Sarah Black ASPB has joined a broad coalition of agricultural, scientific, and farmer organizations in calling on Congress to strengthen oversight of recent changes within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area. The letter emphasizes that federal agricultural research is “the backbone of American agricultural innovation” and plays a critical role in … Read more
By Tessa Burch-Smith, ASPB President-Elect 1. Taking Action: We’re all Advocates One of ASPB’s main functions is advocacy aimed at informing US science policy so that it is supportive of all science – and plant science, in particular. This work is carried out largely by the Science Policy Committee (SPC), currently chaired by Georg Jander … Read more
ASPB has joined a coalition of scientific societies in expressing concern over proposed closures, consolidations, and reorganizations of US Forest Service (USFS) research facilities. The letter warns that these actions could “degrade and damage the Forest Service’s scientific capacity and its ability to collect and deliver critical information” that supports ecosystem health, forest management, and … Read more
ASPB has joined more than 40 scientific organizations in urging Congress to fully support the National Science Foundation (NSF) and reject the proposed elimination of the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE). In the letter, the organizations describe SBE as “an indispensable and essential part of the nation’s overall research enterprise” and emphasize … Read more
Greetings ASPB members! It is encouraging that signs of spring are here: daffodils are blooming and robins have returned, even though sometimes a cold spell can still make one feel the chilling air. Despite the unstable weather, warmer climates are inevitably forthcoming and many more flowers will blossom. This is my third year of service … Read more