The program has many ongoing projects at any given time, including both work in labs as well as hands-on research in the field. The Orchid Recovery Program and Illinois College more generally are fortunate to have a federally-approved lab, the USDA Level II Quarantine Facility, located in the Parker Science Building which allows for the transportation, storage and growth of foreign samples. Working under Dr. Lawrence Zettler’s mentorship, students have access to his extraordinary knowledge and state-of-art equipment to support their education in the field.

Shortly after the creation of the Orchid Recovery Program, word started to spread when Zettler and students began sharing their discoveries through presentations and publications; the program quickly became recognized internationally. Zettler was contacted by the Madagascar Royal Botanic Gardens to be a part of their research team, an invitation he accepted enthusiastically and brought students with him on the project. Similarly, the Smithsonian organized a team to explore orchid conservation in the southwestern Pacific which Zettler was invited to join. He accepted this offer and was able to make it an educational experience by bringing a student to help with the research. Zettler traveled with student, Collin Walter ’19, to the gorgeous island of Palau to conduct orchid research on site. The Smithsonian has since contacted Zettler to continue this important exploration.

IC also has collaborations with several institutions in Cuba committed to orchid conservation efforts. These institutions include the University of Pinar del Río, the University of Artemisa and the Soroa Orchid Garden. Many students and faculty have participated in the Cuban research efforts and even IC administrators and alumni have traveled to Cuba, some even getting the opportunity to see the very rare ghost orchid in its natural setting.

This summer marks the fifth year that students have gone to survey and monitor ghost orchid populations near Naples in the Florida Panther Wildlife Refuge.

Two IC students, Jiaqu (Jack) Lu ’21 and Michael LaRusso ’20, have spent the summer wading through swamps, dodging alligators and water moccasins, to gain access to the rare ghost orchid in attempts to learn how to best conserve this special plant. LaRusso, a biology and environmental studies major, said having access to these types of learning experiences through IC’s biology program was one of the main reasons he decided to attend the College.

LaRusso says the experience conducting field research and working with the rangers at the wildlife refuge have been invaluable for his professional growth, giving him clarity about future career paths, field skills and data analysis experience.

IC also has a partnership for orchid recovery with the University of Cuenca in the Andes Mountains in Ecuador. Several IC students have conducted research in the field and in the lab at Cuenca.

Zettler credits much of the success of the program to the hard work of his students. He encourages students to publish their research and to attend national and international conferences. Zettler, along with a number of his students, has published highly regarded papers that have earned respect for the program and for IC. Through the many partnerships he has developed as part of the Orchid Recovery Program, Zettler has provided students with the opportunity to be at the forefront of orchid discovery and conservation in places all around the world, from the Pacific to the Caribbean.