BELLE GLADE, Fla. — Want to teach your students the good, the bad and the ugly about plants while incorporating three different sciences? Researchers at the UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center will lead the second annual workshop, “Don’t Get Caught with Your Plants Down,” from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27.

The free workshop will be held at UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center, 3200 East Canal Street, Belle Glade, Florida. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, and in-service points for professional development will be awarded by school districts through Master Inservice Plans (MIP).

This year’s program, developed by the UF/IFAS department of plant pathology, uses resources available from the American Phytopathological Society, said Richard Raid, a professor of plant pathology and workshop organizer. Middle and high school teachers will take back vital information to students on the importance of plants in daily life, he said.

Florida is home to the most invasive species in the country, and many travel in to the state via plants, Raid explained.

“Plant pathology is a STEM topic that includes biology, microbiology and chemistry, so teachers will be able to incorporate these sciences into their lessons on plants,” Raid said. “Florida’s warm temperate and sub-tropical environments are wonderful for growing plants, and the pathogens that infect these plants. The many ports of entry also make Florida vulnerable to new, invasive plant pathogens.”

Teachers will be exposed to the basics of plant pathology through lectures and demonstrations that can be used in the classroom, Raid said. Materials will be provided in person and available on a website.

For more information, or to register for the workshop, visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dont-get-caught-with-your-plants-down-tickets-27047807721

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By: Beverly James, 352-273-3566, beverlymjames@ufl.edu

Source: Richard Raid, 561-993-1564, rnraid@ufl.edu

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