Since 1999, the chapter has sponsored a scholarship program for students doing research on native plant topics.

Bradley Speno, San Jose State University, Graduate Research Scholarship: Alameda Song Sparrow Habitat Use as an Indicator of Salt Pond Restoration
Bradley gathered plant information by walking through areas affected by saltwater restoration to see how native plants and their variety changed. He also looked at bird banding and surveys on the Alameda song sparrow to see if it could show if the restoration was working well. Bradley received his bachelor's degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado and worked for different government agencies and companies before going to San José State University for his master's degree. His research focuses on local restoration projects, and he plans to use his knowledge to help restore habitats.

Cecilia Girvin, UC Santa Cruz, Graduate Research Scholarship: The Role of Sexual Conflict in Hermaphroditic Floral Evolution

Cecilia Girvin, a PhD student at UC Santa Cruz, is researching how environmental and biological factors influence the evolution of flowers, focusing on Clarkia unguiculata, a plant that opens its bisexual flowers in summer, facing challenges like water scarcity. Her work aims to understand how these factors affect the plant's survival and reproduction.

Joseph Cusenza, UC Santa Cruz, Undergraduate Research Scholarship: The Role of Plasticity and Pollinators on the Expression and Evolution of Floral Longevity

Joseph Cusenza, a recent graduate from UC Santa Cruz, is studying the impact of flexibility and pollinators on the development and evolution of flower longevity, building on his previous studies in environmental science. He continues to work with Cecilia Girvin on a project that explores the effects of different selection pressures on the plant's survival and reproduction.

This talk will be live streamed on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@CNPSSantaClaraValley - registration NOT required) and on Zoom (http://www.cnps-scv.org/talk-20240918 - registration required).