Botanical Society of America's Awards

Botanical Society of America
Awarded as deemed appropriate at the BSA Banquet

Award Criteria & Requirements

The BSA Merit Award is the Botanical Society of America's highest honor, granted for "outstanding contributions to botanical science," recognizing truly exceptional scientists in plant biology. Some past Merit Award recipients have gone on to win the Nobel Prize (George Beadle and Barbara McClintock), National Medal of Science (most recently, Peter Raven in 2000) or election to the prestigious US National Academy of Sciences (most recently, John Doebley in 2002).

Recipients are honored as guests of the Society at the BSA Banquet

Nominations Open
Sept. 1
Close
March 1

Botanical Society of America
Awarded as deemed appropriate at the BSA Banquet

Award Criteria & Requirements

This award, given annually by the BSA in conjunction with the Teaching Section and the Education Committee, was established to recognize and encourage excellence in teaching of botany... (as well as) excellence in leadership in botanical education.

"The Charles E. Bessey Award presupposes competence in the science of botany first and requires some evidence along these lines, as well as some unique contribution to the teaching and/or the furtherance of botany. The award may be given simultaneously to one or more individuals or may not be given at all in a given year. In view of the increasing gap between the imperatives of research and sound teaching, this award hopes to encourage a compromise whereby the best of both worlds may meet and the future not oppose the past, nor see the present as untenable."

Recipients are honored as guests of the Society at the BSA Banquet

Nominations Open
Sept. 1
Close
March 1

Developmental & Structural Section
Awarded Annually at the BSA Banquet

Student Travel Awards

Decided at Annual Conference

Paleobotanical Section
Awarded Annually at the BSA Banquet

This award was named in honor of the memory and work of Michael A Cichan, who died in a plane crash in August of 1987. The Award was established to encourage work by young researchers at the interface of structural and evolutionary botany. This award is given to a young scholar for a paper published during the previous year in the fields of evolutionary and/or structural botany.

Merit

Decided at Annual Conference

Botanical Society of America
Awarded in Conjunction with the timing of the International Botanical Congress

Contributions and Awards are used to support travel to International Botanical Congresses and other major international meetings.

Student Travel Support to International Botanical Congresses

Paleobotany or Palynology
Awarded Annually at the BSA Banquet

This award was established in 1976 by a bequest from Isabel Cookson. The award supports the Isabel C. Cookson Paleobotanical Award, which is given to the student who delivers the best contributed paper in paleobotany or palynology at the annual meeting.

Merit

Decided at Annual Conference

Microscopic Algae
Awarded Annually at the BSA Banquet

The recipient receives a certificate and a monetary award.

Decided at Annual Conference

Developmental & Structural Section
Awarded Annually at the BSA Banquet

This award, established in 1985 by a gift from Professor Esau, supports the Katherine Esau Award. This prize is awarded to a student who is the sole or senior author of a paper presented in the Developmental and Structural Section sessions of the annual meeting.

Merit

Decided at Annual Conference

Botanical Society of America
Awarded Annually at the BSA Banquet

Award Criteria & Requirements

The Karling Graduate Student Research Award was instituted by the Society in 1997 with funds derived through a generous gift from the estate of the eminent mycologist, John Sidney Karling (1897-1994), and supports and promotes graduate student research in the botanical sciences. It is administered as a component of the overall BSA GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH AWARDS. To be eligible, an applicant must be a member of the Botanical Society of America (BSA), a registered fulltime graduate student, have a faculty advisor who also is a member of the BSA.

BSA Graduate Student Reseach Awards and/or the J. S. Karling Graduate Student Research Award may only be received once per individual.

$500 Research Grant

One award given each year.

Nominations Open
Sept. 1
Close
Feb. 15

Genetics Section
Awarded Annually at the BSA Banquet

The Margaret Menzel Award is given by the Genetics Section for an outstanding paper presented in the contributed paper sessions of the annual conference.

Merit

Decided at Annual Conference

Developmental & Structural Section or Paleobotanical Section
Awarded Annually at the BSA Banquet

The Maynard F. Moseley Award was established to honor a career of dedicated teaching, scholarship, and service to the furtherance of the botanical sciences. The award is presented to the student who is the sole or senior author of a paper, orally presented in the sessions of the Developmental and Structural Section or Paleobotanical Section of the annual conference, that best advances our understanding of plant anatomy and/or morphology of vascular plants within an evolutionary context.

