Harold Koopowitz on Disa Orchids
For our first meeting of the year, we are honored to be joined by Harold Koopowitz, a respected botanist, conservation biologist, and orchid advocate whose work has profoundly influenced modern orchid conservation and education. A longtime professor at the University of California, Irvine, Dr. Koopowitz has dedicated his career to understanding, preserving, and sharing the extraordinary diversity of the orchid family around the world.
With academic training from the University of Cape Town and doctoral work at the University of Michigan, his scientific interests span orchid systematics, pollination biology, and conservation ecology. He has conducted fieldwork in vital orchid regions including Madagascar, Southeast Asia, and Central America, studying rare and threatened species and advising global conservation efforts focused on habitat protection and sustainable cultivation.
Dr. Koopowitz is especially admired within the orchid community for his passion for education and storytelling. His books, such as Plant Extinction and Plant Tales, combine scientific insight with humor, history, and personal experience, inspiring orchid growers and nature lovers alike to see orchids not merely as collectibles, but as living ambassadors of fragile ecosystems.
Beyond research and writing, he has worked closely with botanical gardens, orchid societies, and conservation organizations to promote ethical collecting, responsible propagation, and conservation through cultivation. Dr. Koopowitz’s legacy within the orchid world lies in his ability to bridge science and horticulture—reminding growers that every thriving orchid represents both beauty and responsibility.
Agenda
11:00 am Meet and Greet, Pullman Room
11:30-12:00 New Member Orientation, Alsdorf Auditorium
11:55 am Please have your plants and tags on the display tables for judging
12:15 pm Plant judging starts
Cast your vote for People’s Choice
12:30 pm Short business meeting for all members, Alsdorf Auditorium
1:00 pm Main presentation: Harold Koopowitz on Disa Orchids
2:30 pm Meeting adjourns