We deplore the pervasive institutional racism that allows systemic injustice, inequality, suffering, and violence to fester. We understand the love, fear, and anger of those protesting the most recent murders of unarmed Black people going about their lives, and we implore governments and their agents to act with restraint and compassion. We stand with other … Read more Silence Suffocates Us All
Zhiyong Wang Acting Director and Senior Staff Scientist, Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science INTERVIEW BY DIWAKER TRIPATHI ASPB Student Ambassador, University of Washington Zhiyong Wang grew up in Wuda, a small coal-mining town in northwest Inner Mongolia, China. He received his BS in plant physiology from Lanzhou University, China, and his MS from the … Read more Member Spotlight – Zhiyong Wang
On May 27, the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) released a request for application (RFA) through its Crops of the Future Collaborative. FFAR is seeking transformative research and technologies “focused on ensuring under-appreciated crops also benefit from recent advances and emerging technologies for genotype-independent regeneration of fertile plants to foster application of rapid breeding … Read more FFAR Releases Crops of the Future RFA
Weekly updates on the US federal government’s response to COVID-19 and research opportunities. Federal Guidance Related to Research and Higher Education National Science Foundation (NSF) The 2020 NSF Proposal and Award Policy and Procedures Guide will go into effect as planned on June 1. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of the new … Read more U.S. Federal Agency Responses and Research Opportunities: May 20 – 26, 2020
On May 18, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) released the final version of the agency’s update to the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology (Coordinated Framework). APHIS initially released a proposed rule in 2019, but withdrew it following significant stakeholder comments. This revision, called … Read more Policy Update: USDA Releases Revised Rule on Genetically Engineered Plants Amid Overhaul of Biotechnology Regulations
On May 20, ASPB and other societies sent a letter to President Trump to address the Immigration Executive Proclamation. The letter writes, “we urge you to prioritize the immigration of science and technology talent that will spur the scientific breakthroughs and economic growth of the United States that is needed for rapid recovery from the … Read more Multisociety Letter on the Immigration Executive Proclamation
On February 20, the Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics Scott Hutchins announced the long-anticipated Agriculture Innovation Agenda. This effort has been a long-term priority of Deputy Under Secretary Hutchins and outlines target objectives for a future innovation strategy at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Agenda identifies several clear benchmark objectives … Read more Agency Update: USDA Releases Agriculture Innovation Agenda
Weekly updates on the US federal government’s response to COVID-19 and research opportunities. Federal Guidance Related to Research and Higher Education National Science Foundation (NSF) NSF Virtual Office Hours: Certain NSF Directorates and Divisions have held or are holding office hours for their research community. Examples and additional information below: The Division of Environmental Biology … Read more U.S. Federal Agency Responses and Research Opportunities: May 13 – 19, 2020
In response to the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing actions taken globally to limit the spread of the virus, the ASPB Board of Directors has decided to convert Plant Biology 2020 to a fully online conference that includes both synchronous (real-time livestream) and asynchronous (on demand) access for attendees. The Plant Biology 2020 Worldwide Summit will … Read more Plant Biology 2020 Worldwide Summit
Craig Schenck NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, Treasurer ASPB Early Career Plant Scientist Section, Early Career Representative ASPB Publications Committee How or why did you get into plant science? Growing up, we always had a garden and I liked to be outside getting my hands dirty. I loved the manual aspect of working outside and also the … Read more ASPB Member Spotlight – Craig Schenck
Erin Friedman ASPB Education Committee Chair Note: This interview was originally published in Judy Callis’ President’s Letter “The New Normal” To help members get to know you, how did you get into plant science? My dad, Steve Browder, has a PhD in plant physiology and taught biology at Franklin College, a small primarily undergraduate institution … Read more ASPB Member Spotlight – Erin Friedman
Weekly updates on the US federal government’s response to COVID-19 and research opportunities. Congressional and Federal Updates Senate Returns to Washington Despite COVID-19 Concerns The Senate returns to Washington on May 4 under controversial circumstances as Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) reconvenes the Senate amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The House of Representatives was also originally … Read more U.S. Federal Agency Responses and Research Opportunities: April 29 – May 5, 2020
On April 30, ASPB joined other supporters of US agriculture in a letter to congressional leaders. “As Congress considers the next supplemental appropriations package, we urge you to provide the necessary resources to our agricultural research, education, and extension system,” the letter writes. Specific asks to Congress include: $380 million for the USDA National Institute … Read more ASPB urges Congress to support NIFA and the Cooperative Extension System
Peggy G. Lemaux ASPB Founding Legacy Society Member How did you spend your career? I grew up on a farm in northwestern Ohio and wanted to get as far away from the hard, physical labor on the farm as I could. My brothers, the first in our family to attend college, were both engineers, and … Read more ASPB Member Spotlight – Peggy G. Lemaux
The “New normal” was a term that arose during the 2007–2008 financial setbacks, and it has been used periodically since then. Again apropos, the term has emerged recently in the popular press. This new normal has its own vocabulary: social distancing, flattening the curve, N95 masks, Zoom and Zoombombing, and others. Many of you are … Read more President’s Letter—The New Normal
To provide relevant information to ASPB members, we will be sharing weekly updates on US Federal Agency responses to COVID-19 and research opportunities. The information below was prepared by Lewis-Burke Associates and curated by Shandrea Stallworth, Early Career Representative on ASPB’s Science Policy Committee. Additional information about ASPB’s response to COVID-19 can be found here. … Read more U.S. Federal Agency Responses and Research Opportunities: April 22 – 28, 2020
Lincoln Taiz ASPB Founding Legacy Society Member How did you spend your career? A scientific career typically begins in graduate school, when one earns a first paycheck as a teaching or research assistant. Mine began in the summer of 1967, when I joined the Botany Department at the University of California, Berkeley, as a PhD … Read more ASPB Member Spotlight – Lincoln Taiz
Dr. Roger Beachy, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Biology at Washington University in St. Louis, has been included on the President’s list of intended nominees to the National Science Board (NSB), which governs the work of the National Science Foundation. Of the eight members of NSB whose six-year terms are ending in 2020, Dr. … Read more Washington Update – ASPB Member Appointed to Second Term on National Science Board
To provide relevant information to ASPB members, we will be sharing weekly updates on US Federal Agency responses to COVID-19 and research opportunities. The information below was prepared by Lewis-Burke Associates and curated by Shandrea Stallworth, Early Career Representative on ASPB’s Science Policy Committee. Additional information about ASPB’s response to COVID-19 can be found here. … Read more U.S. Federal Agency Responses and Research Opportunities: April 15 – 21, 2020
On April 2, U.S. Senators announced a “plan to introduce a resolution condemning discrimination against Asian-Americans and Asian immigrants caused by the COVID-19 outbreak” (see press release). ASPB has signed on to a multisociety letter in support of the resolution, which will be introduced to the Senate on May 4. The Multisociety Letter was sent … Read more U.S. Congressional Resolution to Condemn Anti-Asian Racism Prompted by COVID-19