Legislative Update: Congress Approves 2018 Farm Bill Conference Report

On December 10, Congress released the long-awaited 2018 farm bill conference report, H.R. 2 The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, a bipartisan compromise package that authorizes farm programs and agricultural research through fiscal year (FY) 2023.  The final farm bill package, totaling 807 pages, is budget neutral.  Title VII, the Research Title, largely reflects the … Read moreLegislative Update: Congress Approves 2018 Farm Bill Conference Report

Members of the ASPB Community Elected to the 2018 Class of the AAAS Fellows

Twenty-three members of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) community were elected to the 2018 class of AAAS Fellows. Each year, the AAAS Council elects fellows based on their contributions to science and technology in the areas of research; teaching; technology; services to professional societies; administration in academe, industry, and government; and communicating and … Read moreMembers of the ASPB Community Elected to the 2018 Class of the AAAS Fellows

Nominations Opening Soon for 2019 ASPB Awards!

The time to recognize and honor excellence among our fellow plant scientists is near The 2019 Call for Award Nominations will be sent to ASPB members on January 4, 2019, and nominations will be due by Wednesday, February 20. ASPB encourages you to participate in the 2019 awards program by nominating highly deserving individuals. Please … Read moreNominations Opening Soon for 2019 ASPB Awards!

Travel Awards for Plant Biology 2019 from the Primarily Undergraduate Institutions Section a Possibility

The American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) is a leader in developing and supporting professional development opportunities for members at all career stages and who are at different types of institutions. To help boost research engagement at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) for current and prospective faculty, ASPB is offering a PUI workshop on the morning … Read moreTravel Awards for Plant Biology 2019 from the Primarily Undergraduate Institutions Section a Possibility

ASPB Appropriations Action Alert

Much of the federal government is operating under a continuing resolution (CR) that is set to expire on December 7, 2018. Congress has yet to pass seven of the twelve appropriations bills for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, including the Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill, which funds the National Science Foundation (NSF), as well as the … Read moreASPB Appropriations Action Alert

Announcing the Founding Members of the Ambassador Alliance

We are happy to announce the founding members of the ASPB Ambassador governing committee, the Ambassador Alliance. Stephanie Klein, Chair.  Stephanie is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate at Penn State University. She has served as an ASPB Ambassador and the Grad Student Rep to the ASPB Membership Committee since 2015 and is also a member of … Read moreAnnouncing the Founding Members of the Ambassador Alliance

Early Career Professionals to ASPB Committees

APPLY HERE ASPB strives to be an inclusive professional organization, seeking input from and providing training opportunities for members across the world and at all career stages. ASPB currently involves early career professionals in two standing committees – Membership and Science Policy. Feedback at the Plant Biology 2018 Town Hall – as well as through … Read moreEarly Career Professionals to ASPB Committees

Nomination Update: Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing on USDA Under Secretary of REE, Chief Scientist Nomination

On November 28th, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing to consider the nomination of Dr. Scott Hutchins as U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics (REE), which also serves as USDA Chief Scientist. Hutchins, the former global leader of Corteva AgriScience, is an entomologist by training and … Read moreNomination Update: Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing on USDA Under Secretary of REE, Chief Scientist Nomination

Ambassa-More, Please! Announcing the Newly Enhanced ASPB Ambassador Program

  BY STEPHANIE KLEIN, ASPB Ambassador and Membership Committee RISHI R. MASALIA, ASPB Ambassador and Membership Committee KEN KORTH, Membership Committee JILL DEIKMAN, Chair of the Membership Committee   The ASPB Ambassador Program was established in 2006 to involve students and postdocs in communicating ASPB’s mission to academic and industry communities and to the general … Read moreAmbassa-More, Please! Announcing the Newly Enhanced ASPB Ambassador Program

Funding Opportunity: NSF BIO Releases Two Solicitations for Rules of Life Big Idea

Lewis-Burke Associates LLC – October 1, 2018 The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released two new solicitations for one of its 10 Big Ideas, Understanding the Rules of Life (URoL): Epigenetics; and Building a Synthetic Cell – An Ideas Lab Activity. Led by the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO), URoL goals are to better understand … Read moreFunding Opportunity: NSF BIO Releases Two Solicitations for Rules of Life Big Idea

What Do YOU Want to Ask the Next Editor-in-Chief of The Plant Cell?

We have been charged by ASPB to conduct a search for the next Editor-in-Chief of The Plant Cell.  Back in March of this year, we began the search process by meeting as a group to discuss potential candidates for this important role.  We invited candidates and issued a call for nominations to the community. CVs … Read moreWhat Do YOU Want to Ask the Next Editor-in-Chief of The Plant Cell?

Announcing the 2018-2019 ASPB Scholars Sponsored by Conviron

Congratulations to the 2018-2019 class of the ASPB Conviron Scholars Program.  These scholars were selected from a strongly competitive group of over 200 applicants.  Read more about each awardee. Special thanks to Conviron for making this program possible through their financial support.     Bryce Askey, University of Florida, US Carl Branch, University of Minnesota, US … Read moreAnnouncing the 2018-2019 ASPB Scholars Sponsored by Conviron

Transforming Education in Plant Biology (TEPB)- Request for Proposals

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 focus on student-centered learning with students as active participants.  Some … Read moreTransforming Education in Plant Biology (TEPB)- Request for Proposals

ASPB in China

Representatives of ASPB will be attending two major conferences in China this October. The first is the National Congress of Plant Biology (NCPB; http://www.ncpb.net/2018/index.php/Index/), to be held October 18 – 22 in Tai’an, China, and the second is the World Life Science Conference (WLSC; http://wlsc2018.csi.org.cn/), to be held October 27 – 29 in Beijing, China. … Read moreASPB in China

Plant scientists call for renewed focus on empowerment of trainees

Preparing graduate students and postdocs for diverse careers Changes in the workforce are challenging academia to prepare scientists to be adaptable and adept at communicating across boundaries. To meet these demands, the Plant Science Research Network (PSRN, plantae.org/PSRN) is shifting the focus to enable trainees to take ownership of their training experiences. “Since President Lincoln … Read morePlant scientists call for renewed focus on empowerment of trainees

ASPB Education Booth at Plant Biology 2018

At Plant Biology 2018, the ASPB Education and Outreach booth featured a variety of resources for visitors with multiple booth guests sharing helpful teaching tools and outreach activities. Long time education committee member Scott Woody made it across the Canadian border with his FPsc (fast plants, self-compatible) and genetic resources to share with conference attendees. … Read moreASPB Education Booth at Plant Biology 2018

Plant Biology 2018 – Let’s DO science

Students learn better when they are actively engaged in course material.  For the sciences, this translates into involving them in original research experiences.  Research experiences for undergraduates in our research labs are a valuable opportunity for all concerned, but these spaces are limited. We may all acknowledge that providing research experiences for all our majors … Read morePlant Biology 2018 – Let’s DO science

Education and Outreach at Plant Biology 2018

The education concurrent symposium at Plant Biology 2018 attracted a wide array of scientists committed to the importance of educating the public and students about topics in plant biology. Each speaker presented a creative way to generate knowledge and excitement about scientific discovery either to students in the classroom or to the public via various … Read moreEducation and Outreach at Plant Biology 2018

One Year After SURF-ing: Students Reflect and Share What’s Next

The ASPB Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) fund promising undergraduate students so they can conduct research in plant biology during the early part of their college careers. SURF recipients must present their research at ASPB’s annual Plant Biology meeting in the year following the fellowship award. Two 2017 SURF recipients share how their undergraduate research … Read moreOne Year After SURF-ing: Students Reflect and Share What’s Next