The Ohio Botanical Symposium was started in 2001 by the Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves to bring botanists, naturalists, and nature enthusiasts together to network, listen to talks, and view posters and displays on Ohio’s native flora, natural areas, and rare plants. The Nature Conservancy joined as a co-sponsor of the symposium in 2003 and the Ohio State University Herbarium joined as a co-sponsor in 2006.  

Over the years, attendance has steadily grown and the symposium has been moved several times to accommodate the growing audience.   

 

In addition to at least 6 presentations, people have a chance to visit with exhibitors and vendors. Exhibitors have included non-profit environmental and conservation groups, park districts, federal and state agencies, and universities. Vendors have included book sellers, nature crafts, and nature education/lodging.  The symposium has brought in some of the top experts in the field of botany and conservation including Jim Amon Ph. D., Jim Bissell Ph. D, Fred Case, Allison Cusick, Michael Homoya, Anton Reznicek, Ph. D., and Ed Voss, Ph. D. 

 

In March of 2008, the symposium was held for the second straight year at the Fawcett Center on The Ohio State University campus. For the second year in a row a near capacity crowd came to hear experts from Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio on a variety of topics relating to Ohio’s flora and natural communities.   We thank those of you for joining us at this year’s symposium. We hope to see you again next year.