NSF Announces Next Phase of Reintegrating Biology Initiative

October 2019 Washington Update – Prepared by Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC for the American Society of Plant Biologists Following their Town Halls in September, the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Reintegrating Biology Initiative has announced the next phase of the process.  Reintegrating Biology will convene four “Jumpstarts”, two and a half-day workshops to “develop new and innovative … Read moreNSF Announces Next Phase of Reintegrating Biology Initiative

NIFA Relocation

October 2019 Washington Update – Prepared by Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC for the American Society of Plant Biologists Employees of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Economic Research Service (ERS) have begun work in Kansas City, with the first report-to-work date occurring on September 30.  Although the agencies have begun to hire new … Read moreNIFA Relocation

Press Release – Gene Responsible for Lutein Esterification in Bread Wheat Identified

The activity of this gene controls the timing of esterification in grain, which is related to storage and nutritional qualities of bread wheat and other grains. This work provides insight into the timing and control of esterification, related to storage and nutritional qualities of bread wheat and other grains. ASPB is pleased to announce the … Read morePress Release – Gene Responsible for Lutein Esterification in Bread Wheat Identified

Plant Biology 2020 Call for Workshop Proposals!

The ASPB program committee is inviting proposals for one-hour workshops to be held during Plant Biology 2020 in Washington, D.C.,  July 25-29, 2020.   All ideas are welcome, but the preferred areas of focus for the workshops – intentionally broad – are:  Technical Development and Innovation Professional Development  Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion The committee encourages submissions … Read morePlant Biology 2020 Call for Workshop Proposals!

President’s Letter – Be the Change

By Rob Last, Michigan State University, and Mary Williams, Features Editor, The Plant Cell “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Attributed to Margaret Mead (1901–1978), American cultural anthropologist Whether or not Dr. Mead actually uttered this quote, the words … Read morePresident’s Letter – Be the Change

Action Alert: America Grows Act

  The American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) and the Plant Science Research Network (PSRN) are pleased to pass along an Action Alert released by the American Society for Agronomy (ASA), the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) in support of new legislation introduced by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). The … Read moreAction Alert: America Grows Act

ASPB and Open Peer Review

It’s Peer Review Week (#PeerRevWk19) ! What better time than now to blog about how two of ASPB’s journals (The Plant Cell and Plant Direct) have approached open peer review? In 2018, Nature published a Comment titled “Publish Peer Reviews” (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-06032-w).  This Comment references an open letter (http://asapbio.org/letter) signed by two of ASPB’s own: the Editor-in-Chief of The Plant Cell, … Read moreASPB and Open Peer Review

Request for Proposals – Transforming Education in Plant Biology 2020

View the full RFP and apply by October 31, 2019.  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 the Vision and Change initiative is a … Read moreRequest for Proposals – Transforming Education in Plant Biology 2020

New Teaching Tool “Computational Image Processing in Microscopy”

We’re excited to announce the publication of The Plant Cell’s latest Teaching Tool, “Computational Image Processing in Microscopy,” by Adrienne Roeder, available without subscription at Plantae.org (and in the October issue of The Plant Cell). The age of big data includes sophisticated imaging datasets. Computational image processing is essential for extracting quantitative information from these … Read moreNew Teaching Tool “Computational Image Processing in Microscopy”

What to Expect at Monday at Plant Biology 2019

Welcome to Day 3 of #PlantBio19! Today’s Highlights: Start your day with some networking! Choose from the Networking Breakfast organized by the Minority Affairs and Women in Plant Biology Committees from 7:00–8:30 AM in LL21EF. Remember to bring business cards to share! Or, if you’re a first-timer, come to the First-Time Attendee Check-in from 8:00–8:20 … Read moreWhat to Expect at Monday at Plant Biology 2019

What to Expect Sunday at Plant Bio 2019

Hit the ground running on Day 2 as we launch Concurrent Symposia, Posters, and Conversation Circles in addition to our wide range of workshops and networking opportunities! Today’s highlights: If you are registered for the morning workshop PUI- Being a Plant Biologist in a Primarily Undergraduate Institution, head over to room LL21EF from 7:00–8:30 AM … Read moreWhat to Expect Sunday at Plant Bio 2019

What to Expect Saturday at Plant Biology 2019

Welcome to Plant Biology 2019! We’re excited to bring you the outstanding lineup of symposia, workshops, and networking events that you’ve come to expect, with fun new activities and returning favorites! Questions? Visit our team at Registration! Don’t forget to check out our online agenda, social media policy, and code of conduct.

We encourage you to share your experience on social media! Follow @ASPB, @ASPBPlantBioMtg and @plantae_org, and hashtag #PlantBio19! Join our Plant Biology 2019 meeting network on Plantae to participate in discussions and share your meeting notes.

Today’s highlights:

Begin your day with a choice of workshops:

  • PUI Faculty Development Workshop- 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM Room LL21EF. Do you work at a PUI? Join us for talks and group discussions focused on maintaining a successful research program at a primarily undergraduate institution.
  • Mathematical Plant Biology: A Collaborative Session- 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Room 230B. This popular workshop tackles interdisciplinary connections between mathematics and statistics and plant biology. Includes discussion and networking. Registration required.
  • ASPB/CSPB Recruitment Summit-Room 9:45 AM – 12:00 PM LL20B . Are you interested in pursuing a faculty position in China? Join us for this joint networking meeting and luncheon to learn more! Hosted by the ASPB and the Chinese Society for Plant Biology. Registration required.
  • Undergrad Networking Session-12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Room 230A. Calling all undergrads! Where will your career take you? What will your next steps be? Join other undergrads and science professionals for this dynamic networking session.

