[MPWG] BOTANY IN ACTION - January 7, 2006 - Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden - Pennsylvania

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

This looks like a neat program that provides students an opportunity for
young folks to impart some of their botanical experiences to others.  Note:
Ginseng is on the agenda.

- - - -

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS: BOTANY IN ACTION
Saturday, January 7, 2006
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden
                                                              
 One Schenley Park (Frank Curto Drive)                        
 Pittsburgh, PA 15213                                         
                                                              

http://www.phipps.conservatory.org/learn/education/specialed/

There is no charge for the morning program; the afternoon program is free
with admission to the Conservatory.  Register by calling Phipps Garden
Center at (412) 441-4442.
                                                              
                                                              
 What is Botany In Action?                                    
 Phipps' Botany In Action program supports graduate students  
 studying botany and ethnobotany (the study of how people use 
 plants) in natural areas around the world. Program           
 participants strive to preserve biodiversity and foster      
 plant conservation so there will be time to tap the unknown  
 power of the plants they find in these little-known areas    
 while the plants can still be found. Students have worked in 
 Brazil, Cameroon, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Florida, 
 Guatemala, India, Madagascar, Mali, Mexico, Panama,          
 Polynesia, West Virginia, and even right here in             
 Pennsylvania. Phipps selects the students because they do    
 fieldwork on medicinal plants to complement our community's  
 interest in health and to address the global pressure of     
 over-harvesting medicinal plants, which often threatens      
 their existence.                                             
                                                              
 Botany In Action students serve as role models, encouraging  
 youth involvement in botany and research. Once a year,       
 students share their newfound knowledge at Phipps and in     
 local schools through interactive programs that provide      
 participants with a glimpse of a world they might not        
 ordinarily see.                                              
                                                              
 Programs in Botany Hall - 11 to noon                         
                                                              
 Exploring Tropical Forests, from Thailand to Central America 
 Joan Kilner Hunt Auditorium, Botany Hall                     
 There is no charge for this program. Register by calling     
 Phipps Garden Center at (412) 441-4442.                      
                                                              
 Learning from Thai Healers: Use and Collection of Local      
 Plants for Healing                                           
 Arika Virapongse                                             
 This presentation will focus on medicinal plants used by Kui 
 traditional healers from the southern part of northeast      
 Thailand. Herbalists, blowing doctors, and spirit healers    
 who have participated in the study will be introduced, and   
 their knowledge on the use and collection of medicinal       
 plants and associated practices and beliefs will be          
 discussed. The conclusion will evaluate the status of        
 medicinal plants in local forests and the future of          
 medicinal plant use in the region.                           
                                                              
 Understanding Rarity in Tropical Forest Plants               
 John Paul                                                    
 The species most threatened by extinction are the rare       
 species, yet they are the ones we know the least about. The  
 presentation will cover investigating the potential reasons  
 why some species are rare, while other seemingly similar     
 species are common. Focusing on a highly diverse group of    
 understory shrubs in Central America, Psychotria             
 (Rubiaceae), the discussion will involve the importance of   
 both evolutionary history and ecology on the abundance and   
 distribution of these species.                               
                                                              
 Noon to 1 p.m.                                               
 Lunch can be purchased in Café Phipps.                       
                                                              
 Public Programs in the Conservatory - 1 to 3 p.m.            
 Free with admission to the Conservatory                      
                                                              
 Understanding Why Some Species are Rare                      
 John Paul                                                    
 Why are some species rare, while others are common? How do   
 rare species keep from going extinct? Paul uses ecology,     
 conservation biology, and molecular evolution to study the   
 medicinal plant genus, Psychotria (Rubiaceae).               
                                                              
 American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius): Appalachian Herb     
 with Worldwide Connections                                   
 Emily Mooney                                                 
 American ginseng is an uncommon plant native to the forests  
 of Appalachia. Its root is highly sought after in Asian      
 medicine with far-reaching consequences for conservation.    
                                                              
 Thai Ethnobotany: Plants, People, and Traditional Knowledge  
 Arika Virapongse                                             
 Arika will showcase examples of plant use for different      
 aspects of Thai ethnobotany. Items include silk and silk     
 cocoons, paper, wooden and bamboo arts and crafts, and       
 jewelry made from plants.