Image: The University of Georgia Department of Plant Biology (PBIO) is pleased to announce that PBIO undergraduate student Anna Satory has been awarded the very first Michael O. Moore Scholarship in Plant Biology. This scholarship honors the memory of Dr. Michael O. Moore (1957-1999), curator of the Georgia Herbarium from 1990-1999, who possessed a love for Georgia’s native plants. Thanks to the generous contribution of Steve and Wanda Yeatts, this award was created to recognize undergraduate students who demonstrate passion and outstanding achievement in plant biology and native plant research. Anna is a 3rd-year double major in Plant Biology and Genetics who grew up in rural Georgia. Anna was selected as the recipient of this scholarship for her exceptional research experience, academic record, volunteer work, and of course, a love for plants. “Growing up in Georgia, I fell in love with every form of life; I was captured by the intricacies and beauties of the southern forests, sprawling mosses, lichens, mysterious mushrooms, and all their symbionts,” she says. “It excites me to know that there is still so much to learn about the diversity around us, and I look forward to being part of the movement to protect it during our continued human development.” Anna has studied how habitat fragmentation affects the genetic diversity of Narrowleaf Silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia) and how the intricate relationship between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Great Millet (Sorghum bicolor) could be used for agriculture with less water and fertilizers. All these experiences contributed to her interest in conservation. She plans on continuing her education in conservation genetics and the evolutionary biology of plants, with an emphasis on science communication. We at the Department of Plant Biology congratulate Anna and wish her all the best on her continuing academic journey!
