Making Saint Louis the Nature City of the 21st Century Symposium

Friday, September 26, 2025
8:15 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Missouri Botanical Garden, Bayer Event Center

Join the Living Earth Collaborative and participants from local public institutions, governmental agencies, NGOs, and universities to share bold visions for urban biodiversity, reflect on challenges that persist, and highlight innovative programs driving change. 

This year’s gathering will bring together researchers, practitioners, governmental and NGO partners to share bold visions for urban biodiversity, reflect on challenges that persist, and highlight innovative programs driving change. The aim is to explore how to strengthen partnerships between researchers, practitioners, and other stakeholders to advance biodiversity in urban environments.

In addition to featured presentations and panel discussions, working groups launched during the first symposium will report on their progress.

Please be advised that by entering this event site you are agreeing to being filmed and/or photographed, and the resulting assets may be used for marketing or promotional purposes. Should you wish not to be photographed or recorded on video, please notify one of the event photographers or videographers.

Symposium Agenda

Click the arrow next to each session to see more details, including session information, speaker details, and talk titles.


   8:15 a.m. | Registration Opens
   

Check in and grab a warm beverage before the day begins.


 


   9:00 a.m. | Welcome Remarks
   

Remarks from LEC organizational leaders:


   

         
  • Lúcia Lohmann, President, Missouri Botanical Garden

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  • Lisa Kelley, Executive Director, WildCare Institute, Saint Louis Zoo

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  • Feng Sheng Hu, Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences, WashU

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   9:30 a.m. | Biophilic Cities Panel
   

Panelists: 

 

  • Stephanie Dresen, From Plans to People: Building Capacity for Natural Systems Solutions in Kansas City

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  • Flore Marion, Pittsburgh's Dark Sky and other Nature Based Solutions

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  • Marielle Anzelone & Georgia Silvera Seamans, Vision for a Bioabundant New York City

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    Tim Beatley will moderate a panel sharing strategies from U.S. cities for integrating nature into urban spaces to create healthier, more vibrant communities in their own Biophilic City communities.


     


       11:00 a.m. | Break
       

    Refresh and network with fellow attendees.


       

    Take a moment outside to enjoy the Graden or drop by the Garden's bookstore and pick up the latest Doug Tallamy book for the book signing at 4:30 pm.


     


       11:15 a.m. | Urban Biodiversity in Action: Reports from the Field
       

    Short presentations highlighting local projects and research on urban biodiversity from:


       

           
    • Danielle Lee, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Collaborative Ecology: College & Community Environmental Education Partnerships

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    • Matt Barton, Saint Louis Audubon Society | Birds, Migration, & Buildings: Exploring the Connection Between Nature and our Built Environments

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    • Nicole Miller-Struttmann, Webster University | Building Bridges: Connecting Practitioners and Researchers to Conserve Biodiversity

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       12:00 p.m. | Plenary: Doug Tallamy
       

    Doug Tallamy, T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture, University of Delaware and Co-Founder, Homegrown National Park


     


       1:00 p.m. | Lunch
       

    Enjoy lunch and network with fellow attendees.


     


       1:30 p.m. | Working Group Report Out
       

    Three working groups, one mission: bringing Nature City ideas to life! Join us for updates on the progress of the three working groups launched after the 2024 symposium.


     


       2:00 p.m. | Saint Louis Tornado Panel
       

    Panelists: Meridith Perkins, Forest ReLeaf | Alan Jankowski, City of Saint Louis Forestry Division | Roman Fox, Forest Park Forever


       

    Jean Ponzi will moderate a discussion on the impacts of May’s tornado on local ecosystems and biodiversity.


     


       2:30 p.m. | Urban Biodiversity in Action: Reports from the Field
       

    Short presentations highlighting research on urban biodiversity from:


       

           
    • Kyra Krakos, Maryville University and Missouri Botanical Garden | The Synergy of Pollination in St. Louis: The Collaboration and The Science

      •      
    • Rachel Penczykowski, WashU | Plant Health in Urban Environments: Insights from Common Weedy Plants and Their Fungal Pathogens

      •  

    • Steve Blake, Saint Louis University | Update from the Forest Park Living Lab

      •      
    • Whitney Anthonysamy, UHSP | Wildlife in the City: Insights from the St. Louis Wildlife Project

      •     
         


     


       3:30 p.m. | Break
       

    Take a moment to recharge before the final session. Drop by the Garden's bookstore and pick up the latest Doug Tallamy book for the book signing before it closes at 5:00 pm.


