ASPB News THE NEWSLETTER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLANT BIOLOGISTS Volume 35, Number 4 July/August 2008

President’s Letter Inside This Issue

Three ASPB Members Elected to NAS A Model Citizen

The Pan American Congress on Plants In my high school years in the late entire continent). All these events evoked and BioEnergy 1960s, I do not think I ever aspired to a visceral, emotional response—“they” be a “model citizen” of the society I saw (the older generation) were killing the around me. As a matter of fact, I think planet—that resonated perfectly with the Plant Biology 2008 being a model citizen would have been normal rebellion of adolescence. coverage starts on page12 anathema to me, rather akin to the In my college years, I was much influ- “goody two-shoes” term of derision of enced by Limits to Growth (2), which my younger years. It was the time of mathematically modeled the conse- the antihero, whether Donald Suther- quences of a rapidly growing world pop- land and Elliot Gould in MASH, Faye ulation given finite resources. That Dunaway and Warren Beatty in Bonnie Rob McClung analysis was controversial and has been and Clyde, Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper in Easy criticized for the limitations of the data sets consid- Rider, Paul Newman and Robert Redford in Butch ered, but the premise was influential, and the basic Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, or Jack Nicholson in message, to me, remains fundamentally sound. Expo- Five Easy Pieces. I played in a rock ’n’ roll band— nential growth (in population, resource utilization, what can a poor boy do? (1). and waste generation) will eventually become incom- The ’60s were complex, however, and there was patible with a world that offers finite resources. much more in the air than simple rebellion. The ’60s In college, the villain remained “they”—the older counterculture attempted to articulate many things, generation in power. The concepts of sustainability including a respect for the planet that many of us felt and stewardship seemed obvious yet were apparently was lacking. I remember robins staggering and dying absent from government policy and foreign to any- on my lawn from ingesting the incredible neurotoxic one over 30. Unfortunately (well, fortunately, actual- pesticides being applied around my suburban home, ly), one of life’s inevitable progressions is that one named Applewood for its orchards. DDT was killing becomes one of “them” almost before one notices. loons, ospreys, and eagles. The bioaccumulation of Here I am, 40 or so years on. I heat my home in winter DDT inspired a stunning poster of a woman’s breast, (granted, I do use a wood stove quite a bit), and I with a caption indicating that milk from such con- drive a car (but a Mini Cooper with 37 mpg, not an tainers may be unfit for human consumption. SUV), and I recently flew to Mérida, Mexico, for Plant I made a trip to Sudbury, Ontario, and saw the Biology 2008. Certainly, I have become a citizen of the stunted vegetation from the downwind plume of sul- society of which I was (and remain) quite critical. fur dioxide released from the huge smokestack (the One of my life’s unexpected ironies and privileges Inco nickel mine is considered to be the single largest has been that at Dartmouth, I had the opportunity to point source of acid rain, causing emissions on the continued on page 4 The ASPB News is delivered online as well as in print. Members will be alerted by e-mail when a new issue is posted. The ASPB News welcomes member feedback. Contact the editor at [email protected].

ASPB Executive Committee & Staff CONTENTS

President C. Robertson McClung 603-646-3940 1 President’s Letter President-Elect Sarah M. (Sally) Assmann 814-863-9579 Immediate Past President Richard Amasino 608-265-2170 Secretary Danny Schnell 413-545-4024 6 ASPB Members Kay, Carrington, and Treasurer Mark R. Brodl 210-999-7246 Schmitt Elected to NAS Chair, Board of Trustees Dan Bush 970-491-2442 Chair, Publications Committee Sally Mackenzie 402-472-6997 8 The Pan American Congress on Plants Chair, Women in Plant Biology Committee Judy Brusslan 562-985-8133 and BioEnergy 2008 Chair, Minority Affairs Committee MariaElena B. Zavala 818-677-3342 Chair, Education Committee Jane Ellis 864-833-8416 Chair, International Committee Arun Goyal 903-886-5378 12 Plant Biology 2008 coverage Chair, Membership Committee Mel Oliver 573-882-9645 Chair, Committee on Public Affairs Gary Stacey 573-884-4752 Elected Members Steven Huber 217-265-0909 19 Award Honorees at Plant Biology 2008 Karen Koch 352-392-4711 Alan Jones 919-962-6932 Sectional Representatives 27 Women in Plant Biology Midwestern John Kiss 513-529-5428 Northeastern Lawrence Smart 315-470-6737 Southern Caryl Chlan 337-482-5916 29 Bioethics Mid-Atlantic Robert Donaldson 202-994-6094 Western Anireddy S. N. Reddy 970-491-5773 31 Public Affairs

Executive director Crispin Taylor, ext. 115 [email protected] 37 ASPB Education Forum Executive and governance affairs manager Donna Gordon, ext. 131 [email protected] Assoc. director of finance & administration Kim Kimnach, ext. 140 [email protected] Systems administrator vacant Deadline for November/December 2008 Accounts receivable specialist Stephanie Liu-Kuan, ext. 143 [email protected] ASPB News: October 5, 2008 Junior accountant Jotee Pundu, ext. 144 [email protected] Director of meetings, marketing, & membership Jean Rosenberg, ext. 110 [email protected] Manager of marketing and web services Wendy Sahli, ext. 123 [email protected] Membership and marketing research assistant Shoshana Kronfeld, ext. 122 [email protected] Subscriptions manager Suzanne Cholwek, ext. 141 [email protected] Marketing and analytic specialist vacant Director of public affairs Brian M. Hyps, ext. 114 [email protected] Education foundation assistant Katie Engen, ext. 116 [email protected] Director of publications Nancy A. Winchester, ext. 117 [email protected] Publications assistant Diane McCauley, ext. 133 [email protected] Managing editor John Long, ext. 119 [email protected] Science writer, Plant Physiology Peter Minorsky, 845-878-4570 [email protected] Production manager, Plant Physiology Jon Munn, ext. 130 [email protected] Manuscript manager, Plant Physiology Leslie (Ash) Csikos, ext. 125 [email protected] News and reviews editor, The Plant Cell Nancy Eckardt, 970-495-9918 [email protected] Production manager, The Plant Cell Susan Entwistle, ext. 118 [email protected] Manuscript manager, The Plant Cell Annette Kessler, ext. 120 [email protected]

ASPB News is distributed to all ASPB members and is published six ASPB News times annually, in odd-numbered months. It is edited and prepared by ASPB staff from material provided by ASPB members and other Headquarters Office interested parties. 15501 Monona Drive Copy deadline is the 5th day of the preceding even-numbered Rockville, MD 20855-2768 USA month (for example, December 5 for January/February publication). Phone: 301-251-0560 Submit copy by e-mail whenever possible; submit all other copy by Fax: 301-279-2996 mail, not by fax. Contact: Nancy A. Winchester, Editor, ASPB News, 15501 Monona Drive, Rockville, MD 20855-2768 USA; [email protected]; 301-251-0560, ext. 117.

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GMO outlook sparked much conversation r 2500 with her and her classes (both very much on the anti-GMO side), and I think we all were Drosophila considerably informed by our discussions. 2000 The dilemma of continuing growth in the Yea s per n face of resource limitation has been an ongo- Arabidopsis ing theme of my columns. Reading the 1500 May/June issue of the ASPB News, I could not help but note that the letter Brian Hyps and I Publicatio

wrote (Brian was much too modest to take f 1000 any credit) and published in the Washington Times on March 6 was inspired by oil passing the unheard-of $100-per-barrel threshold. 500 Now, as the July/August issue of the newsletter moves into production, oil is around $140 Number o per barrel and has flirted with $150! 0 The Washington Post recently published a commentary by Robert J. Samuelson that cit- ed economist Jeffrey Rubin of CIBC World Markets, who predicted that oil will rise to $225 per barrel (and gasoline to $7 per gal- Figure 1. Annual rate of publication about several model organisms, 1910–2006. This unpub- lished analysis is courtesy of Michael Dietrich, Dartmouth College, and is based on data lon) by 2012 (3). In the face of these prices, it derived from The Arabidopsis Information Resource (http://www.arabidopsis.org/ is no wonder that Americans are driving less index.jsp), and Flybase (http://www.flybase.org). and purchasing many fewer SUVs. Of course, conservation (i.e., reduced consumption) is a key component of any successful response to our current energy crisis, and the drive (pun their labs (as well as in a few other labs rates in Drosophila. Data were drawn from intended) for sustainability should motivate around the world). The excitement was, of The Arabidopsis Information Resource, and any model citizen. course, about Arabidopsis thaliana emerging Flybase. Lists of publications were refined to But I did not come to talk about either of as a model organism with which to study exclude abstracts, dissertations, personal the two types of models, citizens or mathe- plant biology. When I started my lab at Dart- communications, supplemental material, let- matical, to which I’ve referred so far. My pur- mouth, I embraced Arabidopsis as my exper- ters, poems, book reviews, and sequence pose today is to talk about model organisms imental organism and finally became a accessions. and about an impending threshold. “model” citizen. Knowing of my love for the little weed, In the fall of 1981, I arrived at Michigan Much has been said and written about Mike wanted to point out the stunning State University in scenic East Lansing to Arabidopsis. Rather than paraphrase the increase in the rate of publication on Ara- begin study toward a PhD (I’d earlier acquired words of others, let me simply refer the inter- bidopsis starting in the mid- to late 1980s. a master’s degree from Dalhousie University ested reader to a couple of the relevant arti- Arabidopsis has not yet passed Drosophila, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and then worked at cles that discuss its emergence as a valuable but simple extrapolation suggests it will. the USDA labs in Beltsville, Md.). It was an model organism (4–6). However, as with similar graphs on exceptionally good time to begin to study I would like to point out some data gener- resource utilization, simple extrapolation plant genetics and molecular biology, and the ated by my colleague Michael Dietrich. Mike may not be valid. It takes money to publish, Department of Energy Plant Research Lab is a historian of genetics, and a couple of and in the same way that Dana Meadows and (DOE–PRL) was an exceptional place. Chris weeks ago, he sent me the graph reproduced her coauthors argued that resources like food and Shauna Somerville relocated to the PRL in Figure 1. He has collected data on publica- and fuel would limit population growth, so shortly after I arrived there, and it was clear tion rates in a number of our favorite plant too will funding rates at NSF, NIH, DOE, that something exciting was germinating in models and compared them to publication and USDA limit publication rates.

