May, 2026

Summary

• Our lab is embarking on an ambitious and creative citizen science project this summer! We're partnering with the organization Adventure Scientists to gather data and samples to help conserve butternut. More than 90% of trees have died due to an infectious canker, but some butternut trees still survive, in varying states of health, with some even healing over the canker wounds and producing healthy seedlings. Adventure Scientists will recruit and train dozens of volunteers across the United States to locate butternut trees, who will assess tree health and habitat characteristics. This data will be used along with other data to understand the genetics and ecology of why some butternut trees can survive this disease, and how to go about seed planting, habitat management, and tree breeding to restore this species. (You can participate during your summer vacation! Join us at https://www.adventurescientists.org/restoring-butternut-trees.html). 
• Sean gave a presentation at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville titled “Meeting the needs of conservation in practice, with DNA data.” There were more than 50 students and professors in attendance. He also spoke about career paths and working with policy with about 20 undergraduate students. While in Knoxville, Sean also toured the Tennessee Tree Improvement Program, a 65 year old tree breeding and seed sourcing program focusing on locally adapted seed of trees used in reforestation, as well as trees of conservation concern (especially oaks), and he met with Dr. Meg Staton who leads the TreeSnap app and various projects on ash, chestnut, and butternut disease resistance.
• From May 6-9, Catherine and Emma joined Valerie Lenis (Research Aide, Rare Plants), Kate Good (Global Tree Conservation Manager, Research Program), and Spencer Campbell (Senior Manager of Natural Areas) at the Center for Plant Conservation’s National Meeting at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin Texas. Catherine presented the poster Impacts of Land Management on Light Availability and Suitable Habitat for Juglans cinerea, and Emma presented on Gene Conservation Efforts for the Threatened Butternut Tree. There were ~150 plant conservation professionals in attendance.
• Selu joined Nathan Maren (Woody Plant Breeder and Genomics Specialist) and Alan Whittemore (Herbarium and Systematics Research Affiliate) at the National Arboretum to collect American elm (Ulmus americana) cuttings from its research plots and meet with National Arboretum staff. These elm trees represent a unique resource because they were sampled by Alan from throughout a large proportion of the elm’s native range. They will be propagated for future greenhouse or field experiments to understand variability in phenology, physiology, ploidy, or Dutch elm disease resistance within the species.