This symposium presents successes and lessons learned from plant science educational programs based in the Greater St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan Area, that aim to strengthen the growing pipeline of diverse plant science researchers, educators, and innovators. Efforts to build this capacity through authentic research experiences, student-teacher-scientist partnerships, and internships will be showcased by the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, the Botanical Society of America-led PlantingScience Program, and the Jackie Joyner Kersee Food Agriculture and Nutrition Innovation Center. These institutions extend their reach to both rural and urban communities targeting underrepresented and underserved populations in formal and informal educational settings.
