Miami University

Belk Lecture: The conservation of native seeds from southwestern U.S.

10/19/2012

Miami University's department of botany presents this year's annual Belk Lecture, featuring Bill McDorman, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, 128 Pearson Hall. He is the executive director of Native Seeds/Search, a non-profit organization that he and his wife founded to support the conservation of native seeds in southwestern United States.

McDorman is dedicated to education and research of native plants. Each year, he and his wife cultivate native plants for seed production on their 160-acre conservation farm in Arizona and educate student interns about conservation. They distribute seeds for research and education through a seed bank in Tucson.

Additionally, the pair runs a Cultural Memory Bank, which archives agricultural and cultural knowledge of native plants. Other educational efforts include helping the Tarahumara Indians of northern Mexico with native plant nurseries and conservation. They also run “seed schools” that educate how to save, store and grow seeds of important native plants.

McDorman will address native plant conservation, cultivation and how “Glass Gem Corn Will Save Agriculture.” The lecture is free and will be immediately followed by a reception in the Heimsch Conference Room, 316 Pearson Hall.