If you were to build a botanic garden, what would it look like? On a recent trip to the BGCI headquarters in London, I visited the Eden Project in southwest England and asked myself that very question. You have probably heard of Eden by now—it is a shining success with more than six million visitors since its opening in 2001. Situated in an old quarry pit, Eden embodies the concept of plant conservation education. Eden’s designers were able to truly “think outside the box,” and the result is innovative interpretation, brilliant integration of art and gardens, and conservation as the unifying theme.

In September 2006, BGCI will host its sixth Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens. The site for the Congress will be the University of Oxford, a location steeped in history complete with the oldest botanic garden in England. It is an ideal location for this international gathering of botanic garden educators, and a side trip to the Eden Project is highly recommended. Join us for the Congress, explore Eden, and find loads of inspiration for your own garden education programs! More information about the Congress is included later in this newsletter.

Happy reading,
Brian Johnson
Education Officer, BGCI ( U.S.)
Editor, Education E-update
brian.johnson@bgci.org

International Agenda workshops at APGA regional meetings: Are you planning to attend the Northeast, Southeast or Pacific/West regional meetings of the American Public Garden Association (formerly American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta)? Join BGCI (U.S.) at these meetings for a pre-conference workshop focusing on implementing the International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation. The workshop is designed for all types of positions at botanic gardens, and you will learn how the International Agenda can be a valuable resource to guide conservation planning in education, horticulture, research, administration, and more. You will also learn to use BGCI (US)’s new interactive conservation assessment and priority-setting tool. For more information about the pre-conference workshop, email Brian Johnson (brian.johnson@bgci.org). For more information about regional APGA meetings: http://www.aabga.org/public_html/meetings/index.htm.

London Calling! Join the world’s largest gathering of botanic garden educators for BGCI’s Sixth International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens in Oxford, England, in September 2006. Recent developments include confirmed keynotes from Dr. Christian Samper of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History; landscape architect Kim Wilkie; and Gillian Martin Mehers of Leadership for Environment and Development International. You can also submit an abstract for a paper, workshop, or poster at the Congress website. To receive periodic email updates about the Congress: http://www.bgci.org/educationcongress/register.html.

Link to the BGCI website: Looking for an easy way to offer plant conservation information to your garden’s website visitors? Provide a link to the BGCI website (www.bgci.org), the gateway to the world’s botanic gardens. The BGCI site includes information on plant conservation efforts around the world. Regional BGCI sites offer detailed information about local projects and resources, including programs in the U.S. (www.bgci.org/us).

Plant Adaptation Up Close, A Biological and Artistic Interpretation: This exhibit, available for rental from the Botanic Garden of Smith College, explores plant adaptations through biological explanations and artistic photography. It includes large 3-D images (3-D glasses provided) and a PowerPoint show. The exhibit was produced by the Botanic Garden of Smith College in collaboration with the Smith College Microscopy and Imaging Facility and Massachusetts artist Joan Wiener. View the exhibit online, or for more information contact Madelaine Zadik, mzadik@smith.edu, 413-585-2743.

National EE Resource Reviews: The North American Association for Environmental Education has launched a new service for EE program and material developers. The National EE Resource Reviews provide feedback on your resources from a panel of reviewers using NAAEE’s Environmental Education Materials: Guidelines for Excellence. For more information: http://naaee.org/pages/resourcereview/index.html.

Education for Sustainable Development Toolkit: The Education for Sustainable Development Toolkit is an easy-to-use manual to help schools, nonprofits, and communities create programs that combine education and sustainability. The Toolkit includes an introduction to sustainability, the components of sustainable development education, and strategies for reorienting existing and creating new programs that embody these ideals. It is an excellent resource for learning how to contribute to the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. For more information: www.esdtoolkit.org.

Call for Presentations, 2006 APGA Annual Conference: “Sustainability: Walking the Talk” is the theme for next year’s American Public Garden Association (formerly AABGA) confab, to be held in San Francisco June 28-July 1. Presentation proposals are being solicited in five subject tracks, including Education and Interpretation. Proposals are due Sept. 15. For more information: www.aabga.org.

Each month, we answer a plant conservation education question that you've always wanted answered. Send your questions to
e-update@bgci.org.

Q: Do all botanic gardens offer education programs?
A: In 2002, BGCI and the Chanticleer Foundation surveyed U.S. botanic gardens on the role of biodiversity conservation at their institutions. An impressive 92% of the 171 gardens who responded said they offer some kind of education programming. Fifty-five percent of gardens had programs that specifically related to plant conservation. Common subjects addressed in education programs include invasive species (52%), ecosystem science (52%), biodiversity preservation (41%), and ethnobotany (41%). Additionally, 90% of the responding gardens use interpretive signs to enhance the visitor experience.

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To reach a real person, send an email to Brian Johnson, Education Officer, at brian.johnson@bgci.org or call 718-623-7215.