PlantingScience.org is a no-cost outreach program for secondary schools led by the Botanical Society of America (St. Louis, MO) in partnership with ASPB and other plant science organizations. It is supported by over 1,000 volunteer plant scientist mentors from 40 countries. In small teams, students complete guided classroom investigations related to big themes in plant biology, culminating in a student-led open investigation unique to each team. Throughout the experience, each student team communicates asynchronously online with a scientist mentor about their investigation and about what it’s like to be a plant scientist. Teachers and early-career scientists serving as "PlantingScience Liaisons" work together to facilitate the student experience. Since 2005, the program has reached over 30,000 students from over 400 schools worldwide. Past research shows the effectiveness of the program’s photosynthesis and cellular respiration theme at increasing a diverse group of US high school students' plant biology content knowledge and attitudes about scientists. Ongoing research is replicating this work and also aims to uncover impacts on students' motivation to study plants. Dr. Findlater worked with teachers and students in the liaison role for the research project and will share her experiences with the program, as well as ways to get involved.
