“101 Ways to Connect with Plants,” a Zoom Presentation by the UT Arboretum Society on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 7pm EDT
Join us for a presentation on 101 Ways to Connect with Plants by Ben Goulet-Scott, Ph.D., and Jacob S. Suissa, Ph.D., the co-founders and directors of Let’s Botanize, an educational non-profit that promotes the hobby of botanizing by sharing plant stories. If you aren’t sure what “botanizing” is, then this is the program for you. Their motto is: “Caring for plants is caring for the planet!”
Co-sponsored by the University of Tennessee Arboretum Society, the Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning (TCWP) and American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE), the class on Thursday, October 29 at 7pm EDT is free, but you must register to receive the Zoom link. To register, go to Programs – The University Of Tennessee Arboretum Society. If you are unable to watch at the scheduled time, the program will be recorded and sent to everyone who registers. Closed captions are available. For questions or registration issues contact Michelle at mcampani@utk.edu.
Like many disciplines, botany has often been confined to academic forums. Whether intentional or not, this means that access to the full breadth of our knowledge of plant biology is restricted. There is currently a limited availability of what can be learned about plant development, physiology, ecology, and evolution on free public platforms.
“We believe that paying closer attention to plants can bring us joy and help us become better stewards of the planet,” Goulet-Scott said.
Goulet-Scott and Suissa earned their doctorate degrees in evolutionary biology at Harvard University. Goulet-Scott currently designs and manages higher education programming at Harvard Forest, the ecology-focused research station of Harvard University in Massachusetts. Suissa is currently an Assistant Professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. They both actively teach at in-person school events as well as presenting hands-on seminars and lectures. More information is available on social media @letsbotanize.
The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society (UTAS) is the arboretum’s volunteer organization and is celebrating its 61st year in 2026. UTAS was formed in 1965 to support and enhance the University of Tennessee Arboretum. UTAS is the longest standing volunteer organization in the University of Tennessee system statewide.
The Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center celebrates its 62nd anniversary in 2026. It is one of the ten University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture AgResearch and Education Centers located throughout Tennessee. The Institute of Agriculture also provides instruction, research and public service through the UT Herbert College of Agriculture, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension offices, with locations in every county in the state.
