Botany 2016
July 30–Aug. 3, 2016
Savannah International Trade & Convention Center
Savannah, Georgia

CHALLENGES Botany 2016’s organizers were looking for new ways to avoid holes in their education programming. Ahead of this year’s meeting, they changed their policy on accepting abstracts and posters, limiting submissions only to attendees who had already registered. The stricter policy paid off. Johanne Stogran, BSA’s director of conferences, said that poster-presenter no-shows were down to a mere 7 percent this year.

INITIATIVES Organizers decided to replace Botany’s traditional awards dinner — a formal affair — with a more relaxed get-together on the final night of the conference. “We had a real party! It worked out perfectly,” Stogran said. “There was an abundance of food, and the band was really great.” The feedback from attendees has been fantastic. “We’ve gotten many emails and comments about a great meeting,” Stogran said, “and what a great experience they had.”

2016: Savannah

1,200 attendees

30 exhibitors

2015: Edmonton

1,700 attendees

39 exhibitors