Dr. Peter Raven, renowned conservationist and president emeritus of the St. Louis Botanical Garden, will discuss “Conservation in a Rapidly Changing World” at the inaugural lecture in the new Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building at Stephen F. Austin State University.
The event, hosted by SFA Gardens, will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, in the new facility located in SFA’s Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. in Nacogdoches. The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required.
Raven is one of the world’s leading botanists and advocates of conservation and biodiversity. For four decades, he headed the Missouri Botanical Garden, an institution he nurtured into a world-class center for botanical research, education and horticultural display. He retired as president in 2010 and assumed the role of president emeritus and consultant through 2014.
Described by Time magazine as a “hero for the planet,” Raven champions research aimed at preserving endangered plants around the world and is a leading advocate for conservation and a sustainable environment.
Raven is the recipient of numerous prizes and awards in recognition of his work in science and conservation, including the prestigious International Prize for Biology from the government of Japan and the U.S. National Medal of Science, the country’s highest award for scientific accomplishment. He has held Guggenheim and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation fellowships.
Raven was a member of President Bill Clinton’s Committee of Advisers on Science and Technology. He also served for 12 years as home secretary of the National Academy of Sciences and is a member of the academies of science in Argentina, Brazil, China, Denmark, India, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom and several other countries.
The author of numerous books and reports, both popular and scientific, Raven co-wrote “Biology of Plants,” an internationally best-selling textbook, now in its sixth edition. He also co-authored “Environment,” a leading textbook on the environment
For reservations and additional information, call (936) 468-1832 or email erodewald@sfasu.edu.
