomination deadline has been extended to November 1st!

🌿 Learn more about this $2500 award and submit nominations:
botany.org/home/awards/...

#BSA2025Awards #Phycology #AlgaeResearch #IamaBotanist

Flyer with underwater background of green algae promoting the 2025 Darbaker Prize. At the top: “Botanical Society of America & Phycological Society of America.” Large bold text announces: “Darbaker Prize. Nomination deadline extended to November 1, 2025. Increased $2500 award.” Bottom of flyer shows BSA logos, website (www.botany.org), and a QR code for more information.

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 14d

Check out this new #AJB Review by Connor Morozumi et al.!

Aboveground-belowground microbial interactions in plants: A call to recognize the complexity within multispecies microbial communities

doi.org/10.1002/ajb2...

#plantscience #botany #ecology #endophytes #Epichloë #mycorrhizae

Researchers like Amanda Griffin at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign study aboveground-belowground microbial interactions to make plant microbiome research more predictive.

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 20d

🌸 Congratulations to Grace Burgin (Harvard University), winner of the 2025 Margaret Menzel Award, and Keana Tang (University of Kansas), winner of the 2025 Maynard Moseley Award!

Menzel Award – botany.org/home/awards/...

Moseley Award – botany.org/home/awards/...

#BSA2025AwardsBlitz #IamaBotanist

Flyer titled Botanical Society of America – Margaret Menzel Award (Genetics & Genomics Section) and Maynard Moseley Award (Developmental & Structural and Paleobotanical Sections), 2025 Recipients. Blue background with two photos. Top: Grace Burgin (Harvard University), recipient of the Menzel Award. Bottom: Keana Tang (University of Kansas), recipient of the Moseley Award.

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 19d

Honoring the 2025 Physiological & Ecophysiological Section Awards Recipients!

🏅 LI-COR Prize Presentation Award: Daniel Mok
🏅 LI-COR Prize Poster Award: Amelie LeTierce
🏅 Presentation Award: Malinda Barberio
🏅 Poster Award: Osedipo Adegbeyeni

Visit: botany.org/home/awards....

#BSA2025AwardsBlitz

Flyer titled Botanical Society of America – Physiological and Ecophysiological Section Student Presentations Awards, 2025 Recipients. Autumn leaf background. Four awardees are pictured: Daniel Mok (Michigan State University), LI-COR Prize Presentation Award; Amelie Letierce (University of Minnesota Duluth), LI-COR Prize Poster Award; Malinda Barberio (University of Wisconsin-Madison), Presentation Award; and Osedipo Adegbeyeni (University of Utah), Poster Award.

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 19d

We’re proud to announce the 2025 Phytochemical Section Presentation Awardees!

🏅 Best Presentation: Melanie Madrigal
🏅 Honorable Mention: Chase Hearn

🏅 Best Poster: Karen Campos Secenas
🏅 Honorable Mention: Abbigale Baum

Learn more: botany.org/home/awards/...

#BSA2025AwardsBlitz #IamaBotanist

Flyer titled Botanical Society of America – Phytochemical Section Presentation Awards, 2025 Recipients. Bright green leafy background. Four recipients are shown: Melanie Madrigal (Louisiana State University), Best Presentation; Chase Hearn (Purdue University), Best Presentation Honorable Mention; Karen Campos Secenas (University of California-Irvine), Best Poster; and Abbigale Baum (Utah Valley University), Best Poster Honorable Mention.

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 19d

#Nitrogen enrichment reduces parasitism in an annual hemiparasite

New #AJB researc by Jasmine Taite & Paul Nabity

doi.org/10.1002/ajb2...

#plantscience #climatechange #Poaceae #pollution #ecology

Experimental design and haustoria size classes. (A) Experimental design showing species grown alone (C, L or P) or paired (C+L and C+P), and (B) branched stem for Castilleja exserta growing adjacent Nasella lepida.

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 15d

Insect visitation patterns in diploid #Centaurea aspera & its related allotetraploid & triploid hybrids: Similar rates but distinct assemblages

New #AJB research by Alfonso Garmendia, Hugo Merle, Pau Lucio-Puig & María Ferriol

doi.org/10.1002/ajb2...
#botany #plantscience #polyploidy #Asteraceae

A male Halictus scabiosae bee approaches a female of the same species while she visits the flower head of a tetraploid Centaurea seridis.

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 22d

🌹Congratulations to Oluwatobi Oso of Yale University, winner of the 2025 Donald R. Kaplan Dissertation Award in Comparative Morphology.

Honorable mention:
Christopher Joaquín Muñoz (The University of Texas at El Paso).

botany.org/home/awards/...

#BSA2025AwardsBlitz #IamaBotanist

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 22d

🌸 We are delighted to share that Sara Sofia Pedraza Narvaez (University of California, Los Angeles) is the winner of the 2025 Graduate Student Dissertation Award in Phylogenetic Comparative Plant Biology.

Learn more here: botany.org/home/awards/...

#BSA2025AwardsBlitz #IamaBotanist

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 22d

#BSA2025AwardsBlitz #IamaBotanist #BSAGSRAs

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 22d

Meet the 2025 Undergraduate Student Research Award winners!

🌱 Andrew Conlon
🌱 Lena Kadau
🌱 Will Pearce
🌱 Alex Risdal
🌱 Nicole Stark
🌱 Brooke Tillotson

Learn more about these $500 student awards here:
botany.org/home/awards/...

#BSA2025AwardsBlitz #IamaBotanist #BSAUGSRAs

Graphic announcing 2025 Botanical Society of America Undergraduate Student Research Award recipients.
Recipients: Andrew Conlon (Emory University), Lena Kadau (University of South Carolina), Will Pearce (University of Utah), Alex Risdal (Loyola University Chicago), Nicole Stark (University of Alabama in Huntsville), and Brooke C. Tillotson (SUNY Cortland).
Photos of all six students are displayed in a grid beneath the text.

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 23d

🌻 We are proud to recognize Dr. Tanisha M. Williams (University of Georgia) as the 2025 BSA Impact Award Recipient!

This award honors individuals whose efforts have had a broad and lasting impact on the botanical community and beyond.

botany.org/home/awards/...

#BSA2025AwardsBlitz #IamaBotanist

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 23d

🎉 Help us celebrate Natalia Pabón-Mora (Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia), the 2025 BSA Corresponding Member!

This recognition is given to distinguished international scientists who have made major contributions to the plant sciences.

botany.org/home/awards/...

#BSA2025AwardsBlitz #IamaBotanist

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 23d

🌼 Congrats to Naomi Volain (Plants Go Global) & Dr. Jenn Yost (Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo), recipients of the 2025 Charles Edwin Bessey Teaching Award!

This award honors outstanding contributions to botanical education.

botany.org/home/awards/...

#BSA2025AwardsBlitz #IamaBotanist

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Reposted by Heather Cacanindin

Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 22d

🌱🏛️ Congratulations to Kimberly A. Brown (Native Plant Society of Oregon) for receiving the 2025 Botanical Advocacy and Service Grant!

This grant awarded $1,000 to her project, "Creating Accessible and Educational Native Plant Gardens."

botany.org/home/awards/...

#BSA2025AwardsBlitz #IamaBotanist

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