     


       3:45 p.m. | Urban Biodiversity in Action: Reports from the Field
       

    Short presentations highlighting local projects and research on urban biodiversity from:


       

           
    • Shannon McCarragher, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Science on the Trails: Field-Based Insights into Urban Ant Foraging and Abundance Patterns

      •      
    • Don Ficken, DarkSky Missouri & Lights Out Heartland | Reclaim the Night: Responsible Lighting for Biodiversity

      •      
    • Carol Davit, Missouri Prairie Foundation and Grow Native! | Missouri's New Invasive Plant Law

      •    

     


       4:30 p.m. | Networking Reception, Poster Session & Book Signing with Doug Tallamy
       

    Celebrate the close of the symposium with light fare and great conversation while exploring a poster session highlighting urban biodiversity research and projects from across Saint Louis. Doug Tallamy will also be signing books during the reception. Purchase his newest release, How Can I Help? Saving Nature with Your Yard, at the Garden’s bookstore or bring along a favorite from home to have it signed. Enjoy a chance to relax, connect, and celebrate the work that’s making Saint Louis the Nature City of the 21st Century!


     



     

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the goal of the symposium?

    The goal of the Nature City Symposium is to advance urban biodiversity in the St. Louis metro region by bringing together researchers, practitioners, and community leaders. It offers a space to strengthen connections, share knowledge, hear updates from active working groups, and inspire new projects—or energize existing ones—all in support of making Saint Louis a Nature City.

    How is "St. Louis" defined: the city or the region?

    The meeting’s scope is the St. Louis metro region.

    Where should I park?

    Due to the Garden's preparation for Best of Missouri Market, parking on the main campus is extremely limited.

    Symposium attendees should park in the Garden's two lots located at the corner of Shaw Blvd. and Vandeventer Ave.

    Shuttle service is provided throughout the Symposium from these secured lots.

    Please allow extra time for you to travel from the parking lots to the Symposium.

    View Parking Map

    Will Wi-Fi be available?

    Attendees will have access to Missouri Botanical Garden’s public Wi-Fi.

    Location & Parking

    The Symposium is taking place on the main campus of the Missouri Botanical Garden (4344 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110). If using a navigation app, be sure to put in the Garden’s address.

     

    Working Groups

    1:30-2:00 PM

    Biodiversity and Access to Nature: Collaboratively working to increase species biodiversity in the region with public engagement in activities to positively impact urban biodiversity while working to create a greener St. Louis with improved access to green spaces for all. This group brings together participants from BiodiverseCity St. Louis (BDV STL), OneSTL, and Living Earth Collaborative.

    Urban Heat and Trees: This group will examine the impacts of the urban heat island effect and climate change on cities as well as the influence of the built environment on temperature regulation, the role of green infrastructure in mitigating heat, and strategies for creating cooler urban spaces.

    Water: Addressing water-related challenges in urban areas, this group will focus on issues such as floods, droughts, water quality, and stormwater management. The discussions will also cover the impact of the built environment on water systems and explore sustainable practices for urban water management.

     Working Groups website

    Book Signing

    4:30 – 6:00 PM

    We’re thrilled to share that Doug Tallamy will be signing books following the Nature City Symposium!

    Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase his newest release, How Can I Help? Saving Nature with Your Yard, at the event—or bring along their favorite Doug Tallamy book from home to have it signed.

    This latest book is a must-read for anyone looking to take the next step in their ecological journey. Drawing on the most common questions from his lectures, Tallamy offers clear, inspiring answers and practical actions that gardeners, homeowners, and nature-lovers can take to make a real difference—from planting native species and reducing lawn space to supporting wildlife and restoring local ecosystems.

    How Can I Help? explores topics ranging from ecology and biodiversity to pest control, invasive species, and conservation at home—reminding us that every person has the power to contribute to a healthier planet.

    Don’t miss this opportunity to meet one of the leading voices in conservation and take home a signed copy that will continue to inspire action long after the event ends.

    Poster Session

    4:30 – 6:00 PM

    Join us for the symposium’s poster session, where presenters will share their research, projects, and programs advancing urban biodiversity in St. Louis. This is a chance to connect, spark new ideas, and learn more about the wide variety of ongoing efforts to understand and increase Saint Louis' biodiversity. 

    During this session, poster presenters will be on hand to talk about their work, answer questions, and explore opportunities for collaboration. 

    Posters will also be available for browsing outside of presenter hours.

    2025 Poster List

    2025 Poster List with Abstracts

    About the Living Earth Collaborative: The Living Earth Collaborative is a biodiversity partnership between the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Saint Louis Zoo and WashU. Our mission is to develop new approaches to biodiversity and conservation science that foster the next generation of scientists and provide tangible benefits for applying results to conserving biodiversity at local-to-global scales.

    Learn More about LEC