The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University aims to achieve excellence in scholarship and contribute to the advancement of society as an international center for the study of plants. It focuses on integrating living and archival collections for discovery and dissemination of knowledge to Harvard University students, local educational institutions, and the public. Its mission also includes enhancing the understanding and appreciation of plants, horticulture, and biodiversity.
The Ashton Award for Student Research supports investigations by graduate and advanced undergraduate students focusing on Asian tropical forest biology. It emphasizes the Arnold Arboretum's exceptional resources for woody plant research, particularly highlighting the living collection's taxonomic diversity and significant representation of floras from China, Japan, and Korea.