As part of its Sesquicentennial celebration, Winona State University hosts the 21st North American Prairie Conference (NAPC) Aug. 4-8.

WSU professor and event organizer Bruno Borsari has been awarded a National Science Foundation Grant of $18,979 to organize the conference.

The theme of the conference, "The Prairie Meets the River," is meant to emphasize the importance of water in the prairie environment. The Mississippi River is utilized to show examples of sand, dry and wet prairie, as well as the thin-soiled "goat prairie" of the surrounding limestone and sandstone bluffs.

Presenters include Borsari and Wes Jackson, president of The Land Institute, with opening remarks from WSU President Judith Ramaley.

Event sponsorships are available. All sponsors receive recognition in the conference program, proceedings and on the Web site, as well as a link to the NAPC Web site on the donor's personal Web site.

Registration begins April 14.

For more information visit: http://bio.winona.edu/napc/index.htm.

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