History of Botany in Action

In June 2000, Botany in Action, a research program originated by the Garden Club of Allegheny County (The GCAC) in response to the global crisis of loss of biodiversity, was turned over to Phipps.

Pictured left to right: Paula Sculley, Richard V. Piacentini and Mary Odom

Botany in Action is a commitment to botanical research, habitat conservation and environmental education. This program was inspired by Step One, a conference sponsored by the GCAC and moderated by Teresa Heinz in April 1990. Notable speakers Peter Raven, Paul Ehrlich and Walter Lewis alerted everyone to the fact that plants and their habitats were disappearing from the pressures of overpopulation and overharvesting. From Step One, action prevailed and in 1995 Botany in Action was formed by GCAC members Paula Sculley and Susan Clancy. 

Today, Botany in Action is charged with numerous responsibilities from providing grants to predoctoral graduate students doing field work in botany, and mentoring these students during and after their field work to carving out local educational opportunities for prominent ethnobotanists and researchers to speak to organizations and individuals. 

As of 2024, Botany in Action has aided 77 doctoral-level students representing 36 universities and working in 29 countries.