This committee is responsible for reviewing nominations for the Donald R. Kaplan Memorial Lecture in Comparative Development which was established to commemorate Don Kaplan's contributions to botanical knowledge and promote his research interests within the Botanical Society of America. The committee solicits nominations and invites a leading scholar to present a talk at the annual meetings of the Society. The selected speaker is provided with an honorarium and reimbursement for travel expenses to attend the meeting. This committee is chaired by a member serving their third year on the committee.

Committee membership is open to all BSA membership categories except students. Members on this must committee are appointed to represent the broadly defined interests of this award. The Kaplan Lecture Committee will consist of three members from the Society at large, one of whom will be the Chair of the Committee. The members will have three-year terms with the opportunity to stand for reappointment to subsequent terms. Nominations for replacement members will come from the Committee on Committees. The three members will have staggered three-year terms, such that one member is appointed each year. Committee members are expected to participate and be engaged in committee activities and have a genuine interest in the mission of the committee.

The bulk of the committee’s work is spent reviewing nominations in December and early January, with final invitation to the awardee/lecturer in January. Most discussions occur via email, with the potential for a conference call. Members serve for three years.

Those interested in being considered for committee service should complete a short application (200 words or less) that includes a statement of interest highlighting your expertise, experience, and interest in serving on this particular committee. Applications are accepted December 1 – February 1 and will be reviewed by the Committee on Committees. Committee appointments are typically made in May to begin in July. Questions about committee membership? Send an email to bsa-manager@botany.org

To apply to be on this committee, click here and sign in with your BotanyID and password. Only committees that have openings will appear on the BSA Committee Application website. Once you open an application, you should see the blue button "Create New Committee Application." If you do not see the blue button, or need other assistance, email bsa-manager@botany.org.