Celebrate Herstory: Nominate Inspiring Women in Plant Biology for Recognition!

Blog by Rebecca Roston, Chair, ASPB Women in Plant Biology Committee In honor of US Women’s History Month, the Women in Plant Biology Committee of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) is thrilled to celebrate the remarkable women who have shaped and continue to shape our field. We’re calling on YOU to nominate exceptional … Read more

ASPB Remembers Philip Benfey

On September 26, 2023, Philip Benfey, notable plant geneticist, professor, and ASPB Pioneer Member, passed away. Philip had a lasting impact on many people in the plant biology community, some of whom have shared their memories and tributes to Philip here. Readers are invited to add their own memories to the comments of this blog … Read more

Changing Times in Peer Review

For Peer Review Week 2023, ASPB is asking the community to weigh in on topics affecting peer reviewers in scientific publishing   This year’s theme for Peer Review Week is “The Future of Publishing,” and with such a lofty theme, there’s one direction the conversation naturally goes: artificial intelligence (AI). While much of the conversation … Read more

ASPB Joins AAAS and Others to Reaffirm Commitment to Advancing DEI in STEM

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s June 2023 ruling on the use of race in college admissions, many academic institutions are left reworking admissions programs and policies that have historically benefitted Black, Indigenous, and Latino students. The end of race-conscious college admissions directly impacts the reach and accessibility of higher education by the very … Read more

ASPB’s 2023 Election Results

Many thanks to those members who took the time to vote this summer; and hearty congratulations to our incoming President-elect, Hong Ma, and elected member of the Board of Directors, Sarah Wyatt! Additionally, the recognition of Avraham Levy and Wataru Sakamoto as Enid MacRobbie corresponding members was overwhelmingly ratified by the ASPB membership. Hong and … Read more

Congratulations to 2023 ASPB Award Recipients

The American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2023 awards, which honor distinction in service, outreach, education, and research. ASPB Innovation Prize for Agricultural Technology Renata Bolognesi, Stanislaw Flasinski, Sergey Ivashuta, Daniel Kendrick, Curtis Scherder, Gerrit Segers Bayer, Chesterfield, Missouri Charles Albert Shull Award José Dinneny Stanford University, … Read more

ASPB to Exhibit at the 2023 White House Easter Egg Roll

The American Society of Plant Biologists announces its participation in a time-honored White House tradition to engage families in the importance of plants.   The American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) will engage children and families in fun activities and plant biology discussions at the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday April 10, 2023. … Read more

Make a Difference for Student Researchers this Summer

ASPB’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program has long-been one of the most in-demand programs at ASPB for young researchers. This year, however, there was an enormous amount of interest from enthusiastic undergraduates interested in exploring plant biology! With so many more applications than we’ve seen in years past, ASPB is looking to the community … Read more

ASPB Webinar April 14: What I Wish I Had Known When I Started Grad School

April 14, 2023 1 PM CDT The ASPB Early Career Plant Scientists (ECPS) Section wants to help you succeed in graduate school. So, we’re bringing back one of our most popular panel discussion webinars, “What I Wish I Had Known When I Started Grad School.” In this webinar, a panel including recent grad school graduates … Read more

It’s Time to Retire the Term “Blind” Review

Putting ableist language behind us   As part of ASPB’s commitment to diversity (see ASPB’s Revised Diversity Statement, 2021), we are changing our language around peer review to use the phrase “anonymous” review rather than “blind” review. We are joining the efforts of several other academic publishers and societies to move away from this unclear … Read more

Undergrads: Build Confidence, Learn Skills with an ASPB Summer Research Fellowship

Submit an Application for an ASPB Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships   Undergraduate students seeking opportunities to develop their research skills this summer can get support from ASPB. ASPB’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURFs) provides promising undergraduate students who are researching topics in or closely related to plant biology a $6,000 summer stipend, $700 for materials, … Read more

2023 ASPB Awards Seeking Honorees

ASPB’s Awards honor the most notable achievements and contributions of plant scientists worldwide—a responsibility that the Society carries out in large part through our annual awards program. It is vital to our profession that we all recognize our colleagues’ efforts by taking time to nominate them for awards. 2023 ASPB Awards In 2023, ASPB will … Read more

Nominate ASPB’s Future Leaders

The leaders of a global society such as ASPB, with members from 55 countries and growing, play a vital role not just in driving the organization forward, but in listening to, representing, and advocating for the membership and constituency the society serves. To find the best leadership for the Society, the process starts with a … Read more

Congratulations to ASPB’s 2022 Award Recipients

ASPB is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2022 awards, which honor distinction in service, outreach, education, and research.   Adolph E. Gude Jr. Award Beronda Montgomery, Michigan State University   Charles Albert Shull Award Lucia Strader, Duke University   Charles Reid Barnes Life Membership Award Peggy Lemaux, University of California, Berkley   Charles … Read more

Apologies to Thelma Madzima and the entire community from Katie Dehesh, ASPB President

As the President of ASPB, I’m writing to offer my sincere apologies to Thelma Madzima and the entire community. The recent events in regard to IPMB have demonstrated our shortcomings and urgent need to address the issue of diversity and inclusion, and our obligation to address the social and moral challenges we are facing. The … Read more

ASPB/AAAS 2022 Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellows Program

Are you interested in science writing? Do you want to help people understand complex scientific issues? Apply for the ASPB/AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellows Program and learn how to increase public understanding of science and technology. Fellows in the 10-week 2022 summer program will work as reporters in mass media organizations nationwide. Application … Read more

President’s Letter—Critical Infrastructure

Global agricultural production of rice, wheat, maize, and soybean, crops that together provide over 70% of human calories, was at close to record yields last year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments recognized growers as essential workers and the food supply chain as critical infrastructure. Early concerns about potential food shortages proved unfounded. Our collective fears … Read more