Broader Impacts: Research and Conservation at the Atlanta Botanic Garden

Abstract

As institutions that hold biodiverse scientific collections and provide attractive venues for public events, botanic gardens play an important role as centers for conservation and scientific engagement for multiple audiences. Three case studies from the Atlanta Botanical Garden provide examples for how our garden is involved in partnerships for conservation and scientific discussion within our community: 1) Conservation staff work with diverse partners to prioritize plant conservation activities and achieve success in restoring damaged habitats and conserving rare plants in urban and protected natural environments. 2) Through internships and research collaborations, teachers and students engage in research and applied conservation that advance conservation science and train the next generation of scientists. 3) Through Endangered Species Day and Science Café, public audiences join in lively discussions of current science topics and celebrations of conservation success stories. Relaxed Science Cafés involve the Garden’s expert staff in a presentation of botanical ingredients in a signature cocktail before launching into a discussion of the evening’s topic that can range from art and science to evolution and climate change. In a rapidly changing world, botanic gardens are a key resource for achieving broader impacts of increasing scientific literacy and understanding.

Biography

Dr. Jenny Cruse Sanders is the Vice President for Science and Conservation at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. She directs conservation programs for rare plants and amphibians, develops research with the Garden’s collections, and promotes opportunities for the public to engage in scientific discussions and discovery. These activities are coordinated with expert staff at the Garden, as well as with scientists at academic institutions across the southeastern US. Her research interests are studies of the direct and indirect impacts of human activities on plant populations. She has always wanted to do conservation work in a museum setting that provides connections to both scientific collections and public outreach opportunities. She holds a B.A. from Boston University, M.S. and Ph.D. from University of Georgia, and was a Keck Postdoctoral Fellow at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont, CA. Before joining the staff at Atlanta Botanical Garden, she was an Assistant Professor of Biology and Director of the Herbarium at Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC.