Researcher at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden wins international medal of excellence for her work

Researcher Rafaela Campostrini Forzza, curator of the RB herbarium at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, is the recipient of the José Cuatrecasas Medal for Excellence in Tropical Botany. The medal is awarded by the Botany department of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (USA) to "botanists of international stature who have made significant contributions to the advancement of the field of tropical botany".

The award is in recognition of Rafaela Forzza's many accomplishments as a scientist, science administrator, and science educator. The award committee particularly highlighted the researcher's leadership of the Reflora project, which, according to the committee, "transformed floristic research in Brazil and stimulated a surprising amount of research activities in plant systematics, taxonomy, and conservation. Rafaela's studies on Bromeliaceae and related families were also considered exceptional, as well as her work in graduate commissions.

The medal will be presented during the 20th Smithsonian Botanical Symposium on May 19, 2023.

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