Ohio Botanical Symposium
Friday, March 28, 2025
9:00 AM to 3:15 PM
We are happy to announce that registration is open for the ever-popular Ohio Botanical Symposium will be held on Friday, March 28, 2025, at its traditional location, Villa Milano Banquet & Conference Center in Columbus.
The Ohio Botanical Symposium is one of the largest natural history conferences in Ohio and the nation. Its mission is to bring together a diverse conservation community invested in protecting and celebrating Ohio’s native flora. With this event often selling out, we encourage you to register now. Registration is non-refundable, but you are permitted to transfer your ticket to someone else.
The 18th biennial event is being hosted by the The Nature Conservancy, Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, The Ohio State University Herbarium and Western Reserve Land Conservancy.
The Ohio Botanical Symposium will be recorded and available to watch after the event. It will not be live streamed.
Keynote Address: Matthew Pace Ph.D.
Dr. Pace is the Associate Curator of the Herbarium at The New York Botanical Garden. He received his BS from Cornell University and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. His research focuses on the systematics, evolution, and conservation of orchids. For the past fourteen years, one genus of particular focus has been Spiranthes, the ladies’-tresses orchids, a group of primarily north temperate terrestrial orchids that has a reputation for being difficult. Spiranthes flowers are small, often look similar without the aid of a hand lens, and the species sometimes grow in close proximity. Matthew’s research has clarified the evolutionary history of Spiranthes including the description of seven new species, the re-recognition of two species, and illuminated the importance of hybridization to the speciation of the genus. His talk will provide an overview of recent Spiranthes focused research, with the goal of helping people to know exactly which ladies’-tress they have in front of them.
Special Address – Rebecca Snell, PhD
Dr. Snell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental and Plant Biology at Ohio University. As a forest ecologist, her research centers on understanding how forests respond to climate change, with a particular focus on seed production, dispersal, and recruitment in trees. Dr. Snell leads a long-term seed production study in the Vinton Furnace Experimental Forest and Zaleski State Forest in southeast Ohio, concentrating on the masting behaviors of oak, hickory, and beech.
Other presentations throughout the day will focus on rare plants of the Cleveland Metroparks, Pleistocene megafauna, The Ohio State University’s Herbarium and the always popular Best Plant Finds!
AGENDA
Registration
$50/person (limit 400)
This year, we are offering 30 discounted registrations for students.
$20/student (limit 30)
SPONSORSHIP
We are seeking sponsors for the Ohio Botanical Symposium. Benefits include acknowledgement on the symposium website and program materials, a display table at the event and one or more complimentary registrations (includes lunch and refreshments). Note: Table space is limited and will be allocated as you commit to sponsoring.