17 November 2010 Dr.  Sharon Douglas We are all interested in having the best and healthiest garden possible. We want to get rid of pests and diseases but not harm the environment. In a talk entitled Environmentally-friendly Methods for Disease Control, the discussion refutes the common misconception that chemical sprays, dusts, and soil drenches are the only effective ways to control plant diseases. The focus will be on non-chemical methods for control, which include culture, sanitation, resistance, biological, and biorational or biocompatible chemical methods. Specific diseases will be used for illustration. Dr. Sharon M. Douglas is a plant pathologist and head of the Department of Plant Pathology & Ecology of The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.  During her 28-year career at the Station, one of her primary responsibilities has been the diagnosis of plant health problems for commercial growers, plant professionals, and homeowners.  She also co-directs the Molecular Plant Diagnostics Laboratory, which develops rapid, sensitive methods to detect new or re-emerging plant pathogens.  Sharon is active with outreach programs through authorship of numerous fact sheets, disease management guides for arborists, and presentations for grower and professional organizations, horticultural clubs, special interest groups, and students.