June 27, 2010

Fellow Members,

Those of us who attended the Society’s 51st annual meeting in Xalapa, Veracruz are returning home, or going wherever our respective paths may lead, feeling inspired and energized by seeing old friends and making new friends, by papers and posters on a wide variety of fascinating research topics, as well as by the gracious hospitality of our Mexican hosts. The over 300 people in attendance from 16 countries is strong testimony of the relevancy and vibrancy of our Society in an era of sweeping change around the globe.

New developments in the year ahead include forming chapters in Africa and the Caribbean, and plans for a new chapter in Mexico are being discussed.  The Open Science Network will continue to make progress developing lesson plans in Economic Botany for college curricula and K-12 students that are shared freely with teachers everywhere on the worldwide web. This is an exciting initiative that maximizes botanical education outreach through its application of information technology.

Plans are well underway for our 52nd annual meeting, which will be held jointly with the Botanical Society for America in St. Louis, July 9-13, 2011. The theme, “Healing the Planet” will feature a symposium on medicinal plants in honor of former Distinguished Economic Botanist Richard Evans Schultes.

Teamwork divides the effort and multiplies the effect. We encourage your input and participation. There are many opportunities for getting involved in your Society. You can run for office, serve on committees, write articles and book reviews for our journal, send reports to our newsletter, be a judge for the student awards, participate in ongoing initiatives like the Open Science Network or launch a new initiative, form a new chapter, offer a workshop or field trip at the annual meeting, or host an annual meeting. Please let us know if you are interested in any of these activities. Be sure to periodically visit our web site (www.econbot.org) for the latest information about the Society, news, employment and other opportunities, social networking, as well as online access to Economic Botany and Plants and People. On the members only page you can refer to official Society documents and find out how to contact fellow members. 

Our world is in a state of dynamic flux from the pressures of climate change, population growth, environmental degradation, and resource depletion that is a serious threat to the quality of life on Earth. Members of the Society for Economic Botany are uniquely positioned to offer innovative ways in which knowledge of how people use and interact with plants can be applied to the significant challenges of our times as we make the transition to a more sustainable green economy.

It is an honor and privilege to serve as your President as we move forward into a new exciting year for the Society for Economic Botany.

Yours truly,

Mary Eubanks

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