Damon Edward Waitt

Damon Edward Waitt is the Director of the North Carolina Botanical Garden and Adjunct Professor of the Practice in Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His role involves leading the Garden’s mission to promote plant conservation, education, and sustainable human-nature relationships. Previously, he served as Senior Director and Botanist at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (University of Texas, Austin) from 2001–2015, where he developed gardens and created the Native Plant Information Network (wildflower.org/explore).

His research focuses on strengthening botanical capacity—human, scientific, and organizational resources—to address global challenges like climate change, food security, and invasive species control. He emphasizes the urgency of building these capabilities to meet 21st-century ecological and sustainability goals.

Lab Website: [Lab Website]