Olivia Liebing Receives Magnolia Society International Travel Scholarship!

Jan. 16, 2025
Olivia smiling in a blue jacket in front of a red brick wall

Congratulations to Olivia Liebing on receiving the 2025 Magnolia Society International Travel Scholarship! As a recipient of this scholarship, she will be able to attend the Magnolia Society International Annual Conference hosted in France and Belgium this year.

Olivia is currently a graduate student pursuing her MS under the advisement of Dr. Garrett Owen. In her words her research is on "the propagation of woody ornamental nursery crops. I focus on the impacts of daily light integral, root-zone temperature, and the foliar application of rooting hormones on cuttings in an effort to find methods that hasten rooting and produce high quality plants." 

Thankfully, Olivia had time to share what inspired her interest in Magnolias and a bit about her experiences so far at Ohio State...


What sparked your interest in Magnolias?

My interest in magnolias started when I saw their fruit. They are scarlet red and held in a cone-shaped structure. Every fall, I love to collect the fruits, clean them, cold stratify them in my fridge, and then grow them out to share in the spring. 

What are you most looking forward to during the conference? 

I'm very excited to see what magnolia production, selection, and collecting is like across the world and to connect with such a passionate community.

What does a typical day in grad school look like for you?

One of the best parts about grad school is how different every day is! Most days I bounce between researching out at the CEARC, writing, and attending a few key classes. 

What are your career aspirations?

I would like to work in public gardens and develop production protocols for under-utilized plant species. 


Stay tuned for part two once Olivia returns from the conference! In the meantime, feeling inspired to start your own grad school journey? We got you covered.

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