4 • ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 I do not wish to prescribe how resources have both food and fuel. It is hard to imagine Even as my own research portfolio has diver- should be allocated among various model the achievement of this goal without basic sified to include Brassica rapa (perhaps only plants and crop species, at least not in this research in model organisms, including Ara- a baby step from Arabidopsis, but truly a letter. But I would like to draw your atten- bidopsis. Indeed, I would argue that we will crop), I am proud to have become a model tion to a recent report to the National Acad- not get there without intensive exploitation citizen.  emies authored by Jeff Dangl and colleagues of a model organism like Arabidopsis. We Rob McClung (7) as well as a recent essay by Alan Jones have lots of data, to be sure, but we do not [email protected] and colleagues (8). This report and essay have anywhere near enough data to argue provide compelling testimony to the effec- that we understand very much at all. And Acknowledgments tiveness of the use of Arabidopsis as a model one critical lesson of the past 20 years or so is I thank Mike Dietrich (Dartmouth College) organism. that, once generated, data are almost imme- for his wonderful analysis and Mike, Jeff Dangl In the preface to the NAS report, Dangl diately outmoded by new technologies and (University of North Carolina), and Alan Jones wrote, “Modern molecular, cellular, and devel- new means of integration. (University of North Carolina) for their com- opmental biology is the story of the adoption The real strength of any model is that ments and discussion. of easily manipulated model organisms that the intrinsic properties that make it so References serve to provide the ‘big picture’ for a much good are readily adaptable to emerging 1. Jagger, M., and K. Richards. 1968. Street broader set of scientific truths. Thus, the clas- technologies. A model organism effectively fighting man. From Beggars Banquet, Decca/ sic case of research using lab mice and fruit becomes a feed-forward loop—the model ABKCO. http://www.youtube.com/ flies that, while of course very compelling in facilitates new analyses. Look at the watch?v=Ibjtq3LSm4Q. its own right to those scientists who do the graph—Arabidopsis is soaring! But there is 2. Meadows, D. H., D. L. Meadows, J. Randers, work, is easily tied to arguments equating a catch. The funding agencies have made a and W. W. Behrens III. 1972. Limits to model organism research with breakthroughs very effective investment in Arabidopsis, growth. New York: Universe Books. in human health.” and that investment must be sustained. 3. Samuelson, R. J. 2008, June 18. Learning The Jones et al. essay discussed some of Drosophila is a well-respected and well- from the oil shock. Washington Post, A15. the many discoveries with direct relevance to funded (by NIH, among others) model 4. Meyerowitz, E. M. 2001. Prehistory and human health and disease that originated organism, and this has allowed sustained history of Arabidopsis research. Plant with research on Arabidopsis. The authors high productivity and increasingly sophisti- Physiology 125:15–19. correctly assert that several processes of cated biological insight. 5. Somerville, C., and M. Koornneef. 2002. A direct importance to human biology can be Arabidopsis merits similar continued fortunate choice: The history of Arabidopsis best studied in this model organism, despite investment. It has proved itself to be a valu- as a model plant. Nature Reviews Genetics the 1.6 billion years since our evolutionary able model organism for both plant and 3:883–889. divergence from plants. human biology. We owe a great many thanks 6. Leonelli, S. 2007. Growing weed, produc- The NAS report reviewed the achieve- to those whose biological insight and leader- ing knowledge: An epistemic history of ments of the National Plant Genome Initia- ship, whether as scientists, as administrators Arabidopsis thaliana. History and Philoso- tive (NPGI) and concluded that it has been in funding agencies, or as congressional lead- phy of the Life Sciences 29:193–224. “very successful by all measures applied in ers, facilitated the development of Arabidop- 7. Dangl, J. L., L. Banta, R. Boerma, J. C. Car- this study…. Far more than just genomics, sis as a leading model organism. rington, J. Chory, S. A. Kay, S. Lewis, T. the technologies and information developed Of course, it is also hard to imagine that Mitchell-Olds, N. R. Sinha, M. Snyder, S. H. by NPGI and by the parallel and comple- there will not be synergism between work in Strauss, and E. R. Ward. 2008. Achievements mentary program Arabidopsis 2010 Project Arabidopsis and in other plant species. We are of the National Plant Genome Initiative and of the National Science Foundation are the unlikely to eat much Arabidopsis or to burn new horizons in plant biology. Washington, primary platforms for basic research in fun- Arabidopsis-derived ethanol (or alkanes) in DC: The National Academies Press. damental plant science” (7). The report our cars and airplanes, so work in model 8. Jones, A. M., J. Chory, J. L. Dangl, M. Estelle, acknowledges the important interplay organisms must be translated into crops (and S. E. Jacobsen, E. M. Meyerowitz, M. Nord- between work in Arabidopsis and in crop into ecosystems). As the title of the Jones et borg, and D. Weigel. 2008. The impact of species and praises this synergism as “the al. essay makes explicit, we must maintain a Arabidopsis on human health: Diversifying best rationale for further and separate devel- diverse research portfolio if we are to achieve our portfolio. Cell 133:939–943. opment of both NPGI and the independently the goals of enhanced plant productivity and funded Arabidopsis 2010 Project.” a sustainable environment. In the May/June issue of the ASPB News, I In the final analysis, Arabidopsis has been argued that there was a compelling need to very good for plant biology and for all biolo- improve plant productivity so that we could gy. I am confident that its race is not yet run.

ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 • 5 ASPB Members Kay, Carrington, and Schmitt Elected to National Academy of Sciences

ASPB members Steve Kay, James Carrington, and Johanna Schmitt have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Their elections were announced on April 29, 2008, at the Academy’s 145th annual meet- ing. Kay, Carrington, and Schmitt were elect- ed individually for their distinguished work and original research in plant science. ASPB’s three plant biologists were among the 72 members and 18 foreign associates elected this year. Election to NAS is one of the highest honors a scientist or engineer can receive. Potential NAS members can be nom- inated only by an existing Academy member. Steve Kay James Carrington Johanna Schmitt Membership is achieved through a formal PHOTO COURTESY OF UCSD. and confidential election process; no applica- tions are accepted. from 1989 to 1992 at the Rockefeller Univer- Center for Genome Research and Biocom- sity, where he established a research program puting, Oregon State University, Corvallis. Steve Kay in the circadian rhythms of the model plant A California native, Carrington received a Steve Kay is currently dean of the Division of Arabidopsis and the fruit fly Drosophila. BS in plant sciences from the University of Biological Sciences and holds the Richard C. In 1992, Kay joined the University of Vir- California, Riverside (1982), and a PhD with Atkinson Chair in the Biological Sciences at ginia, where he developed real-time luciferase T. Jack Morris at the University of California, the University of California, San Diego. He is reporter technology for measuring subcellular Berkeley (1986). He was an NIH postdoctoral also professor of cell and developmental events in live plants and animals. This tech- fellow (1986–1988) with W. G. Dougherty at biology. Previously he was chair of the nology was used to identify several key clock North Carolina State University and Oregon Department of Biochemistry, professor of genes in both systems using genetic screens. State University (OSU) before taking his first cell biology, and director of the Institute for He joined TSRI in 1996, and his work there faculty position at Texas A&M University. Childhood and Neglected Diseases at the has further expanded our knowledge of the Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) in La Jolla, He moved to Washington State University molecular components and mechanisms of Calif., where he was a faculty member from in 1997 and then to Oregon State University the action of circadian clocks, ranging from 1996 to 2007. His academic research con- in 2001. At OSU, Carrington serves as direc- the mechanism of day length sensing in plants cerns the molecular genetic basis of circadian tor of the Center for Genome Research and to behavioral control in mammals. rhythms in plants, animals, and humans. Biocomputing. He was an NSF Presidential Kay stated, “Plant biology is gaining He was also recently director of Discovery Young Investigator (1991–1996), was elected increased importance in the world today Research at the Genomics Institute of the a fellow of the American Association for the with our growing need to develop novel Novartis Research Foundation (GNF), where Advancement of Science, and was corecipient approaches to solving the world’s food crisis he built a large department in which human (with W. G. Dougherty) of the Ruth Allen and to find ways to beat the high prices at genome science is applied to biomedical Award from the American Phytopathological the pump and meet our future energy needs research and drug discovery. Kay is the Society in 2000. Among many editorial and through the development of new biofuels.” founder and former chief technology officer service positions, he has been a coeditor of Kay has received a Keck Foundation Fac- and senior vice president of Phenomix Cor- The Plant Cell and a member of the Sains- ulty Award and the Honma Prize for Life Sci- poration, a drug discovery and development bury Laboratory Council in England. ences, along with several other academic company based in San Diego. Carrington’s early work focused on struc- awards. His work was cited in 1997, 1998, Kay received his bachelor’s degree in bio- ture of RNA virus genomes and viral replica- and 2002 as Science magazine’s “Break- chemistry from the University of Bristol, tion and movement. He eventually moved into throughs of the Year.” England, in 1981, and he received a PhD in virus–host interactions using the Arabidopsis biochemistry from the same institute in James Carrington model. His recent work focuses on the func- 1985. He was a postdoctoral fellow from James Carrington is professor, Department tions, mechanisms, and evolution of small 1985 to 1989 and then assistant professor of Botany and Plant Pathology, and director, RNA-directed gene-silencing systems in plants.

6 • ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 Carrington had this to say about his expe- research objective is to elucidate the genetic belongs to the wonderful students, postdocs, rience: “When the phone rings at 6:00 a.m. and ecological mechanisms of adaptation to and research assistants who have worked in on the day you know NAS will announce seasonal and geographic variations in cli- my lab over the years—it has been my privi- new members, it’s a real jolt. I was fortunate mate. The lab also pursues interests in con- lege to work with them. to speak first with Bob Goldberg, who servation biology of rare plants, particularly “I was inspired to become a plant biolo- informed me of the election results, and then in threatened New England habitats. gist by my undergraduate mentor at Swarth- many others as the phone was passed Schmitt, who joined the Brown faculty in more, Jim Hickman, and I would never have around. My wife, Teri, and I went quickly to 1982, studies how plants change over time in made it through graduate school without the the Internet and e-mail to determine who response to their environment. Schmitt and support and encouragement of my graduate else was elected, and that was followed her research group use the model plant Ara- advisor, Ward Watt. Janis Antonovics was an immediately by a giddy phone conversation bidopsis thaliana—a member of the mustard extraordinary postdoctoral adviser whose with my good friend, Steve Kay. I am very family—to study how genetic variation in influence remains with me every time I proud to be elected in the same class as Steve sensitivity to environmental cues such as day design an experiment. and Marty Yanofsky. length and temperature affects reproductive “My fantastic colleagues at Brown are “I sincerely appreciate the honor. But it’s success in different regions and climates. In always teaching me new things, from molec- also a humbling experience, as all of the con- Europe, for example, Arabidopsis can be ular evolution to climate change. I also have tributions from my lab are the results of found from Finland to Spain. How does one learned an incredible amount from my col- hardworking students, postdocs, research species thrive in so many places? laborators over the years, especially Renata assistants, and other scientists. I’ve had some This is the question Schmitt is pursuing Wulff, Harry Smith, Michael Purugganan, really good people in my group over the with an international team of experts in Trudy Mackay, Steve Welch, and all of my years. And we’ve collaborated with some very plant, molecular, and evolutionary biology, colleagues involved in our current NSF Fron- special scientists, like Detlef Weigel, with as well as ecologists, geneticists, and comput- tiers in Integrative Biological Research field whom I am currently on sabbatical. er scientists. Answers will help scientists bet- experiments in Europe. I’m also very grateful “Several people were very influential in ter understand how ongoing climate change to George Coupland and Maarten Koorn- my career. I would note, in particular, Brian will affect crops and wild plants and will neef, and their wonderful departments at the Staskawicz, who was hired as an assistant point out ways to conserve species. Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding, for professor while I was a graduate student at Schmitt earned her PhD in biology from everything I learned during my recent sab- the University of California, Berkeley. Stanford University and conducted research batical there.” Although it took many years to sink in, he at Duke University before coming to Brown. taught me the value of focusing on a prob- She is president of the Society for the Study The National Academy of Sciences was lem and making an impact. I have also been of Evolution and is past president of the established by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 as a influenced heavily by David Baulcombe, who American Society of Naturalists. She is a fel- scientific consulting resource for the federal helped me learn that the route forward low of the American Association for the government. It is a private organization of sci- sometimes requires one to evolve.” Advancement of Science. In 2007, she entists and engineers interested in advancing received a Humboldt Research Award. science and developing its applications for the Johanna Schmitt Regarding her NAS election, Schmitt greater good. Members and associates special- Johanna Schmitt is Stephen T. Olney Profes- recounted, “I was out of my office, so I got ize in one of 31 areas of science or engineer- sor of Natural History in the Department of the news in a voicemail from Rita Colwell. I ing. NAS now has 2,041 active members and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Brown feel thrilled and honored to join such distin- 397 foreign associates. Additional information University in Providence, R.I. Schmitt’s lab is guished company—including several recent is available at http://www.NASONLINE.org. interested in the adaptive evolution of devel- ASPB presidents! But the honor really opmental, physiological, and life history traits in natural plant populations. The lab also measures natural selection on these traits and the loci underlying them by exper- NOTICE imentally manipulating environments, phe- notypes, and genotypes in the field. Arthur Galston died on June 15, 2008. Tributes Recently, Schmitt and her team have from Mary Helen Goldsmith and Peter Davies, Beth explored the evolution of adaptive plasticity Galston, and William Galston will be published in using phytochrome-mediated “shade avoid- the September/October issue of the ASPB News. ance” responses to crowding and vegetation PHOTO COURTESY OF ELIZABETH GALSTON. shade as a model system. Another major

ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 • 7 THE PAN AMERICAN CONGRESS ON PLANTS AND BIOENERGY 2008

Biofuels Now and for the Future

The Pan American Congress on Plants and sustainable fuel sources and mitigate global omists, ecologists, agronomists, and plant BioEnergy convened in Mérida, Mexico, June climate change. Major barriers to the develop- scientists are integrated under one roof to 22 to 25, 2008. The program was organized ment of biofuels include the following: focus on issues of feedstock development; by Steve Long (University of Illinois) and • the low efficiency of energy conversion fuel synthesis; and related environmental, Nick Carpita (Purdue University), along with via plants economic, and political issues. The develop- co-organizers Marcos Buckeridge (University ment of perennial grasses such as Miscanthus • the need to ensure mitigation of CO of São Paulo, Brazil) and Federico Sánchez 2 is one focus of their program. emissions (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México). • the notion that development of biofu- Brazil: A Model for Biofuels More than 200 scientists from over a dozen Development and Implementation nations around the world gathered to discuss els competes with land for food Carlos Henrique Brito Cruz discussed the key issues surrounding the development of • the need to translate model plant history of bioenergy in Brazil and strategies biofuel feedstocks and to report on their advances into crops for the future. Brito Cruz is scientific director research in this area. • farmer, landowner, and system recalci- of the Foundation for the Support of There have been a multitude of meetings trance. Research in the State of São Paulo (FAPESP). on biofuels and bioenergy over the past 18 Adequately dealing with all of these issues Although now a close second to the United months. This one stood out for its focus on will require a strong commitment and col- States in overall production of ethanol (with plant biology and explored how recent laborative effort involving not only plant sci- China a distant third), Brazil is clearly the advances in the field are being or could be entists and agronomists, but also economists, world leader in the use of energy from applied to achieve more sustainable bioener- environmentalists, whole systems engineers, renewable sources, and ethanol from sugar- gy systems. This article highlights just a few farmers, and politicians. cane has played a major role. of the issues presented and discussed. Long noted that the maximum conversion Brazil is home to 180 million people and Drivers and Barriers to the efficiency of plants is 4% to 6% but that the ranks eighth in the world in GNP, and Development of Biofuels maximum achieved with food crops is 1% to remarkably, 44% of energy use nationwide In his opening lecture, Steve Long outlined 2%, and the most efficient biofuel plants are comes from renewable resources. A full major driving forces for and barriers to the still far from the maximum. Therefore, there 15% of the country’s energy comes from development of biofuels. Major drivers is huge potential for improving this trait with sugarcane (in the form of ethanol or elec- include increasing fuel costs and the desire for many of the crops under development. trical energy from burning the stalks or national energy security as world petroleum Long leads the Energy Biosciences Insti- bagasse, the biomass remaining after ethanol output declines, as well as the need to develop tute at the University of Illinois, where econ- extraction). The remaining renewable

8 • ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 Meeting co-organizer Marcos (from left) Meeting co-organizer Federico Sánchez (Universidad Meeting organizer Nick Carpita Buckeridge (University of São Nacional Autónoma de México), Alfonzo Larqué Saaverda (Cen- (Purdue University). Paulo, Brazil). tro de Investigacion Cientifica de Yucatan), and meeting organ- izer Steve Long (University of Illinois) chat during a break.

MEETING PHOTOS BY MIGUEL URQUIDI. resources are principally hydroelectric power could be converted to biofuel production, as grain stocks and rising food costs, and biofu- and wood. grazing traditionally has not been done on els have played only a minor role. Sugarcane, originally from Asia, has been an efficient basis. Brito Cruz noted that For example, Long described the “Billion grown in Brazil since 1532. The government Brazil does not grow sugarcane in the Ama- Ton Vision,” a 2005 study by the U.S. Depart- mandated the addition of ethanol to fuel as zon basin and has no plans to expand pro- ment of Energy and the USDA that concluded early as 1929, and today gasoline in Brazil is duction in this region. that 1.3 billion dry tons of biomass for energy ~25% ethanol. Flex-fuel vehicles were intro- Historically, the highest productivity area could be produced in the United States with duced in 2003, and by 2006 ~90% of new vehi- for sugarcane has been in the southeast (São modest changes in land use. Miscanthus could cles sold were flex-fuel capable. Interestingly, Paulo state), and the main expansion area is be an important part of this equation in the government subsidies for ethanol ended in in the west-central region of the country, future, as it is highly productive, can be grown 2000, yet production has continued to rise dra- more than 2,000 km distant from the Ama- on marginal land, and has many other attrib- matically. The cost of ethanol has been decreas- zon. FAPESP is funded by tax revenues and utes of the “ideal” bioenergy crop. ing, and it now costs less than petroleum. has active programs directed at sugarcane Long further noted that the United States Sugarcane is among the most efficient improvement (molecular biology and breed- has large land reserves that could be used for crops so far developed for the production of ing directed toward increasing yields and biofuels without affecting food production, ethanol, compared to other feedstocks in use drought resistance) and expansion into and land reserves also exist in Brazil, worldwide, such as maize and sugar beet. underutilized pasture land. Ukraine, and other countries. Brazil provides Breeding programs have been in place for Food Versus Fuel another case in point. As noted above, sugar- cane is grown on ~1% of the arable land in years, and the number of sugarcane varieties Many of the speakers addressed the food ver- Brazil, yet ethanol from sugarcane supplies used for ethanol production has expanded. sus fuel debate. There are concerns in the Accordingly, since the 1970s, productivity in public sector and political arenas interna- 15% of the country’s energy, and 15% to terms of tons per hectare and liters of ethanol tionally that there may not be enough land 20% of the ethanol produced is exported. per ton dry weight has risen dramatically. to support the cultivation of biofuel feed- Nevertheless, it was acknowledged that the In terms of land use, sugarcane is grown stocks to provide a significant percentage of scientific community must address public on 7.8 million hectares in Brazil, half of fuel needs and that biofuel crops are in large fears about the food versus fuel debate. A which is for ethanol production and half for part responsible for rising food costs and number of presenters voiced the opinion that food, and therefore ethanol production uses declining grain stocks worldwide. A number the industry should move away from food ~1% of the arable land in the country. of speakers noted that these fears are not sources for fuel and toward nonfood cellulosic Meanwhile, pastureland represents 48% of borne out by statistics. The consensus was crops as soon as possible, and this would likely the arable land, and much of this pastureland that there are many reasons for declining continued on page 10

ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 • 9 (left) Speaker Nina Federoff, science and (above, on left) John Cushman (University of Nevada, technology adviser Reno) was a featured speaker at the Oil Crops II: Molec- to the U.S. secretary ular Biology and Technology symposium. of state.

(from left) Steve Long, Nick Carpita, session chair Maureen McCann, and Ken Keegstra (left; MSU–DOE Plant Research Laboratory) Federico Sánchez. and Donald Ort (USDA/ARS, University of Illinois, Urbana) exchange ideas.

Pan American Congress Lászlo Márton (University of South Car- power, or pretreated and fermented to make continued from page 9 olina) reported on the many positive charac- ethanol. Smart reported that biofuels from require government subsidies at the outset. teristics of A. donax as a biofuel crop. It is crops such as shrub willow could make a sig- One exception to this might be sugarcane, one of the most photosynthetically efficient nificant contribution to localized production which has many positive qualities as a biofuel C3 perennials, with an exceptionally high of energy in New York State and the northeast- crop and is unlikely to be replaced as the biomass yield, but it also poses a weed risk in ern United States, and there are at least five major biofuel in Brazil anytime soon. riparian systems and is already considered an emerging commercial companies in the region Emerging Biofuel Crops invasive species in some areas of the world. gearing up to use willow and poplar. Many sessions and posters were devoted to Avoiding crops that carry a high risk of Among oil crops, Jatropha curcas, a peren- research being carried out on numerous becoming invasive species is an important nial Euphorb, is receiving a lot of attention. emerging biofuel crops as feedstocks for consideration, as many of the qualities that The seeds produce large quantities of oil that biodiesel (seed oil crops), ethanol (from sug- make a plant an ideal biofuel crop are also can be processed to high-quality biodiesel, ar and/or lignocellulosic crops), lignocellu- qualities of invasive weeds. Márton reported and the plant is highly drought resistant, so it losics for direct conversion to fuel, and that if used in appropriate areas, A. donax can easily be grown on marginal (non-food- hydrogen. Among perennial grasses, Miscant- could nonetheless become an important bio- producing) land. Although widely grown in hus is being intensively investigated as a mass and remediation crop. parts of Asia and Africa, where it is used as a future biofuel crop in many parts of the Larry Smart (State University of New York) natural fence, Jatropha is native to Central world, especially in the United States and spoke on the development of shrub willow as a America. Therefore, it is of great interest to Europe. Other perennial grasses being stud- biofuels crop. It can be burned directly in investigate the native species of Jatropha in ied include sweet sorghum, napier grass, and wood-fired plants, cofired with coal in existing this region. Among other reports, Maricela the giant reed Arundo donax. power plants, gasified to generate heat and Rodríguez Acosta and colleagues from Ben-

10 • ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 (from left) ASPB Executive Director Crispin Taylor; U.S. Consul, Mérida, Mexico, Karen Martin and her husband B. J. Martin; and ASPB President Rob McClung.

Speaker Sergio Trejo-Estrada (left; Instituto Politecnico Nacional) and Alfonzo Larqué Saaverda (right; Centro de Investigacion Cientifica de Yucatan) chat with meeting attendees.

