10 Awesome Reasons to Support ASPB on #GivingTuesday!

This year, ASPB is participating in #Giving Tuesday, an international “Global Day of Giving” designed to promote the good works of charities and nonprofit organizations.  #Giving Tuesday takes place on Tuesday, November 28.

Here are ten reasons why we believe that ASPB is a nonprofit worth supporting on #GivingTuesday!

  1. ASPB provides research fellowships to undergraduate plant science students.

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) fund helps undergraduate students from the across the U.S. and abroad participate in immersive plant biology research experiences over ten consecutive weeks during the summer break period. This program has been operating since the 1980s, making more than 100 awards over the years. It offers a valuable opportunity to recruit and engage the next generation of plant science leaders early in their research careers.

(Could you be a recipient? Applications open Dec 1 for next summer).

  1. ASPB funds education and outreach programs that enhance public awareness about the role of plants.

The Plant BLOOME (Plant Biology Learning Objectives, Outreach Materials & Education) Awards funds programs that enhance public awareness and understanding of the essential roles of plants in all areas of life since 1995. Check out previous award winners and programs here.

(Could you be a recipient? Apply here Dec 1, 2017 – April 2, 2018).

  1. ASPB helps support students’ attendance at the annual Plant Biology meeting through travel awards, including awards specified for women and members of groups underrepresented in the US scientific workforce.

ASPB is committed to the next generation of scientists, for example by funding various awards to support student travel to the Plant Biology meeting. Could you be a recipient? Apply for the open award by Dec 6, for the  Young Women Investigator Award (now the Sharon Gray Women’s Young Investigator Travel Award by Dec 13. Apply for the ASPB Minority Affairs Committee 2018 Recognition Travel Award by, apply by Jan 31).

  1. ASPB cares about the evolving role of science communication.

ASPB funds an ASPB/AAAS Mass Media Fellowship each year. The selected Fellow works for 10 weeks in mass media, potentially leading to a career in science communication. Former fellows have landed professional science communication roles in radio, online media, and academia.

(Could you be a recipient? Apply by Jan 15).

  1. ASPB actively looks for opportunities to help early-career scientists gain transferable skills.

In addition to the funded awards, ASPB provides numerous volunteer opportunities for early-career scientists to gain valuable experience and build their CVs. Some of these include the Conviron Scholars program, in which selected students are mentored and provided with professional development skills training and the Plantae Fellows program, in which selected community members receive training in social media skills, contribute short article summaries to What We’re Reading, and gain leadership experience. ASPB Ambassadors help to communicate the mission of ASPB to the broader community (applications open on an ongoing basis). 

(Want to know more? Contact us!)

  1. ASPB provides resources for K-12 education about plant science.

ASPB has a major emphasis on promoting the importance of plants and plant science to the broader community, and specifically through the support of K-12 educational programs. As an example, the Society supports the PlantingScience.org mentoring program for schools and meets with teachers at annual conferences including the National Science Teachers Association and the National Association of Biology Teachers.

(Learn more here!)

  1. ASPB provides public recognition for scientific achievement and promotes the work of awesome plant scientists around the world.

The Society provides a wide-ranging selection of prestigious awards that celebrate the success and contributions of plant scientists. ASPB has more than 18 awards that recognize the outstanding work of scientists. Several of these awards will be awarded in 2018.

(Learn more here – and nominate your fellow scientists!)

  1. ASPB supports plant science through the publication of world-renowned scientific journals.

ASPB publishes three renowned scientific journals – The Plant Cell, Plant Physiology, and Plant Direct. Worldwide readership consists of plant scientists who work in such diverse areas as academia, government laboratories, and industrial and commercial environments. Readers share a common goal of promoting the growth, development, and outreach of plant biology as a pure and applied science.

(Learn more about our journals)

  1. ASPB powers Plantae.org, a global online platform accessible to all plant scientists and students, that provides a voice for the plant science community and a home for scientific and social collaboration.

Plantae is the global community and knowledge hub for plant scientists. It is a foundation created for the sole purpose of bringing together the plant science community in one place so that we can have a strong collective presence and voice. Plantae has several hubs: an online community, a resource/learning hub, and a job board.

(Check it out here!).

  1. ASPB helps plant scientists stay informed of the current science policy and advocacy issues and advocates for plant science.

By working with the U.S. Congress, federal science agencies, and sister organizations, ASPB represents you with regard to the most critical issues affecting funding for plant science research and training, research-related policies, and public engagement. In essence, we tell the stories of the important work that you do and help policymakers to appreciate the critical role that plant science plays and will play in improving the sustainability and productivity of agriculture, mitigating the impacts of climate change, fostering energy independence, and contributing to our fundamental understanding of life and to discovery in diverse fields unrelated to plants.

See the latest news here.

Will you join us on #GivingTuesday, November 28?  Here’s how you can participate.

  • We will be posting all day (and in the few days beforehand) on social media (Twitter, Facebook) with reasons to help ASPB support the next generation of plant scientists. Please help us spread the word with a retweet or share.
  • Donate!  
  • Ask one (or more!) colleagues to donate, or to share our social media updates.

Thank you so much for helping us in our mission to support plant science and educate future plant scientists like you.

 

 

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