In the afternoon, we invite you to make your way to the Grand Ballroom (Room 220) at 1:15 PM for the official launch of the conference: the ASPB President’s Symposium 2019: Biological and Personal Networks: Why They Matter for Plant Biology. Organized by Robert Last, and featuring Manajit Hayer-Hartl, Gaurav Moghe, David J. Asai and Beronda Montgomery. Join us as we explore approaches to harnessing biological diversity and complexity, while strengthening our community through broader participation.Following the opening symposium, stay right where you are for the presentation of the 2019 awards at the Awards Scientific Symposium at 4:30 PM. Then, at 6:15 PM, head over to the Opening Reception in the Exhibit Hall.

Ongoing Events

Don’t miss these daily happenings throughout the conference!

  • Career Mentoring – 8 AM-5 PM Saturday-Tuesday. Could your resume use a little pruning? Maybe some new growth? Sign up for career advice and resume help! Visit us in the Hall 1 Lobby.
  • Draw Your Science – 8 AM-5 PM Saturday-Tuesday. Show us your work! Join us for Draw Your Science-no artistic talent required, anything goes! Located near the registration desk.
  • How Far Have You Traveled – 8 AM-5 PM Saturday-Tuesday. Visit the world map near Registration and show us how far you’ve travelled to attend PlantBio19!
  • #SELFIE Station – 8 AM-8 PM Saturday-Tuesday. Visit our Selfie Station and share the fun on social media! Located at the #ASPBForward Innovation Pavilion in Hall 2. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #PlantBio19!
  • Plantae Career Center – 8 AM-8 PM Saturday-Tuesday. Make the right job connection! The Plantae Career center is open throughout the conference. Looking for a job? Bring an electronic copy of your CV to the #ASPBForward Innovation Pavilion in Hall 2 to post on our electronic job boards and check out the onsite job board near Registration.
  • Speaker Ready Room – Open daily, through Wednesday morning, in Room 111. Check the online agenda for hours. Note: speakers must check in to upload and review their presentations 24-hours before the beginning of their session.

To access the full agenda download the PB19 Conference App:

  • Download the CROWDCOMPASS ATTENDEEHUB app from Google Play or the App Store.
  • Open the app and search for PLANT BIOLOGY 2019 then select Download.

The full agenda can also be found online here.

President’s Letter – Big Challenges Require Broad Thinking

ASPB News • July/August 2019 • Volume 46, Number 4 This continues the experiment of publishing the President’s Letter as part of a collection of essays and other resources related to the topic (https://tinyurl.com/HumanNetworks). Please also have a look at the previous collections on the future of not-for-profit science organizations (http://bit.ly/futurenonprofitscience), member security (http://bit.ly/SecuringFuturePlantBiologists), and … Read morePresident’s Letter – Big Challenges Require Broad Thinking

A First-timers Guide to Plant Biology 2019

Plant Biology 2019 is fast approaching! If you’ll be attending for the first time, don’t worry—you’re in good company! You’ll be among 1400+ other plant biologists from nearly 40 countries, from grad students to professionals with 20+ years of experience, so no matter what you do, you’re guaranteed to have a great experience. If you’re … Read moreA First-timers Guide to Plant Biology 2019

ASPB President’s Letter Collections

This year, ASPB President Rob Last did an experiment aimed at increasing the value of the President’s Letters. Four of these letters were accompanied by essays from community members of all career stages. Two were co-authored. The idea was to explore the topics of President’s Letters more fully and include more voices. A general theme … Read moreASPB President’s Letter Collections

Join the PlantingScience Master Plant Science Team

The PlantingScience Master Plant Science Team provides compensation for a cohort of 12 graduate students and postdocs who make a substantial contribution as an online scientist mentor. Master Plant Science Team Members receive • Free membership to ASPB for the year commitment • 50% off annual meeting registration • PlantingScience T-shirt Team involvement requirements • … Read moreJoin the PlantingScience Master Plant Science Team

Press Release – ASPB Names 2019 Recipient of Leadership in Science Policy Public Service Award

Honor to be presented at Plant Biology 2019 in San Jose, California ROCKVILLE, MD – The American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) is pleased to announce that Pamela Ronald is the recipient of its 2019 Leadership in Science Policy Public Service Award. The ASPB Science Policy Committee awards the Leadership in Science Public Service Award … Read morePress Release – ASPB Names 2019 Recipient of Leadership in Science Policy Public Service Award

Plant BLOOME 2019 Winners Announced

ASPB established the Plant Biology Learning Objectives, Outreach Materials, & Education (Plant BLOOME) grant program with the goal to enhance public awareness and understanding of the essential roles of plants in all areas of life (http://bloome.aspb.org). Congratulations to the 2019 ASPB Plant BLOOME grant recipients! Bringing Plants to Life Through Theatre Arts PI: Carol Goodwillie, … Read morePlant BLOOME 2019 Winners Announced

Highlights from Fascination of Plants Day 2019

The fifth international Fascination of Plants Day (FoPD) launched on May 18, 2019. Hosted under the umbrella of the European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO), FoPD aims to get as many people as possible around the world fascinated by plants and enthused about the importance of plant science. ASPB is the national coordinator for FoPD in … Read moreHighlights from Fascination of Plants Day 2019