Rutgers University Chapter of the Botanical Society of America

The Rutgers University chapter of the Botanical Society of America (BSA) was started during Fall 2010 by SEBS undergraduate Stacy Brody, involving undergraduate and graduate students from several programs, departments, and areas at SEBS. Lena Struwe in Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources and Plant Biology serves as its faculty advisor.

In the fall, the main BSA club event was "Spirit of Tequila." The club hosted guest speakers from Siembra Azul Tequila and the University of Guadalajara and learned about tequila production, encompassing all aspects from agricultural to anthropological.

To unwind around finals time, the club had a movie night featuring 'Little Shop of Horrors.' They also tabled at the October and December Cook Happy Hours, distributing products of Rutgers plant breeding programs and educating students and faculty about some common fruits and vegetables. In February the club screened the movie 'Botany of Desire' and later hosted guest speaker (and Cook alumnus) Dr. Christopher Martine. On March 23, the club hosted Dr. Joan Bennett in honor of women's history month, and they plan to make a 'Women in Botany' lecture an annual event.

Their next big adventure is a trip to The New York Botanical Garden on April 23. For more information or to get involved, contact Stacy Brody.