Utah PlantFest 2026: Full Schedule

10:00am MDT

Friday October 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

This panel will allow attendees to ask questions to local science communicators. How do you communicate difficult topics? How can social media be used responsibly? What strategies help you connect with your audience?

Speakers

Sophia Andreadis

Graduate Research Assistant, University of Utah, Neurobiology Department

Third year PhD candidate at the University of Utah studying how hormone fluctuations impact behavior during and after peripheral infection. Interested in how inter-individual variation affects biology, science communication, and mentorship. Co-director of Utah Science on Tap.

Sarah Brockway

USCo Vice President, University of Utah

Zach Coury

Sierra Hastings

Communications Director, Sageland Collaborative

Allie White

Community Partners

Sageland Collaborative

Utah Science Communicators

Friday October 9, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am MDT
Pinyon Pine

Panel

Audience Botanists
Subject Research

12:00pm MDT

Native Plant Research Symposium - Lighting Presentations

Friday October 9, 2026 12:00pm - 2:00pm MDT

Pinyon Pine

Hear from local researchers on native plants, horticulture, ecology, and more!

Speakers

Mark Brunson

Science director, Canyonlands Research Center, Bear River Land Conservancy

Mark Brunson is Science Director for The Nature Conservancy's Canyonlands Research Center in southeastern Utah and also a volunteer for the Bear River Land Conservancy in far northern Utah. He is passionate about native plants and the insects that rely on them, and really about everything... Read More →

Maloree McDonald

Utah State University

I have always been very interested in agriculture and environment, so I got my undergraduate degree in plant science from USU! Then, I started my masters working with invasive aquatic plant species last year. I love that my masters research has introduced me to the regional conversation... Read More →

Friday October 9, 2026 12:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
Pinyon Pine

Presentation

Subject Research

12:00pm MDT

Native Plant Research Symposium - Posters

Friday October 9, 2026 12:00pm - 2:00pm MDT

Apache Plume

Hear from local researchers on native plants, horticulture, ecology, and more!

Speakers

Logan Judd

Undergrad, Weber State University

I just (as of April) graduated with my BA in Zoology from Weber State University. I love all things insects, and I don't think you can appreciate insects without also developing an appreciation for pollination ecology and the plants that make those interactions possible.

Pollina... Read More →

Stephanie Wiegman

Utah State University

I am a new graduate student studying native blue elderberry propagation for my project. Through this project I have developed skills in tissue culture, seed germination strategies and other lab maintenance protocols. I am curious about possible applications for using a native plant... Read More →

Aine Swenson

I love to be outdoors enjoying the beautiful nature we have here in Utah! I am a Senior Botany major at Utah Valley University.

Comparative floristics and ecology of a recreation heavy canyon along the Wasatch Front.
American Fork Canyon, Utah County Utah, is one of the most popular areas for recreation along the Wasatch Front. One of the large draws of people to this area is the plant communities, ranging from color changing aspens, to high alpine wildflowers, and spring blossoms. It also has... Read More →

Vivian Gerstein

I am a PhD student in Dr. Eleinis Ávila-Lovera's lab at the University of Utah interested in the traits that desert plants have that allow them to survive in harsh conditions. In particular, our lab focuses on species with green photosynthetic stems and I am curious how plant traits... Read More →

Abigayle "Abi" Burris

Undergraduate Student, Utah Valley University

About Me: Abi is an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology, with a minor in Zoology. She is currently wrapping up her senior year at UVU and wants to pursue postgraduate studies in veterinary science and plant-animal interactions to help the world of conservation. Outside... Read More →

Friday October 9, 2026 12:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
Apache Plume

Presentation

Audience Botanists
Subject Research

1:00pm MDT

UNPPN Meeting

LIMITED

Friday October 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT

Mountain Mahogany

Limited Capacity seats available

The Utah Native Plant Propagation Network is a new group of nonprofit, governmental, educational, and local businesses with the goals of:

Make genetically diverse, local-provenance native plants more readily available to individuals and professionals across Utah.
Provide a venue to share expertise, ideas, and resources.
Develop collaborations and connections among experts in the world of native plants.

This network is interested in getting native plants into the hands of Utah nurseries, designers, and gardeners. We want native gardening to be accessible to more people!

This is for members of the Utah Native Plant Propagation Network - not a member yet? Feel free to join and learn about the network.

Speakers