Carlos Henrique Brito Cruz (left; FAPESP, scientific director, Brazil) was one of the speakers at the opening forum. emérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla in do reports in the media connect all of the the world’s major oil fields are experiencing Mexico presented data on their efforts to attendant issues of food, energy, water, the decreasing outputs, and we are searching for characterize the ecology, distribution, growth, environment, and socioeconomics (the renewable, climate-friendly fuels. Jefferson’s and seed oil yield of several species of Jatropha human dimension). Her words sounded a call quotation updated for the 21st century found in Mexico. to the plant science community that what is might well be amended to end with the Another crop that appears to hold much needed is a 21st-century green revolution that words “especially a biofuel crop.” As Federoff promise as a biodiesel and hydrogen feed- addresses all of these issues at the local level. noted, there is a growing urgency to provide stock is halophytic green algae. As reported Neal Gutterson (Mendel Biotechnology) food, energy, and water for a growing popu- by John Cushman (University of Nevada, ended his presentation on Mendel Biotech- lation while protecting the environment, Reno), unicellular green algae such as nology’s focus on Miscanthus with the quota- mitigating global climate change, and pre- Dunaliella are an ideal biofuel crop for the tion from Thomas Jefferson that “the greatest serving biodiversity. Reports from this con- western United States and other arid regions, service which can be rendered any country is ference suggest that the plant science com- as they can be grown on marginal land with to add a useful plant to its culture.” In light munity has the potential and is willing and able to help provide the answers. saline water, may be more productive than of the food versus fuel debate, it is interesting terrestrial oilseed crops, and provide a large to note that the full quotation from Jefferson Nancy Eckardt potential for sequestration of CO . News and Reviews Editor, The Plant Cell 2 ends with the words “especially a bread- [email protected] Concluding Remarks grain.” Of course, Jefferson was writing in Nina Federoff (science and technology advis- 1787, before the advent of the petroleum age. er to the U.S. secretary of state) spoke elo- A mere 220 years later, there are increas- quently on problems related to energy securi- ing signs that we are already at the beginning ty facing the world. She noted that only rarely of the end of the age of petroleum. Most of

ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 • 11 Plant Biology 2008

JOINT ANNUAL MEETING OF THE American Society of Plant Biologists and the Sociedad Mexicana de Bioquímica Rama: Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas

NOTICIAS DE MÉXICO: PLANT BIOLOGY 2008

Mérida, known for its architecture as “The able, and that is going to have a long-term Mexico,” he added. Federico Sánchez, from the White City,” greened last June as nearly payoff,” noted Richard Sayre of Ohio State Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Mexico 1,000 plant biologists convened for the first- University, who collaborates with researchers and a meeting organizer, was pleased. “I wit- ever joint meeting of the American Society from around the world. nessed, overall, opportunity amongst the of Plant Biologists and the Sociedad Mexi- “The meeting was a success because many Latin-American community—a true enthusi- cana de Bioquímica. more Mexicans attended” than in past years, asm to hear and meet the real person behind a renowned name, or the rewarding thrill to ¡Vamos a México! said Luis Herrera-Estrella, this year’s Perspec- discuss science with the author of a favorite Meeting in Mexico made Plant Biology tives of Science Leaders speaker and professor article,” he began. “This has been the great 2008 a truly international event. Participants of plant engineering at the Centro de Investi- outcome of this particular ASPB meeting” attended from more than 40 countries, gación y de Estudios Avanzados of the Nation- including eight in Latin America. “The al Polytechnic Institute in Mexico City. “It is Award Winners goodwill that has been built here as a result easier to form collaborations when researchers ASPB President Rob McClung opened up the of having the meeting in Mexico is invalu- from the United States and Europe come to meeting by honoring winners of the 2008

ASPB President Rob McClung (right) presents the Correspon- ding Membership Award to Federico Sánchez (Universi- dad Nacional Autónoma de México).

Luis Herrera-Estrella was this year’s Perspectives of Science Leaders featured speaker. Plant Biology 2008, Siglo XXI Convention Centre, Mérida, Mexico.

12 • ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 awards (detailed on page 19 in this issue). to Chu-Yung Lin of National Taiwan Uni- at the University of California, Berkeley. The This year, the Society honored five outstand- versity, Federico Sánchez at the Instituto de Stephen Hales Prize was awarded to Peter ing graduate students with the ASPB–Pioneer Biotecnología, UNAM, Mexico, and Alessan- Quail, from the University of California, Hi-Bred International Graduate Student dro Vitale from the Istituto di Biologia e Berkeley, in honor of his pioneering work Prize. This award recognizes students con- Biotecnologia Agraria in Italy. on phytochrome. Luan and Quail will share ducting graduate research on important Daniel Bush (Colorado State University), their work with attendees of the 2009 meet- commodity crops. Colleen Dougherty and Jerry Cohen (University of Minnesota), ing in Hawaii. Michael A. Grillo, both at Michigan State Sabeeha Merchant (University of California, Following the awards ceremony, last University; Tracie Hennen-Bierwagen of Iowa Los Angeles), and Jack Priess (Michigan State year’s Hales and Shull award winners kicked State University; Charles “Chip” Hunter III of University) were all recognized for their long- off the first of a series of engaging major the University of Florida; and Ajay Sandhu term contributions to plant biology and serv- symposia. Samuel S. Zeeman, recipient of from the University of Nebraska were recog- ice to the Society with the Fellow of ASPB the 2007 Shull Award, discussed his lab’s nized for their innovative work. award, first granted at the 2007 meeting. recent work on how starch granules are syn- The Early Career Award was granted to The Charles F. Kettering Award was given thesized and degraded. Sarah Hake, the 2007 Ping He of Massachusetts General Hospital, to Robert E. Blankenship of Washington Hales Prize winner, presented her group’s a creative young scientist conducting pio- University in recognition of his pioneering work on abduction–adduction axial pattern- neering work in many different areas of work in photosynthesis. Steven Huber, from ing and cell fate in maize leaf development. plant biology. Tsuneyoshi Kuroiwa from the University of Illinois, was recognized for Perspective of Science Rikkyo University in Tokyo was honored his work on photosynthesis and carbon and Leaders Lecture with the Charles Reid Barnes Life Member- nitrogen metabolism with the Lawrence An annual highlight of the meeting is the ship Award. Corresponding Membership Bogorad Award. Perspectives of Science Leaders lecture. This awards, which honor meritorious plant biol- The Charles Albert Shull Award was giv- year, Luis Herrera-Estrella presented an espe- ogists from outside the United States, went en to Sheng Luan for his outstanding work continued on page 14

2007 Charles Albert Shull Awardee Samuel C. Zeeman was a featured speaker at the opening symposium. Attendees gather for a break.

Luis Herrera-Estrella (left) was presented with the 2008 ASPB Leadership in Science Public Service Award by ASPB President Rob McClung. MEETING PHOTOS BY MIGUEL URQUIDI.

ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 • 13 Plant Biology 2008

Noticias de México The Maize Biology symposium was co- than here to talk about maize?” Roisin continued from page 13 organized by Sarah Hake and Jean Philippe McGarry agreed: “The presenters put cially geographically relevant talk, “Trans- Vielle Calzada and was widely cited as a together huge volumes of research into a genic Maize in a Center of Diversity: Friends 2008 meeting highlight. According to Hake, very cogent story.” or Foes?” A pioneer of Agrobacterium- timeliness and location were important fac- Although she works on Arabidopsis, mediated transformation, Herrera-Estrella tors in the decision to organize the sympo- McGarry found the following day’s sympo- gave a brief history of the development of sium. “The other sium on Solanaceae transgenic crops, highlighting the case of important ingredient “The goodwill that has species to be equally golden rice and the potential for drought- is the very nature of been built here as a engaging. “I find the talks tolerant crops. He went on to detail the con- maize, which has a about other model sys- result of having the troversy associated with biotechnology, story in its domestica- tems very exciting,” she specifically transgenic maize, which has been tion and genetics and meeting in Mexico is explained. “Arabidopsis is an especially sensitive issue in its center of which serves as a piv- invaluable, and that is very specialized, and for a otal organism for oth- meeting this broad, talk- domestication, Mexico. Herrera-Estrella going to have a called the technology “an essential tool for er important grasses,” ing about other crops plant science” and expressed the hope that Hake said. “The recent long-term payoff.” draws in a diverse group his home country will move to embrace the sequencing of the —Richard Sayre of people.” Luis Herrera- Ohio State University potential of biotechnology for crop maize genome also Estrella concurred: “Hav- improvement. means that maize will ing the meeting here become very accessible to many people, somehow pushed the meeting to include Topics for the Tropics which is our greatest hope.” other crops and shifted the focus a little Maize remained a popular topic of discussion “It was a great session,” said Esther van away from Arabidopsis.” in the first of the three major symposia that der Knaap of the symposium. “From the McGarry’s colleague at Texas Tech Uni- focused on important crops from the Ameri- archeology to the developmental mechan- versity, Brian Ayre, shared her enthusiasm cas, including maize, Solanaceae species such ism of inflorescence structure, the talks for the focus on a variety of model systems. as tomato and potato, and tropical crops such covered the whole range. And since maize “There are certain model systems out there, as cassava and coffee. was domesticated here, what better place such as Arabidopsis, maize, and tomato, that

(right) ASPB Education Committee Chair Jane Ellis presided over a very successful Education and Outreach Minisymposium.

ASPB Publications Director Nancy Winchester presents an original drawing of Petunia, by botanical illustrator Janet Wehr, to former Plant Cell Editor in Chief Rich Jorgensen at the Former ASPB President Dan Bush and company gather in Mérida. editorial board dinner at Hacienda Xcanatun.

14 • ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 are so well established, and there is so much Minority Affairs Symposium Colón-Carmona, who organized the sym- conservation among the genes, that I think The minority affairs symposium kept the posium, was pleased to have a lineup of we are in a position now to take this infor- spirit of the meeting location alive as four diverse people who are in very different stages mation to other systems to make them grow presenters shared their work on crops from of their careers. Leyva-Guerrero was pleased the way we want them to. I’m living in the the Americas. “We wanted the symposium to represent those in the early stages of their South now, and cotton is a prime candidate. to blend with the fact that we are in Mexico,” career: “That they gave graduate students an We can now think about taking cotton to Minority Affairs Committee (MAC) mem- opportunity to speak is great,” she said. ber Adán Colón-Carmona said. “We focused the next level of domestication through Society Initiatives on model systems of the Americas, and that biotechnology,” he said. At the annual Minority Affairs Committee Tropical agriculture was the theme of really blended in with what’s going on in sci- ence in general and the important questions dinner, the 2008 travel grant recipients were yet another popular symposium. This ses- we are all asking.” recognized before David Burgess, a professor sion included an inspiring overview of Eleanore Wurtzel, who has an active at Boston College who is of Native American BioCassava Plus, a Gates-funded collabora- research group at a primarily Hispanic insti- descent, took the podium to discuss the tive that aims to create a nutritionally and tution, the City University of New York, shared challenge of increasing the number of agriculturally sustainable cassava line for her work on the biofortification of maize to underrepresented minorities in the biologi- Africa. Also highlighted were transforma- address vitamin A deficiencies in the develop- cal sciences. According to Burgess, the chal- tion methods developed for tropical crops ing world. Improvement of the chili pepper lenge is even greater within the plant sci- such as banana and papaya and some fun- was the subject of Neftalí Ochoa Alejo’s talk. ences, where representation of African damental biochemical investigations in Elisa Leyva-Guerrero, a native of Mexico and Americans, Hispanics, and Native Ameri- coffee. Organizer Richard Sayre, from Ohio graduate student at Ohio State University, cans is especially lacking. Colón-Carmona State University, was pleased with the ses- shared her work on improving the nutrition- echoed his concerns. sion. “I think that as a whole, the session al value of cassava. Alejandra Jaramillo con- “We are here not only to hear about sci- had more relevance to plant biology; it cluded the minority affairs symposium with ence, but also to stimulate discussion about brought together the translational part of an introduction to the Piperales and their issues such as education and diversity,” said plant biology as well as some really incredi- utility as models to understand flower devel- Colón-Carmona. “The numbers are ble basic biochemistry.” opment beyond the classic ABC model. continued on page 16

Sarah Hake (left) and Jean Philippe Vielle Calzada (below) co-organized the Maize Biology symposium.

