Improving a tree through traditional breeding can take decades. Aspen and poplar, for example, mature slowly, and every round of crossbreeding means years of waiting before researchers can evaluate the outcome and decide on the next step.

The University of Georgia Biomedical and Translational Sciences Institute has announced Monstera “Monsi” Brown, Zoe Griffin, Mira Le, Kristofer Meier and Joshua Weiss as UGA’s 2026 ARCS Scholars, joining a distinguished group of 45 current and former UGA ARCS Scholars.

Researchers from UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences have been recognized with one of the Ecological Society of America’s top honors in plant ecology and environmental science.