Science
We will continue to study, document, and benefit from the plants and fungi of the world. NYBG’s esteemed scientists are currently engaged in active global research projects in 79 countries with collaborators and co-authors representing 83 different countries.
Our work is conducted primarily through three centers:
- The Center for Biodiversity & Evolution focuses on the origins, patterns, and conservation of global plant and fungal diversity, with data generated providing a critical basis for conservation assessments worldwide.
- At the Center for Plants, People, and Culture, research focuses on useful plants with global economic impact, as well as species used regionally by indigenous peoples and local communities.
- Scientists at the Center for Conservation & Restoration Ecology are interested in wide-scale conservation action through local, regional, and international collaboration and partnerships.
Three core resources support this work: the William & Lynda Steere Herbarium, which houses nearly 8 million plant specimens; the Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research where cutting-edge experimentation and discovery take place; and the LuEsther T. Mertz Library, with collections that span ten centuries.
NYBG is also dedicated to training the next generation of plant scientists. The Commodore Matthew Perry Graduate Studies Program, in collaboration with leading universities, hosts PhD students who integrate data from collections, laboratory, and field work, with guidance and support from Garden scientists. The program has produced 300+ Master’s and PhD scientists.