Dr. Peter H. Raven, one of the world’s leading botanists and advocates of conservation and biodiversity, will speak at University of Lynchburg at noon April 11 in Memorial Ballroom, Hall Campus Center.
Dr. Raven, president emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Garden, will speak at the Senior Symposium on “How Many Species will Survive the 21st Century?” The lecture is free and open to the public, but seating is limited.
For three decades, Dr. Raven headed the Missouri Botanical Garden, an institution he nurtured into a world-class center for botanical research and 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,” Dr. Raven champions research around the world to preserve endangered plants, and is a leading advocate for conservation and a sustainable environment.
ABC News chose him as a “Person of the Week.” Watch the YouTube video.
In recognition of his work in science and conservation, Dr. Raven is the recipient of numerous prizes and awards, 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.
Dr. Raven was a member of President Bill Clinton’s Committee of Advisors 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 U.K., and several other countries.
The author of numerous books and reports, both popular and scientific, Dr. Raven co-wrote Biology of Plants, an internationally best-selling textbook, now in its sixth edition. He also co-authored Environment, another leading textbook.