Sarah Hake

At the Minority Affairs Symposium, (from left) ASPB President-elect Sarah Assmann, ASPB Execu- Elisa Leyva-Guerrero shared her tive Director Crispin Taylor, this year’s MAC dinner speaker work on improving the nutritional David Burgess (Boston College), and Minority Affairs Com- value of cassava. Jean Philippe Vielle Calzada mittee Chair MariaElena Zavala (California State University).

ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 • 15 Plant Biology 2008

Noticias de México “The Ambassador program is certainly important notions of family and mother- continued from page 15 one that we are continuing to build,” he said. hood. “Modern science requires collabora- extremely low in the plant sciences, and I “Not only are we building on the number of tive efforts, and women know how to collab- think it is important to put it up front and student ambassadors, but we also plan to get orate,” León said. provoke discussion.” Members of the MAC postdocs and even young professors She went on to trace the role of science commended the Society for doing just that. involved.” Dohleman and his fellow ambas- in Mexico beginning in pre-Hispanic times, “It’s fantastic that the Society has really sadors are working within their own institu- highlighting the important roles that shown a commitment to increasing diversity tions to increase awareness of ASPB and the women have played in science south of the and supporting it monetarily by bringing in benefits of membership. border. León pointed out that the all-impor- minority students and faculty to speak,” The Women in Plant Biology Committee tant deity of maize, Cinteotl, was a woman. MAC member Eleanore Wurtzel offered. held its annual dinner and invited Mexico El Fin Membership Committee Chair Mel Oliv- native Patricia León to share her reflections As the meeting drew to a close, ASPB Presi- er met with graduate student ambassadors on balancing family and career in “macho” dent Rob McClung hosted “Timing is Every- to the Society who are kicking off the third Mexico. León, who has benefited from the thing,” which focused on time-dependent year of the program. Frank Dohleman, a positive influence of female role models plant development or, as McClung put it, graduate student at the University of Illinois such as Estela Sánchez de Jiménez, Virginia “our evolving view of plant clocks.” who has been an ambassador since the pro- Walbot, and Jen Sheen, emphasized the pos- But as the clock ticked on, it was time for gram’s inception, said that participants are itive aspects of working in Mexico, where McClung to extend a big “¡Gracias!” to our looking to expand the program, which aims extended family can aid women in advanc- Mexican hosts and head to the final party. to increase Society membership. ing their careers and fosters the culturally There, attendees, fueled with the national

Team Mérida! (from left) Jean Rosenberg, ASPB ASPB Student Ambassador director of meetings, marketing, and membership; Frank Dohleman. George Basulto, Amigo Yucatan; Wendy Sahli, ASPB manager of marketing and web services; and Shoshana Kronfeld, ASPB membership and marketing research assistant.

Membership Committee Chair Mel Oliver.

Mexico native Patricia León was a featured speaker at the Women in Attendees come together at the poster session. Plant Biology annual dinner.

16 • ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 drink of Mexico from the infamous blue agave, let loose their salsa moves in the hot, humid Mérida night. “Adios” to Mexico for now; many of us are already hoping that ASPB will go back. What the next generation of plant biologists are For now, it is time to look forward to a big Hawaiian “Aloha” at Plant Biology 2009! Indeed, ASPB President-elect Sally Assmann saying about Plant Biology 2008… is looking forward. “The meeting in Mérida was a great success and the meeting in Hon- “The best part of the meeting is making collaborations with people olulu next year promises to be just as good,” from abroad.” she began. “In particular, the 2009 meeting —Julia del Socorro Cano Sosa, Mérida, Mexico will provide excellent opportunities for inter- actions with our colleagues from Pacific Rim “I am excited to see my professor’s presentation. I am used to see- countries, who will be able to attend the ing him in the classroom, so it will be interesting to see him give 2009 meeting at the discounted registration a formal presentation before a larger audience.” rates that are available to ASPB members. One special event at ASPB 2009 will be a —Justina Moodie, New York major symposium on evolution, in honor of the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth.”  “I think the variety of work that is here and meeting new people from different countries are valuable. I am in my last year and am look- ing around for a good PhD program.” —Karla Meza, Cuernavaca, Mexico

“The meeting is useful because I am searching for a postdoc posi- tion, and I want to see what positions are being offered in the Unit- ed States.” —Katrin Gaertner, Göttingen, Germany

“At last year’s meeting, I got a lot of encouragement from a lot of graduate schools. It definitely made the opportunity more realistic. Before, it was like, ‘Yeah, I guess I can go to graduate school.’ Being here and talking to people definitely made it more solid.” —Michael Rivera, New York

ASPB President Rob McClung bids a “This is my first ASPB meeting, and I really like it. Mexico is quite fond farewell to Mexico (for now). accessible from Jamaica, and I could easily get here. Presenting my work and meeting people has been a wonderful opportunity.” —Stacie-Marie Bennett, Kingston, Jamaica

“I am entering my junior year in September. The more research I do, the more I think that it is something I would wake up every morning and be excited to do.” —Christina Chai, New York

ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 • 17 Plant Biology 2008

18 • ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 Award Honorees at Plant Biology 2008 Congratulations to the winners of this year’s ASPB awards. The following presentations were made during the Saturday, June 28, ASPB Awards Ceremony in Mérida, Mexico.

ASPB–Pioneer Hi-Bred International and characterizing novel cold-response approach to identify and characterize protein Graduate Student Prize pathways that are independent of the CBF complexes involved in starch metabolism. The ASPB–Pioneer Hi-Bred International genes. Her studies of transcriptome changes Multiple isoforms of starch biosynthetic Graduate Student Prize is an investment in during cold stress have incorporated com- enzymes are found in plants, and these have our nation’s future scientists and is intended putational approaches to model a cold- been previously postulated to function in to recognize and encourage innovative responsive transcriptional network. Her multi-subunit enzyme complexes. Tracie’s research and leadership in an area of plant research findings are providing a detailed research provides the first direct evidence biology related to important crops. Five out- understanding of the transcriptional for the existence of these enzyme complexes. standing graduate students were awarded for changes that plants undergo in response to She has successfully reconstituted some 2008. The Awards Committee was extremely cold stress. Colleen hopes to improve her complexes from recombinant proteins, and impressed by the excellence of all the nomi- computational skills and has a long-term she is making use of mutant maize lines to nees. The award winners have demonstrated goal of modeling plant responses to multi- determine the function of specific isoforms an impressive array of research accomplish- ple environmental stresses. In addition to in enzyme complex assembly. Tracie is the ments and show tremendous promise as future exceptional research promise, Colleen also first author on a paper in Plant Physiology leaders of the plant biology community. The shows great promise as a teacher; she has that describes some of this work. She also winners are, in alphabetical order: been a talented mentor to a number of has a passion for teaching; she served as an undergraduate students. She is also an Colleen Doherty active member of ASPB, currently serving organizer for an introductory lab course for Colleen is a PhD student at Michigan State as a student ambassador and as the gradu- new graduate students at Iowa State and has University in the laboratory of Mike ate student representative on the Member- mentored undergraduates and high school Thomashow. Colleen’s dissertation research ship Committee. teachers. Finally, her talents extend beyond focuses on understanding how plants plant biology; for several years she has respond to cold stress. Her work focuses on Tracie Hennen-Bierwagen served as an instructor in an honors seminar characterizing the regulation of CBF2, an Tracie is a PhD student at Iowa State Univer- course at Iowa State entitled “Tolkien’s important cold-responsive transcription fac- sity in the laboratory of Alan Myers. Tracie’s Mythology.” tor. Colleen is also interested in identifying dissertation research uses a biochemical continued on page 20

ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 • 19 Plant Biology 2008

Award Honorees an undergraduate he served as the director of Lihuang Zhu in the Institute of Genetics in continued from page 19 the MSU organization Science Theater, which the Chinese Academy of Sciences. His work Charles “Chip” Hunter III presented entertaining science demonstra- on pollen culture and QTL mapping in rice Chip is a PhD student at the University of tions to the public. Mike hopes to continue not only resulted in an impressive number Florida in the laboratory of Karen Koch. His his career in research as a university professor of first-authored papers but also contributed dissertation research revolves around char- studying mechanisms of plant adaptation to significantly to the rice genome project as a acterization of cell wall biosynthesis diverse environments. whole. As a PhD student in Professor Jian- enzymes. Specifically, he has been interested Ming Zhou’s laboratory at Kansas State Uni- Ajay Sandhu in understanding the roles of two distinct versity, Ping completed three research proj- Ajay is a PhD student at the University of subfamilies of the cellulose synthase super- ects using wheat, tomato, and Arabidopsis Nebraska–Lincoln in the laboratory of Sally family in maize. Chip has used reverse on topics that ranged from allopolyploidy Mackenzie. His dissertation research focuses genetics to identify Mu transposon inser- alteration of gene expression to innate on mitochondrial biology. To examine the tions in members of the CslA and CslD gene immunity. Building upon his graduate stud- effect of destabilizing the mitochondrial families. This effort has required that he ies on type III effectors in the bacterial genome, Ajay used RNAi to down-regulate develop and optimize methods for PCR- pathogen Pseudomonas syringae, Ping joined the expression of MSH1, a nuclear gene that based screening of DNA pools isolated from Professor Jen Sheen’s laboratory at Massa- functions to maintain mitochondrial genome the Uniform Mu population. He has devel- chusetts General Hospital. A combination of stability. Remarkably, down-regulation of oped standardized methods for these screens using a protoplast-based assay system and MSH1 resulted in an array of phenotypes that are being used by teams of undergradu- Ping’s talent, vision, and pioneering spirit that were conserved in several different plant ates. He has successfully identified insertions resulted in the discovery that two P. syringae species. Ajay found male sterility, leaf variega- in several Csl genes and is in the process of type III effectors, AvrPto and AvrPtoB, block tion, and plant stunting, each associated with characterizing them. His work promises to FLS2-mediated immune response signaling a specific mitochondrial genome rearrange- provide important information about cell by targeting the FLS2-associated transmem- ment. He also identified a mitochondrial wall biosynthesis. Chip is developing excel- brane receptor kinase BAK1, promoting genome rearrangement associated with heat lent teaching and leadership skills. His dedi- pathogenicity. These results help to explain tolerance. This research resulted in a first- cation to public outreach and education is the “gene-for-gene” hypothesis for host author publication in PNAS last year. Ajay’s apparent from his activities in mentoring response and non-host resistance. Ping’s research may lead to the development of new undergraduates and working with high accomplishments are described by his cur- approaches for inducing cytoplasmic male school science teachers. He ultimately hopes rent mentor as being of fundamental impact sterility, an important and poorly understood to use his research expertise working toward and others as spectacular and spearheading agronomic trait. Ajay hopes to ultimately crop improvement in an industrial setting. transformative research on the molecular conduct research in an agricultural industry. mechanisms underlying the plant immune Michael A. Grillo response. Beyond his own accomplishments, Michael is a PhD student at Michigan State Early Career Award Ping also maintains many collaborative University in the laboratory of Tao Sang. His The Early Career Award was instituted by the efforts in and outside his lab and con- research focuses on understanding the genet- Society’s Executive Committee in 2005 to rec- tributes generously to the success of these ic mechanisms underlying adaptation, using ognize outstanding research by scientists at the projects. His current effort and long-term wild rice as a model. He has used QTL map- beginning of their careers. This award is a goal is to examine the interaction between ping to identify and map QTLs that control a monetary award made annually for excep- calcium-dependent protein kinases and number of important adaptive traits. He is tionally creative, independent contributions MAPKs in various stress response signaling now focused on identifying the genes respon- by a member of the Society who is not more pathways. It can be expected that Ping will sible for flowering time QTLs. Mike is collab- than five years post-PhD on January 1 of the continue to conduct outstanding research orating with scientists at the Central Rice year of the presentation. fueled by his energy, curiosity, passion, and Research Institute in India (CRRI) to develop field sites that will allow him to examine how Ping He dedication. individual traits in wild rice species have con- Ping He is an exceptionally talented and cre- tributed to local adaptation to specific envi- ative young scientist who has already Charles Albert Shull Award ronments. Mike also has a passion for teach- demonstrated his productivity in diverse Created in 1971 to honor the Society’s found- ing and outreach. He has served as a teaching areas of plant biology. Ping started his scien- ing father and the first editor-in-chief of Plant assistant in several classes, and while he was tific career under the guidance of Professor Physiology, this award is designed to recognize

