Soil research arm to celebrate 100th year

The Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) is marking 100 years of promoting plant science research.

The Cornell-affiliated organization plans to celebrate its centennial through a symposium.

Growers and industry individuals can participate virtually.

The BTI’s 2024 Centennial Symposium is scheduled for Aug. 8-9 at its Ithaca, New York, headquarters.

 

 

The special two-day event promises to be an enriching experience filled with insightful talks, engaging discussions, and opportunities to connect, according to a news release.

“Our Institute only turns 100 once, and we would be honored to have you join us for this special occasion, either in-person or virtually,” according to the release.

Speakers include:

• Alexa Schmitz, co-founder & CEO of REEgen, a startup that uses bacteria to extract rare earth elements (REEs) from low-grade sources at low temperature and pressure.

• Daniel Voytas, professor at the University of Minnesota

• Eddie Watkins, professor of Biology at Colgate University

 

Career panel speakers:

• Eddie Watkins, professor of biology at Colgate University

• Julian Avila Pacheco, research scientist at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT

• Mariko Matsuda Alexander, editorial manager at Bio-Rad Laboratories

• Daniel Evanich, development scientist at New England Biolabs

• Rebecca Povilus, USDA geneticist and vegetable germplasm curator

Founded in 1924, the Ithaca, New York, institute is an independent nonprofit research institute affiliated with Cornell University that promotes plant science research to advance discoveries in plant sciences to develop sustainable and resilient agriculture, food insecurity and improve human health.

Read more about the symposium here.