Celebrate Herstory: Nominate Inspiring Women in Plant Biology for Recognition!

Blog by Rebecca Roston, Chair, ASPB Women in Plant Biology Committee In honor of US Women’s History Month, the Women in Plant Biology Committee of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) is thrilled to celebrate the remarkable women who have shaped and continue to shape our field. We’re calling on YOU to nominate exceptional … Read more

Weighing in on GMO Technology Regulation

In late December 2023, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reopened the comment period on a recent proposal that outlined five additional exemptions for “plants with modifications that could be achieved through conventional breeding.” USDA APHIS coordinates responsibilities for Biotechnology Regulatory Services, which protect plant health and implement … Read more

Urging Investment in Agriculture Research Innovation

In March 2023, US Senators Michael Bennet and Roger Marshall introduced the Advancing Cutting Edge (ACE) Agriculture Act with the goal of supporting “high-risk, high-reward agricultural research and development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).” ASPB was one of 65 organizations that signed a recent letter to the Senate and House Agriculture Committee members … Read more

ASPB Signs in Support of ARACI Act

In late September, ASPB joined a diverse group of organizations representing state, research, scientific, and private industry interests to sign a letter urging support for the Advancing Research on Agricultural Climate Impacts (ARACI) Act as part of the 2023 Farm Bill. This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Todd Young (R-IN), and … Read more

Continuing Microbiome Research Support and Coordination

The American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) remains active in supporting the advancement of scientific research and recently signed a letter to the leadership of the Committee on Appropriations urging inclusion of language regarding the Microbiome Interagency Working Group in the final Senate Fiscal Year 2024 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill. … Read more

ASPB Remembers Philip Benfey

On September 26, 2023, Philip Benfey, notable plant geneticist, professor, and ASPB Pioneer Member, passed away. Philip had a lasting impact on many people in the plant biology community, some of whom have shared their memories and tributes to Philip here. Readers are invited to add their own memories to the comments of this blog … Read more

ASPB Announces New Peer Review Report Policy

The ASPB journals Plant Physiology and The Plant Cell are introducing a new mechanism for publishing peer review reports on each journal’s website. A version of peer review reports has been published with the supplemental material of original research articles in The Plant Cell for some time. However, for the first time we are introducing … Read more

ASPB Joins Call for FFAR Funding

In mid-September, while the 2023 Farm Bill reauthorization was under-way, ASPB, together with 130 organizations from industry, academia, and agriculture, signed a community support letter for the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) in the Farm Bill. Refreshed every five years, the last Farm Bill passed in 2018. The 2023 Farm Bill includes critical … Read more

Changing Times in Peer Review

For Peer Review Week 2023, ASPB is asking the community to weigh in on topics affecting peer reviewers in scientific publishing   This year’s theme for Peer Review Week is “The Future of Publishing,” and with such a lofty theme, there’s one direction the conversation naturally goes: artificial intelligence (AI). While much of the conversation … Read more

From Plant Biology 2023: The Evolutionary Origin of Acutumine Biosynthesis in Menispermaceae Plants

Interview by Charlay Wood Today, I had the star-struck experience of meeting Prof. Jing-Ke Weng in person! Imagine meeting someone you’ve idolized from the pages of academic journals brought to life right in front of you. It’s like bumping into your favorite movie star, but in the world of plant specialized metabolism. I’ve poured over more … Read more

ASPB Joins AAAS and Others to Reaffirm Commitment to Advancing DEI in STEM

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s June 2023 ruling on the use of race in college admissions, many academic institutions are left reworking admissions programs and policies that have historically benefitted Black, Indigenous, and Latino students. The end of race-conscious college admissions directly impacts the reach and accessibility of higher education by the very … Read more

The Plant Cell is Searching for its Next Editor-in-Chief

As the highly successful term of current Editor-in-Chief of The Plant Cell is coming to an end, the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) is seeking a prominent plant scientist to assume the duties and responsibilities of Editor-in-Chief of The Plant Cell, effective January 1, 2025. ASPB’s Editor Search Committee is charged with evaluating candidates for … Read more

ASPB’s 2023 Election Results

Many thanks to those members who took the time to vote this summer; and hearty congratulations to our incoming President-elect, Hong Ma, and elected member of the Board of Directors, Sarah Wyatt! Additionally, the recognition of Avraham Levy and Wataru Sakamoto as Enid MacRobbie corresponding members was overwhelmingly ratified by the ASPB membership. Hong and … Read more

ASPB Journals Launch Author Travel Awards

Plant Physiology and The Plant Cell pledge to help published authors present their science   Authors whose work has been published in Plant Physiology or The Plant Cell, leading international society journals published by the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB), have a new option to support their travel to share their research with the … Read more

ASPB Joins More Than 50 Organizations Calling on Congress to Protect Agricultural Research

ASPB recently joined more than 50 food, farm, and conservation organizations in urging Congress to protect public investment in agricultural research. “Investing in research at the intersection of agriculture and climate change is critical to both short-term and long-term efforts to protect the viability of the agricultural industry,” the letter reads. “Unfortunately, the U.S. is … Read more

ASPB Joins 400 Organizations Calling for Farm Bill Budget Resources

As the fiscal year 2024 (FY24) budget is being developed, ASPB joined forces with more than 400 organizations sending a letter to House and Senate Budget and Agriculture Committee members calling for providing the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and House Committee on Agriculture with sufficient budgetary resources. These budget resources could be … Read more

ASPB Webinar April 14: What I Wish I Had Known When I Started Grad School

April 14, 2023 1 PM CDT The ASPB Early Career Plant Scientists (ECPS) Section wants to help you succeed in graduate school. So, we’re bringing back one of our most popular panel discussion webinars, “What I Wish I Had Known When I Started Grad School.” In this webinar, a panel including recent grad school graduates … Read more

Funding Opportunities: Fall 2023 Programs from DOE’s Office of Science

DOE’s Office of Science Is Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2023 Undergraduate Intern and Visiting Faculty Placements Applications are currently being accepted for the Fall 2023 term of three programs offered by the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science (SC) The Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) program The Community College Internships (CCI) program The … Read more

ASPB Joins 64 Organizations Urging Funding for AgARDA

On March 8, 2023, ASPB, together with 64 other organizations, signed a letter addressed to the Subcommittee on Agriculture to urge $50 million in funding for the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA). “Advanced research agencies have been effectively deployed in defense, energy, and health to tackle the biggest challenges facing these industries in … Read more

ASPB Signs Letter Supporting Farm Bill Investment

ASPB, together with more than 50 other organizations, signed a letter to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees requesting $8 billion in food and agriculture research, facilities, Extension, and education in the Farm Bill. The letter urges the committee to consider that the most important “food and agricultural advancements rely on a continuous pipeline of … Read more