Nominations Opening Soon for 2021 ASPB Awards!

The time to recognize and honor excellence among our fellow plant scientists is Approaching The 2021 Call for Award Nominations will be sent to ASPB members on January 4, 2021, and nominations will be due by Friday, February 19. ASPB encourages you to participate in the 2021 awards program by nominating highly deserving individuals. Please … Read more

Recognition Travel Award recipient spotlight – Pablo D. Jenik

Enriched biodiversity provides resilience to an ecosystem; workplace diversity promotes innovations and achievements. ASPB has committed to enhance inclusiveness and build a diverse community. ASPB has provided the Recognition Travel Awards for students, postdocs, and faculty to attend the Plant Biology annual meetings. Members of groups underrepresented in the US scientific workforce or people who … Read more

Farewell—and Profound Thanks—to Nancy Winchester

It is with mixed feelings that ASPB announces that Nancy Winchester, ASPB’s director of publications, will be retiring in the New Year: happy for Nancy, sad for ASPB. Nancy joined ASPB on December 1, 1997, and her 23 years as the Society’s publications director have overlapped with extraordinary upheaval in the scholarly publishing industry. We … Read more

Transforming Education in Plant Biology- Request for Proposals 2021

In the United States, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and other stakeholders have called for transformation in undergraduate biology education via the Vision and Change report.  The core message of Vision and Change is a focus on student-centered learning with students as active participants.  Some of the … Read more

President’s Letter—Here’s Hoping

This year has lasted a decade. As we pivoted from crammed lecture halls to online teaching, and from bustling, energized labs to working shifts and eating lunch on our own, we adapted to a new normal that still feels anything but normal. I’m nostalgic for holding lab meetings and grant review panels in person, talking … Read more

Letter Urging Continued Support for AFRI (FY21)

The AFRI Coalition sends letter to Chairman Hoeven, Ranking Member Merkley, Chairman Bishop, and Ranking Member Fortenberry (members of the U.S. Senate and House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees) regarding fiscal year 2021 spending proposals. The AFRI Coalition commends you for your support of USDA’s Agriculture & Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and urges $435 million for AFRI … Read more

ASPB/AAAS Mass Media Fellowship Alumnus spotlight – Anna Funk

Interested in science communication? Look no further. The AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship carries out the mission to increase public understanding of science and technology. Over the past decades, more than 700 scientists have gone through the 10-week summer program and explored the realm of science journalism. ASPB has been a proud sponsor … Read more

ASPB Joins CNSF in Support for NSF Funding (FY21)

ASPB signs on to coalition letter in support of the NSF for fiscal year 2021 appropriations legislation. The letter was sent on November 20, 2020 to the U.S. Senate and House Committee on Appropriations members:  Chairman Shelby, Vice Chairman Leahy, Chairwoman Lowey, and Ranking Member Granger. As Congress seeks to finalize fiscal year 2021 (FY21) … Read more

ASPB/AAAS Mass Media Fellowship Alumnus spotlight – Jenna Gallegos

Interested in science communication? Look no further. The AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship carries out the mission to increase public understanding of science and technology. Over the past decades, more than 700 scientists have gone through the 10-week summer program and explored the realm of science journalism. ASPB has been a proud sponsor … Read more

ASPB/AAAS Mass Media Fellowship Alumnus spotlight – Eric Hamilton

Interested in science communication? Look no further. The AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship carries out the mission to increase public understanding of science and technology. Over the past decades, more than 700 scientists have gone through the 10-week summer program and explored the realm of science journalism. ASPB has been a proud sponsor … Read more

ASPB/AAAS Mass Media Fellowship Alumnus spotlight – Lorena Villanueva-Almanza

Interested in science communication? Look no further. The AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship carries out the mission to increase public understanding of science and technology. Over the past decades, more than 700 scientists have gone through the 10-week summer program and explored the realm of science journalism. ASPB has been a proud sponsor … Read more

ASPB/AAAS Mass Media Fellowship Alumnus spotlight – Nikki Forrester

Interested in science communication? Look no further. The AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship carries out the mission to increase public understanding of science and technology. Over the past decades, more than 700 scientists have gone through the 10-week summer program and explored the realm of science journalism. ASPB is a proud sponsor of … Read more

ASPB/AAAS Mass Media Fellowship Alumnus spotlight – Katherine Dynarski

Interested in science communication? Look no further. The AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship carries out the mission to increase public understanding of science and technology. Over the past decades, more than 700 scientists have gone through the 10-week summer program and explored the realm of science journalism. ASPB has been a proud sponsor … Read more

ASPB/AAAS Mass Media Fellowship Alumnus spotlight – Carolyn Beans

Interested in science communication? Look no further. The AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship carries out the mission to increase public understanding of science and technology. Over the past decades, more than 700 scientists have gone through the 10-week summer program and explored the realm of science journalism. ASPB has been a proud sponsor … Read more

Agency Update: NIH Releases Final Data Management and Sharing Policy

As part of its ongoing work to standardize and promote the sharing of data generated from biomedical research, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published its final NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing (DMS) on October 29, 2020.  The final policy is the culmination of several recent efforts from NIH in this space, including … Read more

ASPB 2021 Call for Workshop Proposals

Planning for the Plant Biology 2021 conference is well underway. The ASPB Program Committee is pleased to invite members of our community to submit proposals for workshops to be held during the conference. Please complete and submit this form before December 4, 2020 to guarantee review for potential inclusion in the Plant Biology 2021 program. … Read more

Agency Update: DOE Ready to Launch New Portal For Application Submissions for EERE Research and Development Opportunities

On November 2, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will launch a new portal to list all future funding opportunities and submit applications for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.  Fiscal year (FY) 2021 application submissions will be through the new portal, while open opportunities published prior to November 2 will continue to be managed … Read more

Engineering Drought-Resistant Crops with Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) Photosynthesis

This work examines requirements for introducing CAM and alternative water-saving pathways into C3 plants in different environments. ASPB is pleased to announce the publication of noteworthy research investigating water-saving alternatives for photosynthesis in temperate environments, which are likely to become hotter and drier in the future. Drought causes major crop losses in many regions of … Read more

Funding Opportunity: NSF Releases Mid-Career Advancement Program Solicitation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently released a solicitation for the new Mid-Career Advancement (MCA) program.  NSF recognizes that while the mid-career timeframe is essential for advancing research, many faculty have to balance research with other demands, such as teaching and service activities.  Through this solicitation, NSF intends to support “protected time” to mid-career researchers … Read more

Help ASPB Push Back – Hard! – Against the DHS’s Proposed New Rules for International Students

Whether you are a citizen of, resident in, or visitor to the United States, the Trump Administration’s proposed new rules for F & J visa holders are bound to adversely impact you and your research projects, sooner or later. If implemented, these new rules from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would also severely … Read more