2023 Annual Meeting - September 30, 2023
Join us for our 2023 Annual Meeting
Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, Petersburg, PA
Come discuss new topics on Native plant research in the state of Pennsylvania, and meet other Native Plant enthusiasts, as well as the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society members.
2 great speakers, Plant walks, a short business meeting, and a member-donated plant sale.
Bring your own lunch and enjoy the beauty of Shaver's Creek.
No charge but donations are welcome. Open to the public.
Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, Petersburg, PA
Come discuss new topics on Native plant research in the state of Pennsylvania, and meet other Native Plant enthusiasts, as well as the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society members.
2 great speakers, Plant walks, a short business meeting, and a member-donated plant sale.
Bring your own lunch and enjoy the beauty of Shaver's Creek.
No charge but donations are welcome. Open to the public.
Schedule
9:00–9:45 am - Morning bird walk with Doug Wentzel
9:45–10:05 am - Welcome and business meeting
9:45–10:05 am - Welcome and business meeting
PNPS is in the process of revising its Bylaws. Click here to view the recommended changes.
10:05 - 10:45 am - American Ginseng Research- presented by Rachel Palkovitz, Penn State University
Rachel is working with Dr. Eric Burkhart and a team of researchers from Penn State and the U.S. Geological Survey to understand how human planting practices may be shaping genetic relationships among American ginseng populations. For her dissertation, she is using quantitative and qualitative methods to assess whether human stewardship has shaped the evolution of the species in ways we can detect using physical markers on the above-ground traits in the leaves and inflorescences. The ultimate goal of her research is to develop a practical, non-invasive guide that forest landowners can use to assess the ginseng on their property to prioritize native lineages for seed banking conservation efforts.
BIO: Rachel Palkovitz is a 4th year Ph.D. student in the Anthropological Genomics Lab in the Anthropology department at Penn State. She researches how human behavior impacts the evolutionary biology of non-human species, especially culturally significant native plants in the United States facing conservation threats in the wild. Her other interests include citizen science and wildlife education; she volunteers at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center in the Wildlife Education and Engagement Program
Rachel is working with Dr. Eric Burkhart and a team of researchers from Penn State and the U.S. Geological Survey to understand how human planting practices may be shaping genetic relationships among American ginseng populations. For her dissertation, she is using quantitative and qualitative methods to assess whether human stewardship has shaped the evolution of the species in ways we can detect using physical markers on the above-ground traits in the leaves and inflorescences. The ultimate goal of her research is to develop a practical, non-invasive guide that forest landowners can use to assess the ginseng on their property to prioritize native lineages for seed banking conservation efforts.
BIO: Rachel Palkovitz is a 4th year Ph.D. student in the Anthropological Genomics Lab in the Anthropology department at Penn State. She researches how human behavior impacts the evolutionary biology of non-human species, especially culturally significant native plants in the United States facing conservation threats in the wild. Her other interests include citizen science and wildlife education; she volunteers at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center in the Wildlife Education and Engagement Program
10:45–10:55 am - BREAK
10:55–11:40 am - Choose Native: A Statewide Look at Landscaping
and Water Gardening - presented by Justin Mansberger, Penn State Extension,
BIO: Justin Mansberger is a Water Resources Educator and Master Watershed Steward Coordinator for Penn State Extension. He manages the MWS Program in Westmoreland, Indiana, and Armstrong counties by coordinating volunteer projects and educational opportunities for stewards in the program. Justin is based in Westmoreland County but provides stormwater and drinking water education to most of
Southwestern PA. He attended PSU where he received his B.S. in Ecology and recently graduated from Duquesne University with a M.S. in Environmental Science and Management.
and Water Gardening - presented by Justin Mansberger, Penn State Extension,
BIO: Justin Mansberger is a Water Resources Educator and Master Watershed Steward Coordinator for Penn State Extension. He manages the MWS Program in Westmoreland, Indiana, and Armstrong counties by coordinating volunteer projects and educational opportunities for stewards in the program. Justin is based in Westmoreland County but provides stormwater and drinking water education to most of
Southwestern PA. He attended PSU where he received his B.S. in Ecology and recently graduated from Duquesne University with a M.S. in Environmental Science and Management.
11:40–11:50 am - BREAK
11:50–12:20 pm - Grant Awardees
12:20–12:50 pm - Lunch (bring your own)
12:50–2:00 pm - Plant walk and Member donated Plant Sale
2:00 pm - Adjourn
11:50–12:20 pm - Grant Awardees
12:20–12:50 pm - Lunch (bring your own)
12:50–2:00 pm - Plant walk and Member donated Plant Sale
2:00 pm - Adjourn