1. Plant Information Center

2. PIC Team Principal Investigators Evelyn Daniel ILS Professor Peter White Director, NC Botanical Garden Jim Massey Curator, UNC Herbarium Jane Greenberg ILS Professor Staff Members Michelle Fox PIC Project Coordinator Peter Buch ILS Grad Student Justin (Gus) Dopke ILS Grad Student Mary James Ecology Grad Student

3. PIC Partners Priscilla Dennison, Lead Science Teacher, McDougle Middle School Jake Lehrer, Librarian, Carrboro Branch Library Carolyn White, Library Media Specialist McDougle Middle School

4. Partnership NC Botanical Garden McDougle Middle School Orange County Public Library UNC Herbarium School of Information and Library Science

5. PIC Advisory Board Debbie Berry Science Teacher, McDougle Gregory Georges Photographer Stephanie Haas ILS Professor, UNC Jim Hardin (retired) NCSU Herbarium Curator Gail Jones School of Education Prof., UNC Anne Lindsey Laurel Hill Press Gean McBane Media Specialist, Stanback Jim Murphy BOTNET Consultant

6. PIC Advisory Board Barbara Pedersen Science Teacher, Guy B. Phillips Deborah Pedersen Info. Resource Specialist Milo Pyne Reg. Vegetation Ecologist Fiona Rae Science Teacher, McDougle Brenda Stephens Librarian, Orange County Vin Steponaitis Archaeology Professor, UNC Wendy Weiher Rare Plant Initiative NCWFPS

7. Vision To connect the research community and the general public. To nurture the interest and enthusiasm of the public in the study of trees, plants, and natural history.

8. Location Focus Generally, the Southeastern United States More specifically, the state of North Carolina

9. What Is An Herbarium?

10. A Herbarium is … A museum collection of plant specimens with associated label and research data. Herbaria are the fundamental documentation of plant diversity.

11. The UNC Herbarium Founded in 1908 Includes 660,000 labeled museum specimens of plants, algae, fungi and fossils Largest collection in the Southeast Ranked 3 rd among university collections by NSF

12. One Herbarium Specimen

13. NC State Tree Longleaf Pine (Pinus pallustris)

15. How Can We Acquaint Teachers and Students With This Important Resource?

16. Objectives and Tasks for PIC 1. Demonstrate a successful cooperation between the university, the public school system, and the public library

17. Objectives and Tasks 2. Create and test an interactive Plant Information Center for the general public, libraries, and public schools.

18. PIC Features Search Images Glossary Ask an Expert FAQs Lesson Plans Prize Specimens Links Bibliographies Email

19. Objectives and Tasks 3. To develop educational experiences using primary research materials from the herbarium for 6th grade students.

20. Objectives and Tasks 4. Test the usefulness of digital images of herbarium specimens for plant identification and for inspiring the public and public school children with the aims and methods of professional botanical science.

21. Research / Evaluation Image access and use

22. Research / Evaluation Image access and use Metadata effectiveness

23. Research / Evaluation Image access and use Metadata effectiveness Electronic access to subject expertise.

24. Questions?