ASPB President
By Kent Chapman, ASPB President
I can still remember joining ASPB. It was in 1987 when I was a first year PhD student at Arizona State University. My PhD advisor, Richard Trelease, was on the editorial board of Plant Physiology (the society’s only journal at the time), and the entire lab was planning to attend the annual meeting in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the first time that the annual meeting had not been held on a university campus, and I was excited and ultimately mesmerized by the experience of the annual meeting. I submitted an abstract and presented my research findings in poster format in the large hotel ballroom. Richard introduced me to colleagues in our field and many others across the country. I met students and postdocs from other labs, heard exciting talks from leading scientists, and although I didn’t know it at the time, it was the start of building my professional network. I was hooked; I rarely missed an annual meeting over the next 38 years and always enjoy connecting with colleagues and meeting new friends. I look forward to Plant Biology 2026 this summer in Ottawa, Canada, where ASPB will host its annual meeting jointly with the Canadian Society of Plant Biologists (CSPB/SCBV).
Membership Value for All Career Stages
As I moved from PhD student to post-doctoral scientist to a tenure-track faculty position, I maintained my membership in ASPB. Membership has meant different things at different stages in my career, but ASPB has remained my professional home. ASPB was the place that I was introduced to the professor who would become my post-doc advisor, Thomas Moore, and his lab group. ASPB was the place where I connected with other plant scientists, especially since the university that I joined had only one other plant biology faculty member at the time. ASPB also is the place where I have found collaborators, learned new research ideas and approaches, met with program officers to discuss potential funding opportunities, and talked with vendors to equip my lab. ASPB also has been the place where a lot of my group’s research has been shared, first in Pant Physiology, then in The Plant Cell and, recently, also in Plant Direct.
ASPB has given me much over the years—far more than the cost of annual dues—which can often be made up with meeting registration and publication discounts. In addition to tangible rewards, there are many often-overlooked benefits of ASPB membership. Like many plant biologists, I have been fortunate to be supported by federal research funding throughout my career, and many of the plant-focused programs that we’ve taken for granted at the NSF, the USDA and the Department of Energy, are a result of the exceptional efforts by those that have gone before us. Changing administration priorities regarding research funding remind us how important these federal dollars are to the education and training of plant scientists in our country. Advocacy efforts for plant biology funding are more important than ever, and I urge you to act where you can. Besides advocacy for U.S. research funding, ASPB remains a strong voice for plant science worldwide with partnerships in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. A notable first for the Society: with the appointment of Anna Amtmann of the University of Glasgow as the next Editor-in-Chief of Plant Physiology, all three Editors-in-Chief of ASPB’s journals will be based outside the U.S. This speaks to the Society’s commitment to engaging with and supporting plant science researchers globally.
Those members in the business of teaching plant biology like me, likely have made extensive use of textbook and resource materials for their classrooms, most of which were developed by member efforts and/or supported by ASPB grant opportunities. Or maybe you’ve ordered the recent, “once-in-a-century” compendium of the latest research summaries published by ASPB, an excellent resource for comprehensive courses covering the breadth of plant science knowledge. In addition, plant biologists inside and outside our membership can stay informed about the latest news, views and employment opportunities in plant science through Plantae, our digital ecosystem, and our strong social media channels. And many appreciate the webinars and workshops that are put on by ASPB members and staff .
ASPB Membership: Giving back
Many of my ASPB heroes have given much to promote the careers of plant scientists. Following their examples, ASPB also is a place where I’ve contributed my professional service over the years. This has included organizing regional meetings, representing sections at the national level, serving as an officer of the society, and working as an editor for The Plant Cell. Whether you’ve served many roles at ASPB or are looking to get involved, share your ASPB membership story in the feedback box below. For another example, please see the importance that ASPB membership holds for Dr. Azam Noori in the recent ASPB newsletter feature.
Finally, please be on the lookout for an upcoming membership survey. It’s been more than 15 years since our last poll of the membership. It’s time for you to tell us what you value (and what you don’t) about ASPB. Whether you are a long-time member, a new member or considering becoming (or returning as) a member, please take a few minutes to complete the survey when it arrives and help us best serve your needs. THANK YOU! Remember, we’re stronger together.
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