Merit

Decided at Annual Conference

Teaching Section
Awarded Annually at the BSA Banquet
Send Nominations to the Chair of the Teaching Section

This annual award is presented by the Teaching Section of the Botanical Society of America in recognition ofmeritorious service to the Teaching Section of the Society. This award was sanctioned at the Teaching Section business meeting in August 1990 to recognize outstanding support and contributions to the Teaching Section.

Decided at Annual Conference

Botanical Society of America
The Pelton Award is made irregularly based on availability of funds and an appropriate candidate. Awarded at the BSA Banquet

The Jeanette Siron Pelton Award is made by the Conservation and Research Foundation of New London, CT through the Botanical Society of America for for sustained and creative contributions in experimental plant morphology. BSA appoints the nomination committee and presents the award at the annual meeting. Beginning in 1998, the recipient of the Pelton Award is invited to present a special address at the BSA Annual Meeting. The Pelton Award is given in recognition of outstanding contributions in the field of experimental plant morphology. The field is broadly defined to include the subcellular, cellular and organismal levels of complexity.

This prestigious award includes a $1,000 prize and certificate.

Nominations Open
Sept. 1
Close
March 1

Bryological and Lichenological Section
Awarded Annually at the BSA Banquet

Named in honor of the late Jack Sharp, the award encourages students of bryophtes and lichens, just as Dr. Sharp did during his lifetime. This award is given for the best student paper presented in the Bryological and Lichenological sessions.

Decided at Annual Conference

Paleobotany or Palynology
Awarded Annually at the BSA Banquet

This award was established in 1997 in honor of the life and work of Winfried and Renate Remy. The fund endows the Winfried Remy & Renate Remy Award, which will be given for the best published paper in paleobotany or palynology during the previous year.

Decided at Annual Conference

Pteridological Section
Awarded Annually at the BSA Banquet

This award is in honor of Dr. Wherry's many contributions to the floristics and patterns of evolutions of ferns. This award is given for the best paper presented during the contributed papers session of the Pteridological Section.

Decided at Annual Conference

Botanical Society of America
Awarded Annually at the BSA Banquet

Award Criteria & Requirements

The Botanical Society of America's "Student Research Awards" were established in 2004 to support and promote graduate student research in the botanical sciences. To be eligible, an applicant must be a member of the Botanical Society of America (BSA), a registered fulltime graduate student, have a faculty advisor who also is a member of the BSA.

BSA Graduate Student Reseach Awards and/or the J. S. Karling Graduate Student Research Award may only be received once per individual.

$500 Research Grant

Nine awards given each year.

Nominations Open
Sept. 1
Close
Feb. 15

Botanical Society of America
Awarded Annually

Award Criteria & Requirements

The purpose of these awards are to offer individual recognition to outstanding graduating seniors in the plant sciences and to encourage their participation in the Botanical Society of America.

All nominees with strong records of achievement (at least a B average and other activities) will receive a Certificate of Recognition, and have their names published in the Plant Science Bulletin. The top 25 nominees will receive a Certificate of Special Achievement from the Society.

Nominations Open
Sept. 1
Close
March 1

Developmental & Structural Section
Awarded Annually at the BSA Banquet

As voted upon by the membership of the section in 1996, an annual drive will be initiated to generate contributions from the sectional membership. These support student attendance at the annual meetings of the Botanical Society of America, Donations will be solicited in units equivalent to the current student registration fee (this year, for example, $85). In essence, each contributor will effectively sponsor the attendance of one or more students.

Meeting Sponsorship

Decided at Annual Conference

Ecological Section
Awarded Annually at the BSA Banquet

This fund supports the annual Ecological Section Awards and are given for the best student paper presented and poster at the annual meeting. The recipient of the award receives a certificate, a cash award of $50, and is a guest of the Ecological Section at the BSA banquet.

The recipient of the award receives a certificate, a cash award of $50, and is a guest of the Ecological Section at the BSA banquet.

Decided at Annual Conference

Genetics Section
Awarded Annually at the BSA Banquet

The Genetics Section Poster Award is given for the best student poster at the annual meetings.

Decided at Annual Conference

Genetics Section
Awarded Annually at the BSA Banquet

The Genetics Section Graduate Student Research Award, given annually to support student research in genetics.

Decided at Annual Conference

Physiological Section
Awarded Annually at the BSA Banquet

Each year the Physiological Section acknowledges the best presentation made by any student, regardless of subdiscipline, at the annual meeting.

Meetings & Conference Support

Decided at Annual Conference