Next Meeting

November 7, 2025 featuring a lecture by Dr. Chris Martine. Hybrid and over Zoom. Visit our 2025-2026 Program Calendar.

Announcements

Issue #1006 of Rhodora is available. See this page for free electronic access for members through BioOne.

Special Publication describing the Vascular Flora of Franklin County, Massachusetts is available for purchase and free PDF download here.

“NEBS Mission and Vision statements and Strategic Goals for 2020-2025″

Lecture Series Videos

Video recordings of some past lectures are available on the Videos of Past Meetings page.

NEBC 120th Anniversary Research Conference

Celebrating Botanical Research!

June 5-7, 2015

Smith College

Northampton, Massachusetts

Conference Program

Printable Conference Schedule (pdf)

Printable Oral and Poster Titles & Schedule (pdf)

Oral Presentation Titles & Schedule (html)

Poster Presentation Titles (html)

Friday, June 5

5-7 pm

  • Reception at Smith College Greenhouses

Saturday, June 6

8 am

  • Check-In at Wright Hall beginning at 8am
  • Light refreshments available

9 am – 10:30 am

  • Oral Presentations in Weinstein Auditorium (Wright Hall) and McConnell Hall

10:30 am – 10:45 am

  • Coffee Break

10:45 am – 11:50 am

  • Oral Presentations in Weinstein Auditorium (Wright Hall) and McConnell Hall

12 noon – 1:30 pm

  • Lunch
  • Poster session featuring botanical research (Neilson Library Browsing Room)
  • Exhibit tables by botanical organizations (Neilson Library Browsing Room)

Keynote Speaker

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Dr. Pamela Diggle

Editor-in-Chief, American Journal of Botany

Past President, Botanical Society of America

Website: https://diggle.lab.uconn.edu/

“Learned Societies” — Past, Present, and Future?

The formation of “learned societies” began in the mid-17th century and played a central role in the establishment and practice of modern science. I will explore the history and evolution of learned societies from the establishment of the Royal Society for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge in London in 1663 and the American Philosophical Society in pre-revolutionary Philadelphia, to the emergence of the diverse “professional and regional societies” of today. From their very inception as venues for conversation and presentation of new ideas, learned societies have played, and continue to play, essential roles in fostering scholarly interactions and communication, and in disseminating research. I will conclude by considering the future relevance of learned societies in our increasingly digital age. Given that we can all upload our talks to YouTube, download publications instantaneously, and be in constant contact via multiple electronic means, why have we come to this meeting? And what does the future hold for learned societies, such as those invited to this conference.

2:40 pm – 3:50 pm

  • Oral Presentations in Weinstein Auditorium (Wright Hall) and McConnell Hall

3:50 pm – 4:25 pm

  • Cake Break to celebrate New England Botanical Club’s 120th Anniversary

4:30 pm – 5:10 pm

  • Oral Presentations in Weinstein Auditorium (Wright Hall) and McConnell Hall

5:15 pm – 5:30 pm

  • Wrap-up and announcements

Sunday, June 7

9 am – 11:00 am Brainstorm Meeting at MacLeish Field Station

  • Brainstorm meeting: Ensuring the future of botanical organizations. (Limited to 25 active members/leaders of botanical organizations)

10 am – 3:00 pm Botanical Forays