20 • ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 young researchers. It is a monetary award sium uptake. The channel is then inactivated Physiology and is currently an associate edi- made annually and is given for outstanding by a specific PP2C-type protein phosphatase tor of Plant Signaling and Behavior and investigations in the field of plant biology by a to reset the signaling cycle. Thus, Sheng has founding editor in chief of Molecular Plant. scientist who is under 45 years of age on Janu- elucidated a complete signaling pathway ary 1 of the year of presentation or who is responsible for plant response to nutrient Charles Reid Barnes Life Membership fewer than 10 years from the granting of the stress. Another major contribution to the Award doctoral degree. The recipient is invited to field of membrane transport involved iden- This is the oldest award, established in 1925 at address the Society at the annual meeting the tification of Mg transporters, MATE-like the first annual meeting of the Society through following year. transporters for alkaloids, and an HKT-type the generosity of Dr. Charles A. Shull. It hon- transporter critical for salt tolerance. Of par- ors Dr. Charles Reid Barnes, the first professor Sheng Luan ticular significance is the HKT-type sodium of plant physiology at the University of Chica- Sheng Luan is this year’s recipient of the transporter that was recently shown to be go. It is an annual award for meritorious work Charles Albert Shull Award for outstanding responsible for salt tolerance in rice. In col- in plant biology; it provides a life membership investigations in the field of plant biology by laboration with rice breeders in China, Sheng in the Society to an individual who is at least a scientist who is under 45 years of age. Sheng found that expression of this gene in elite 60 years old. Membership is not a requirement received his BS degree in biology from Laiyang rice varieties increases salt tolerance. As a for the award, and, if appropriate, every fifth Agricultural College in 1982, his MS degree result of this pioneering work, it will be pos- award should be made to an outstanding in 1985 from the Shanghai Institute of Plant sible to grow rice in saline soils, thereby plant biologist from outside the United States. Physiology, and his PhD degree in 1991 from reclaiming unused land to cultivate crops. Harvard University under the direction of Following the trail of signal transduction, Tsuneyoshi Kuroiwa the late Professor Lawrence Bogorad. He Sheng was the first to demonstrate the role Tsuneyoshi Kuroiwa is the recipient of the then continued at Harvard with Professor of tyrosine dephosphorylation in plant cell 2008 Charles Reid Barnes Life Membership Schreiber for postdoctoral research, where regulation by identification of a bona fide Award. Tsuneyoshi received his SciD from he identified immunophilins as abundant tyrosine phosphatase. The tyrosine phos- the University of Tokyo in 1971 and subse- chloroplast proteins and also identified a phatases play a key role in regulation of quently held a faculty position there until novel calcineurin-like signaling system in MAPKs and surprisingly in regulation of his mandatory retirement in 2003. He cur- plants. Sheng then joined the faculty at the starch metabolism in plastids. Sheng and rently holds a position at Rikkyo (St. Paul’s) University of California, Berkeley, and colleagues demonstrated that a specific tyro- University in Tokyo. attained the rank of professor within 10 sine phosphatase (DSP4) binds to starch Tsuneyoshi is a pioneer in the cytological years. Major discoveries made by Sheng and granules in a light- and redox-dependent analysis of chloroplast and mitochondrial his colleagues have opened up new horizons manner, thereby establishing a new mecha- dynamics in plants and algae. By combining and have stimulated new areas of research, nism by which starch metabolism is regulated a variety of sophisticated imaging technolo- thereby enlightening the future. on a daily basis. The fourth area is also plas- gies with the creative use of model systems, Pioneering contributions have been tid based and involves the immunophilins he has made outstanding contributions in made by Sheng and his colleagues in four that are localized in the thylakoid lumen. two important areas of plant cell biology: major and distinct areas of plant biology. In Sheng demonstrated that these enzymes are (1) Mechanisms of organelle division. calcium signaling, a major question is how regulated in an unusual way; they are acti- Tsuneyoshi detailed studies of the plastid plant cells interpret calcium changes specific vated by oxidation, consistent with their and mitochondrial division rings that have to a particular signal. Sheng’s work over the operation in an oxidizing environment. been instrumental in establishing the assem- past 10 years has established a complex They function as chaperones involved in the bly and disassembly dynamics of the divi- molecular network that decodes calcium assembly and maintenance of photosynthet- sion machineries in these organelles and lay- signals involving calcineurin B-like proteins ic complexes. Thus, these studies have rele- ing a foundation for understanding the (CBLs) that, unlike their animal counter- vance to photosynthesis and bioenergy and functional roles of organelle division com- parts, regulate a large family of protein may also have commercial application for ponents at the molecular level. (2) Mecha- kinases known as CIPKs (CBL-interacting production of medically important proteins nisms of maternal inheritance of organellar protein kinases). In response to low K-nutri- in transgenic plants. genomes. Tsuneyoshi discovered that inheri- tion, myristoylated CBLs target CIPKs to the In addition to research, Sheng is active in tance of organellar DNA in algae, plants, plasma membrane, where they activate an teaching and service to the scientific com- and animals involves active digestion of the inward voltage-gated potassium channel munity involving editorial assignments. He paternal DNA. In the context of this work, (AKT1) responsible for high-affinity potas- has served on the editorial board of Plant continued on page 22

ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 • 21 Plant Biology 2008

Award Honorees whom are currently training the future Molecular Biology, and Plant Physiology. CY continued from page 21 generation(s) of plant biologists in the has also been a pioneer in understanding the to better visualize organellar DNA, he devel- United States and abroad. A few notable function of small heat shock proteins (HSP) oped an improved fluorescence microscope, examples of former students and current during plant stress responses. Notably, he later marketed by Olympus. ASPB members include Renee Sung, David showed the accumulation of HSP correlated Tsuneyoshi also spearheaded the recent Ho, Heven Sze, and Tony Huang. After a with the acquisition of thermotolerance. sequencing of the genome of the primitive stellar academic career that spans five And, similar to the anaerobic response, loss unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae, decades, CY is currently professor emeritus of polyribosomes following heat stress was which he has systematically developed as an at the Botany Institute, National Taiwan restored upon return to normal growth evolutionarily important and experimentally University (NTU). He has also been an temperatures. CY was the first to suggest tractable model system for analysis of active ASPB member since the 1960s and involvement of the small HSPs in thermo- organelle division and other aspects of continues to regularly attend the annual tolerance by protecting cellular proteins organelle biology in photosynthetic eukary- Society meetings. from thermal inactivation. Again, this semi- otes. In all, he has published over 360 papers CY’s undergraduate education was in nal work was published in several articles throughout his career and continues to pub- Taiwan, and he obtained a PhD degree from appearing in PNAS. lish groundbreaking research on organelle the University of Oklahoma in 1963. His Federico Sánchez biology and evolution in the top-ranked sci- thesis was on plant hormones, a topic that Federico Sánchez is a full professor (Investi- entific journals. he continued to study as a postdoctoral fel- gator Titular C) at the Institute of Biotech- Tsuneyoshi has been an influential mem- low with Joe Key at Purdue University. This nology (IBT), Universidad Nacional ber of the Japanese scientific community. He collaboration continued after Joe moved to Autonóma de México (UNAM) at Cuer- has trained and promoted the success of the University of Georgia, and a number of navaca. UNAM is arguably the premier many young scientists and served the plant classic papers emanated from this long- research university in Mexico, and Federico biology community generously in a variety term association. CY returned to Taiwan of editorial and other professional capaci- and NTU in 1966 and quickly rose through is considered by many to be Mexico’s lead- ties. He is past president of the Botanical the ranks to become professor of plant biol- ing plant biologist. He was born in Mexico Society of Japan and the Japanese Society of ogy in 1975. During his tenure at NTU he City and received a BS in chemistry and an Plant Morphologists and is a member of the served as chair of the Institute of Plant Biol- MSc in biomedical research from UNAM. Science Council of Japan. ogy and dean of the College of Science. His His graduate work and PhD in the area of substantial research achievements have been microbial genetics was supervised by Fran- duly noted by the Taiwanese funding cisco Bolivar and Raphael Palacios at Corresponding Membership Award agency, the National Science Council, with UNAM. During the late 1970s, he came to This honor, initially given in 1932, provides the award of six Research Distinguished the USA and the lab of Brian McCarthy at life membership and Society publications to Awards and three Distinguished Awards. In the University of California, San Francisco distinguished plant biologists from outside the 1998 CY was elected academician in the (UCSF). It was during this period that Fed- United States. The honor is conferred by elec- Academia Sinica, Taiwan. erico developed an interest in molecular and tion on the annual ballot. The committee The distinguished scientific achievements cellular studies of the cytoskeleton, through selects no more than three candidates, and of Chu-Yung Lin mainly center on the work on the tubulin and actin gene families these are placed on the ballot for approval of response of plants to abiotic stress, namely, of Drosophila. He returned to Mexico and corresponding membership by majority vote. anaerobiosis and heat stress. He was the first was appointed investigator at the Institute of The president notifies successful candidates of to show that under anaerobic conditions, Nitrogen Fixation, UNAM–Cuernavaca, and their election. Election of a corresponding polyribosomes rapidly dissociated and a rose through the ranks to associate professor member is to be considered each year and held subpopulation of polyribosomes reassem- before switching departments to the IBT. He if warranted, provided the election will not bled to direct the synthesis of new proteins also twice served as chair of the Department increase the number of corresponding mem- including ADH. Following return to aerobic of Plant Molecular Biology, UNAM, was the bers beyond two percent of the dues-paying conditions, the full complement of polyri- director of the Centro Internacional de membership. bosomes was regenerated and the synthesis Ciencas, A.C., and is past president of the Chu-Yung Lin of normal proteins restored, in the absence Sociedad Mexicana de Bioquímica. Chu-Yung (CY) Lin has successfully moti- of new mRNA synthesis. This exceptional Federico’s research focuses on nitrogen vated several generations of prominent sci- body of work was published in numerous metabolism in nitrogen-fixing nodules of entists to study plant biology, many of top-tier journals like PNAS, Journal of legumes and on the role of the cytoskeleton

