Some nice accolades for the city with a handle.

The Scientist Magazine Ranks Danforth Plant Science Center As One Of Top 15 Places To Work In Academia
The Scientist magazine ranks the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center as one of the Top 15 places to work in academia in the U.S., according to survey results published in the November 2008 issue. The rankings were tallied from a poll of over 100,000 scientists and researchers working in the life sciences. Other top places to work include Princeton, Vanderbilt and Massachusetts General Hospital.



Celebrating their 10th anniversary this week since its 1998 founding, this positive national ranking for the Danforth Center is a strong, powerful message to the marketplace --- and to talent, investors, and companies considering the St. Louis region ---- that the Danforth Center and the St. Louis BioBelt is a location of choice.

Internationally recognized Plant Sciences leader, Dr. Roger Beachy, President of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, was recruited to St. Louis from the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego, and has, in turn, recruited nearly 200 scientists to the Danforth Center in St. Louis, since its founding in 1998.

Survey respondents voted personal fulfillment as the #1 factor in determining workplace satisfaction. Peer relations, institutional management and tenure procedures also ranked among the most important factors. This is the 2nd time that the Danforth Center has received this recognition.


St. Louis Selected As One Of 6 Cities For Inaugural "NCAA Championship City"
St. Louis has a proven track record for hosting very successful NCAA events, and now that success has launched the region to a whole new level. This past week, St. Louis was selected as one of only 6 cities for the inaugural "NCAA Championship City" Pilot Program.



The Championship City Pilot Program will feature multiple host opportunities of NCAA Division I, II and III men's and women's championships through 2012. The centerpiece of this program is a long-term agreement between the NCAA and each host city to bring a wide array of championships and ancillary events to the 6 geographical areas over the course of several years; the other cities are: Cary, N.C.; Cleveland; Indianapolis; San Antonio; and San Diego.

In addition to being selected for the Pilot Program, St. Louis has been awarded the 2010 and 2011 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championships, the 2011 Division I Men's Ice Hockey Regional, and the 2012 Division I Wrestling Championships. St. Louis had previously been awarded the 2009 Division I Wrestling Championships, the 2009 Women's Final Four, and the 2010 Division I Men's Basketball Regional hosted by the Missouri Valley Conference. According to the NCAA, additional championships may be awarded to the 6 inaugural pilot program cities.

Working with multiple partners in the community, the St. Louis Sports Commission put together the region's Championship City proposal in late 2007 and has worked with the NCAA since to develop and define St. Louis' participation in the pilot program. The Sports Commission will partner with Washington University and Fontbonne University to host the 2010 and 2011 Division III Women's Volleyball Championships; Scottrade Center and the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) to host the 2011 Division I Men's Ice Hockey Regional; and the University of Missouri and Scottrade Center to host the 2012 Division I Wrestling Championships. Prior to being awarded these events, St. Louis had already been designated to host a remarkable 10 NCAA Division I Championships from 2000 through 2009.