I was fortunate to attend the International Botanical Congress in Madrid, Spain this past July. This conference was attended by nearly 3,000 botanists from around the world, specialising in various disciplines across the field. I was joined by colleagues from the Chicago Botanic Garden, where I completed my Master’s degree, and by one of my current doctoral supervisors. Together, along with other collaborators, we engaged in many inspiring and productive conversations.
I study the ex situ conservation of endangered plant species. For my PhD, I am studying Nepenthes, an endangered genus of tropical carnivorous pitcher plants. More specifically, I study how effectively the botanic garden community is conserving endangered species ex situ, or outside of the native habitat range. I presented a poster on the research I have been able to conduct over the first year of my PhD, which encompasses almost all of the findings of my first data chapter. This tied in nicely with my oral presentation on the research I conducted during my Master’s degree, entitled The value of record- and molecular-based conservation management to exceptional species: A case study using Amorphophallus titanum. In many ways, the Amorphophallus titanum work has set the stage for my current research on Nepenthes, so the presentation of both sets of research led to many conversations about both species and broader themes of ex situ conservation.
Many of the conversations at the conference helped answer questions about and provide solutions to challenges within my PhD. Through collaboration at a global scale, both with colleagues I knew beforehand and with new collaborators I met at the conference, my research is already benefiting from the expertise and knowledge from others.
While in Madrid, I enjoyed a trip to the Real Jardín Botánico, The Museo Nacional del Prado, and numerous walks around the city. This was my first time in Spain, so I wanted to experience as much of the city as I could in the short time I was there. Evenings were spent getting dinner with colleagues and friends, ending on the balcony of my hotel room where I watched the moon rise over the city. I look forward to my next trip to Spain, and my next conference!