22 • ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 during nodule formation. His early work is currently research director at the Institute cians, Sandro has been a strong proponent uncovered roles for the enzymes glutamine of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotech- and ambassador for plant biotechnology synthase and uricase using a combination of nology (IBBA) of the CNR in Milano. He issues in Italy and the EU. molecular biology and biochemistry as obtained a PhD from the University of nodulin genes in the common bean, Phaseo- Milano in biochemistry and has been on the Fellow of ASPB Award lus vulgaris. A decade after leaving UCSF, he scientific staff of IBBA since 1982. He also Established in 2007, the Fellow of ASPB rekindled his interest in the cytoskeleton and conducted postdoctoral research in the lab Award may be granted in recognition of dis- of Maarten Chrispeels at UCSD, where he developed a continuing collaboration with tinguished and long-term contributions to worked on the biosynthesis and intracellular Peter Hepler to study roles for actin and pro- plant biology and service to the Society by cur- transport/processing of bean phytohemag- filin during the signaling response of root rent members in areas that include research, glutinin. cells to rhizobial bacteria. This has led to an education, mentoring, outreach, and profes- Sandro is an internationally recognized active exchange of many students between sional and public service. Current members of expert on protein trafficking and plant cell the USA and Mexico, many of whom contin- ASPB who have contributed to the Society for biology. He has made significant contribu- ue to bridge the fields of plant cell biology at least 10 years are eligible for nomination. tions to our understanding of protein fold- and molecular biology/biochemistry while Recipients of the Fellow of ASPB honor, which ing and quality control in the endoplasmic establishing their own independent careers. may be granted to no more than 0.2% of the reticulum, the site of protein import for the The choice of common bean as a research current membership each year, receive a cer- organism is important for the Mexican agri- endomembrane system. He has also pio- tificate of distinction and a lapel pin. cultural industry but has not been without neered work on the biosynthesis and target- limitations. However, a major one—the abil- ing of vacuolar proteins in plants, the ulti- Dan Bush ity to reliably transform this crop plant—was mate destination for many storage proteins Dan is recognized for his research on assimi- overcome in 2006 by a report from this and major site of protein degradation. These late transport and regulation of source–sink group of a fascile transformation protocol. findings are routinely published in the very partitioning. He has identified sucrose and Research from Federico and his collaborators best plant biology journals, including Plant amino acid transporters and mechanisms is routinely published in the very best jour- Physiology and The Plant Cell. Exploiting regulating their expression and abundance. nals in the field of plant biology, including this knowledge of protein targeting, Sandro Dan’s dedication to ASPB and his leadership Plant Physiology and The Plant Journal. has recently extended his research into bio- have had a lasting impact on the strength Federico Sánchez’s impact on the plant pharma. His group created an artificial stor- and vitality of the Society today. As secretary biology community extends well beyond age protein, zeolin, which shows great and Program Committee chair (1999–2001), Mexico and the United States. He has been an potential for adding an essential high Dan brought new innovations to the meet- editor and/or served on the editorial board methionine trait to protein of low-sulfur- ing program to attract younger scientists. for numerous international journals, includ- content crops. Emphasizing the promise of Under his leadership as president of ASPB ing Molecular Plant–Microbe Interactions, this research for third world countries, the (2002–2003), the Society transitioned to a Planta, and the Asia-Pacific Journal of Molec- Gates Foundation cassava improvement new executive director and reorganized the ular Biology and Biotechnology. He has project has chosen this topic to increase the Education Foundation to improve the focus organized major symposium sessions at past nutritional value of cassava and promote its and vitality of the Society. Dan continues to use as a staple in Africa. ASPB meetings, with Carmen Quinto co- serve on the Board of Trustees, as chair of Sandro has provided valuable service to organized and hosted the 5th Mexico–USA the Bogorad Award Committee, and as a the ASPB community, including a five-year Symposium on Plant Molecular Biology member of the editorial board of Plant stint as coeditor of The Plant Cell, during (2003), and is chair of the XII International Physiology. which he set very high standards of quality Congress on Molecular Plant–Microbe and fairness. Furthermore, Sandro continues Jerry Cohen Interactions. Importantly, he actively partici- to serve on the editorial or advisory boards Jerry is known for his pioneering studies of pated in the organization of the recent joint for several international journals of plant auxin biosynthesis and metabolism. He meeting of ASPB and the Sociedad Mexi- biology, including Planta, Journal of Experi- identified and characterized endogenous cana de Bioquímica in Mérida, Mexico. mental Botany, and Plant & Cell Physiology. auxins and developed stable isotope meth- Alessandro Vitale He has also organized numerous symposia ods to quantify auxins. This work was sem- Alessandro (Sandro) Vitale is the leading in Italy and elsewhere in Europe. Through inal to understanding the mode of auxin plant cell biologist in Italy, but his impact on review articles, the popular press, and other action. Jerry’s commitment to ASPB is evi- plant biology is truly international. Sandro avenues for educating the public and politi- continued on page 24

ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 • 23 Plant Biology 2008

Award Honorees Charles F. Kettering Award The structure-based sequence comparisons continued from page 23 This award was established by an endowment of reaction center complexes performed by dent from his service on the editorial board from the Kettering Foundation in 1962 to rec- Bob and his colleagues, across most groups of Plant Physiology from 1986 to 1992 and ognize excellence in the field of photosynthesis. of phototrophs, resulted in a widely accept- on the Executive Committee of ASPB, rep- It is a monetary award to be given in even- ed proposal of a unified evolutionary tree in resenting the Washington, D.C., section, numbered years to an individual for meritori- which horizontal gene transfer has been a from 1995 to 1998. During this same peri- ous work in photosynthesis. central feature. od he chaired the Membership Committee While chairman of the Department of Robert E. Blankenship and dedicated his tenure to developing new Chemistry and Biochemistry at Arizona The Charles F. Kettering Award of the Amer- approaches for attracting young members State University, Bob was instrumental in ican Society of Plant Biologists for 2008 is to ASPB. attracting federal funding to establish the awarded to Robert Blankenship. This award, Center for the Study of Early Events in Pho- Sabeeha Merchant established by the Kettering Foundation in tosynthesis. Under his leadership over 10 Sabeeha is recognized for her studies of metal 1962, is intended to recognize excellence in years, the center gained widespread recogni- ion metabolism. Her work has revealed the the field of photosynthesis. In Bob’s 30-year tion as the leading group of investigators in importance of copper scavenging enzymes career, he has set very high standards in photosynthesis, all of whom Bob recruited. for chloroplast biogenesis and for electron research, teaching, and service. Bob has provided unparalleled service to transport in both the chloroplast and mito- Bob’s impact on the field of photosyn- the field of photosynthesis, of which three chondria. Sabeeha served as coeditor of The thesis has been broad and multidisciplinary, contributions stand out as particularly sig- Plant Cell from 2002 to 2004, and her term encompassing photosynthetic bacteria, nificant. He was editor in chief of Photosyn- as editor of Annual Review of Plant Biology algae, and terrestrial plants. His many publi- thesis Research for 11 years, and his hard extends from 2003 to 2009. She chaired the cations in highly regarded journals are testi- work was important to the success the jour- Early Career Award Committee from 2004 mony to his seminal and varied contribu- to 2007, and she served on the Minority tions in areas as wide-ranging as primary nal enjoys today. Subsequently, he served as Affairs Committee (2000–2003) and the electron transfer events, antennae structure president of the International Society of Shull Award Committee (1999–2001). She and function, the origin and evolution of Photosynthesis Research, 2001–2004. Finally, was instrumental in establishing the photosynthesis, and even in astrobiology. In his 2002 textbook, Molecular Mechanisms of Lawrence Bogorad Award. his extraordinarily diverse research, he has Photosynthesis, was a tremendous undertak- ing to cover the molecular basis of the life- Jack Preiss studied photosystems using fast spec- essential processes of photosynthesis; it is rec- Jack is recognized for his enormous contri- troscopy and many other biophysical ognized as a standard primer in the field. butions to our understanding of starch and approaches. Bob’s research has been key to Bob has obviously been interested in the big glycogen biosynthesis, including the engi- our understanding of the antenna systems picture of how photosynthesis evolved, its neering of potato tuber to increase starch and reaction centers of plant photosystems I diversity among organisms, and the variations content in 1992 and the determination of and II, cyanobacteria, and the purple and of mechanisms that organisms use to har- the crystal structures of the E. coli branching green bacteria, and he has pioneered investi- vest and utilize solar energy. His exceptional enzyme and the potato tuber ADP-glucose gations of unusual photosynthetic organ- personal and organizational skills, enthusi- pyrophosphorylase in the first half of this isms such as the heliobacteria and a newly asm, and interest in education have also decade. Through his long years as associate discovered green sulfur photosynthetic bac- editor (1980–1992) and editorial board terium living near deep-sea hydrothermal made him a very effective advocate for gen- member (1992–1995) of Plant Physiology, vents that utilizes light from geothermal eral scientific and photosynthetic research. Jack established standards for articles in radiation. His achievements exemplify the qualities plant biochemistry. He is recognized for his Bob’s interest in the evolution of photo- recognized by the Charles F. Kettering teaching in the plant biochemistry course synthesis was kindled during his early expe- Award. and his long-term commitment and leader- rience in teaching as assistant professor at ship in the international arena in promoting Amherst College. Since then, he has devel- Lawrence Bogorad Award for Excel- plant biochemistry through meetings and oped a world-class research program pro- lence in Plant Biology Research workshops. Although it has been over half a ducing far-reaching insights through use of The ASPB Lawrence Bogorad Award for century since he published his first paper, he molecular and genomic approaches to Excellence in Plant Biology Research was continues an outstanding record of distin- explore the evolutionary pathway between approved by the Society’s Executive Committee guished teaching and research. anoxygenic and oxygenic photosynthesis. in 2005 to honor Dr. Bogorad’s many contri-

24 • ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 butions to plant biology, including his influen- nition as an ISI Highly Cited author, desig- also mentored numerous scientists, served tial efforts to bring the techniques of molecular nating him as one of “the world’s most on national scientific panels and the editori- biology to bear on problems in plant biology; influential researchers.” Further demonstra- al boards of plant journals, and worked with his groundbreaking research on chloroplast tion of research impact is whether the work the Rockefeller Foundation to advance plant genetics, biogenesis, structure, and function; has led to textbooks being rewritten, and biotechnology in underdeveloped countries. and his inspired teaching and mentoring. The Steve’s research has done just that. His semi- Peter initially employed biochemical and ASPB Lawrence Bogorad Award for Excellence nal work elucidating the regulatory mecha- physiological approaches in the study of in Plant Biology Research is a monetary nisms for sucrose synthesis and nitrogen phytochrome, which culminated in purifica- award made biennially to a plant scientist metabolism changed our basic understand- tion of the intact protein and for the first whose work both illuminates the present and ing of both carbon and nitrogen metabo- time allowed an accurate assessment of the suggests paths to enlighten the future. This lism in plants. These concepts are now an protein’s spectral properties. Peter and co- award was awarded for the first time in 2006. integral part of undergraduate and graduate workers then launched the modern era for plant physiology and biochemistry text- molecular genetic analysis of phytochromes Steven Huber books. For example, Professor Hans Heldt by cloning and sequencing the first PHY In awarding the Lawrence Bogorad Award notes that his 2005 Academic Press Plant gene. It was not long before he showed that for Excellence in Plant Biology Research to Biochemistry text highlights “the findings of phytochromes exist as a family of photore- Steve Huber, we recognize a pioneering Steve Huber on the regulation of sucrose ceptors and began to unravel their varying researcher in photosynthesis and plant phosphate synthase and nitrate reductase.” regulatory roles in plant growth and devel- metabolism. Over his 30-year career, Steve Steve is in the midst of a truly exception- opment by employing an increasingly wide- has to his credit a remarkable series of novel al scientific career in plant biology. In addi- ranging set of biochemical, molecular, discoveries and breakthrough contributions tion to his scientific achievements, he is a genetic, and genomic approaches. that have led the way in shaping our current dedicated mentor of students and postdocs, In recent decades Peter has expanded his understanding of the intersection of leaf a valued colleague and adviser, and an studies beyond the photoreceptors to eluci- nitrogen metabolism and photosynthetic unselfish promoter of the discipline. date key components in the phototransduc- carbon metabolism. In particular, Steve is a tion pathway. These studies have resulted in world authority on the mechanisms of pro- paradigm shifts in our understanding of Stephen Hales Prize tein modification in plant enzyme regula- how transcriptional and post-transcriptional This award honors the Reverend Stephen tion and signal transduction. While his vari- regulatory mechanisms operate in plants. Hales for his pioneering work in plant biology ous projects connect through the mechanisms Significant here were the discovery of COP1 published in his 1727 book Vegetable Staticks. of protein modification, they are diverse in and the central role it plays in repressing It is a monetary award established in 1927 for the sense of investigating a wide range of photomorphogenesis, the uncovering of the a scientist, whether or not a member of the important agricultural issues ranging from transcriptional network regulated by phy- Society, who has served the science of plant the control of seed composition, to stress- tochrome, and the identification of the biology in some noteworthy manner. The associated signaling, to the mechanisms of phytochrome-interacting transcription-factor award is made annually. The recipient of the hormone action. A key to the exceptional PIF3. The PIF family of transcription factors award is invited to address the Society on a long-term success and prominence of Steve’s is a central component of the current model subject in plant biology at the next annual science is that as his research projects for phytochrome signaling, in which light- meeting. mature and the underlying mechanisms are activated phytochrome translocates into the revealed, he moves fearlessly on to the next Peter Quail nucleus and then directly interacts with system and the next question that will drive Peter Quail has made seminal contributions transcription factors to activate target the next step in understanding the control to elucidating the molecular mechanisms of genes.  and mechanism of leaf CN metabolism. phytochrome action and red-light photo- Steve brings the type of focus and adven- transduction. These studies were initiated turous spirit to his science that was exempli- during his postdoctoral studies in the Biolo- fied in the extraordinary career of this gisches Institut at the Universität Frieburg award’s namesake. Steve has never been and continue to this day in his current posi- afraid to tackle a difficult problem, and he tions as research director of the Plant Gene always makes significant progress. Indeed, Expression Center and professor in the the breadth of his success can be measured Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, in several tangible ways, including his recog- University of California, Berkeley. Peter has

ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 • 25 Introducing the LI-6400XT Portable Photosynthesis System

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Leaving Plant Science

Jennifer Henry Former Managing Editor, Functional Plant Biology (Australia); Publishing Manager, Nature Publishing Group (New York); [email protected]

In December 2007, my career as editor of ny week in a great city. Particularly memo- Functional Plant Biology (FPB, based in Mel- rable was my visit to Gerry Edwards’s lab in bourne, Australia) took a sharp right turn Pullman, Wash.; he took me cherry picking when I accepted a position as publishing on the way back to the airport! manager with Nature Publishing Group, At each ASPB meeting, I got to know the based in New York. wonderful ASPB office bearers better (bring back the Seattle foot massagers, John!) and also meet so many brilliant U.S. researchers. I had enjoyed e-mail correspondence with many of them as authors and reviewers for FPB, so meeting them face to face at last was a bonus—certainly one of the most valuable aspects of international conferences. My third ASPB meeting, in Chicago last year, was also great for networking, particu- larly with other plant science editors and publishers. I met Peter Minorsky and Don Ort and had a great time at the Plant Cell– Plant Physiology Editorial Board dinner. Nancy Winchester scurried away every time I Bare trees in winter in New York. The Australian bush in summer. approached her with that plate of Vegemite PHOTO BYJENNIFER HENRY. PHOTO BY RAIMONNE McCUTCHAN. crackers. I had an application in with Nature at the time and nervously checked my mes- and a mere 5% vegetable matter. We didn’t I had long dreamed of moving to the sages several times a day, lest they take me up know where to put the blue cheese dressing United States, and every time I was able to on my offer to fly myself over to New York (On top? Do we dip?), and where does the get to an ASPB meeting, I would lap up the for a meet-and-greet. That job never came celery go? sights, the food, the accents, and the culture. through, but a subsequent application did; in I started work here in January, and the job I also loved terrifying new audiences with fact, I actually applied for 12 different posi- is like New York: exhausting, thrilling, frus- Vegemite tastings. Honolulu (2003) was my tions over five years with Nature in New trating, full-on, colorful, overwhelming, coffee- first meeting, and I had been trying to track York, and it finally paid off! fueled, and thoroughly rewarding. I love down one of my FPB reviewers, the elusive Moving one’s life from Australia to New every minute of it! My office in Soho has a Steve Long, for days when I finally bumped York in the space of six weeks is no mean great view over the water. I am surrounded into him at the starting line for the Plant feat, particularly with two daughters under by wonderful, enthusiastic, skilled, and sup- Runner’s Stampede! That meeting will always four, a husband who had only portive staff and management. I saw Steven have a special place in my memory for just resumed his career after Spielberg the other day while walk- another reason, as it was there that I realized six months as a stay-at-home ing to my local subway station. I I was pregnant with my first daughter. I also dad, and an only-just-com- must have gained three pounds met John Kiss, who encouraged me to write a pleted home renovation. already from trying all the new food, piece or two (which turned into four!) for Before we left, I even prac- but I also get up at 6 a.m. a few the Women in Plant Biology column. ticed U.S.-style cooking by times a week to jog around Prospect By the time of the Seattle meeting (2005), whipping up a dish of buffalo Park in Brooklyn. We constantly get word was out, and I had to bring a large jar wings for my family. Hmm, a stopped on the street so people can of Vegemite! Whenever I see the Space Nee- taste of things to come? This listen to our girls’ “cute accents.” dle on Gray’s Anatomy, I remember that sun- meal had 70% meat, 25% fat, continued on page 28

ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 • 27 WIPB continued from page 27 Rather than reading, reviewing, and developments in hypertension research, ever-growing stable of journals, and I will accepting plant science manuscripts, my job nephrology, dermatology, and clinical phar- continue to do so! now revolves around facilitating smooth macology, but I do miss the world of zeaxan- Working in plant science publishing for relationships between societies and their thin, anthocyanins, Rubisco, signal transduc- eight years has given me a heightened love of (actual or potential) publishers. I oversee the tion, and plant biotechnology. It is great to plants and a recognition of their beauty, publishing of four biomedical journals and see so much climate change research in the adaptability, and usefulness that I hope to fight fires daily in production, web publish- popular press—articles about the carbon pass on to my children. Thank you all for ing, marketing, strategy, and budgeting. footprint consequences of supporting our being so brilliant, committed, passionate, So what do I miss? Australian plants, par- carnivorous habits and biofuels research, for and driven in your efforts to further plant ticularly the smell of the Australian bush. One example—and the world is starting to listen science. I will miss you all (and particularly day, as a treat, I will buy a bunch of eucalyptus en masse. I pester the Nature Biotechnology the chance to get to Mérida)!  stems to fill my house with the scent. editors regularly to add more plant science I also miss keeping up with plant science content. I often ask management why they research. I am learning about fascinating don’t have more plant science titles in their

28 • ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 Bioethics

The Bioethics Imperative XXXV Gender Discrimination Cases from NSF

“Mokita”: The truth we all know and agree both sexes make cases of gender discrimina- Case M94120042. (p. 53). A “complainant not to talk about. Papua New Guinea tion understandable, albeit undesirable. Let’s alleged that, because she was a woman and look at the two cases that NSF dealt with because she complained of gender discrimina- In TBI XXXIII and XXXIV we dealt with from 1989 to 2000. tion, the grantee university engaged in ‘a wide- several sexual harassment cases from the Case M94070026. (p. 108/109). Agency X spread program of persistent retaliation and National Science Foundation (NSF), the last concluded that complaints brought by three harassment’ against her. As instances of this of which was egregious. Here, I discuss two complainants “raised issues of gender discrim- program, she cited the university’s actions to gender discrimination cases from the case ination that fell within its jurisdiction. “deprive her of the office and research materi- closeout documents I received under the aus- Induced among the allegation X addressed as als at the museum …, deprive her of laborato- pices of the Freedom of Information Act gender discrimination were allegations that ry space of her own at the department …, (FOIA) from NSF. After the cases are the subject had discriminated in allocating delay authorizing necessary grant-related described in italics, the comments follow access to research equipment and had expenditures, and transfer grant funds to the describing the outcome of each case based destroyed data belonging to another scientist.” PI’s employer after the complainant was laid on information in the closeout documents. After further investigation, “X and the insti- off from her university job.” Before we look at the cases, let’s examine tute agreed on a settlement stipulating that The OIG concluded that the alleged gen- what sets the stage for gender discrimination. the institute would improve its procedures for der discrimination would be “appropriately Math, science, and engineering, the so- handling complaints of gender discrimination, considered” by a state government agency called MSE group, have traditionally been remove the subject from his position as direc- specializing in gender discrimination to male dominated. The bias remains in favor tor of the facilities for three months, take steps which the complainant had already appealed. of men even now, despite the fact that young to protect the interests of women whom the “NSF’s regulation on misconduct in science women have equal if not better aptitude for subject had allegedly harmed, and promise and engineering includes ‘retaliation of any these fields. Why do women fail to persist in that neither the Institute nor its employees kind against a person who reported or pro- MSE? In a study of 80 undergraduates, Park would retaliate against the people who raised vided information about suspected or alleged et al. (1) used a computer test, the Implicit complaints to X. The outlines of the settlement misconduct and who has not acted in bad Association Test (IAT), to measure “identifi- were reported in the science press.” Com- faith’ as part of the definition of misconduct. cation with MSE, gender stereotypes regard- plainant #1 was not happy with this outcome Because the grantee institution’s alleged ing MSE, and attitudes toward MSE on an and asked if NSF and Agency X “could do retaliation was allegedly occasioned by a implicit, nonconscious level.” They found anything to protect women like” the three complaint of gender discrimination, and did that women identified less strongly with complainants. not raise issues of misconduct in science, it MSE (“men more strongly identified MSE NSF decided that since another government does not fall within the definition.” In other with themselves than did women”) and that agency had ruled on this matter, it would be words, this case was not pursued because (a) there was a persistent attitude that the MSE unfair to rule on the same matter twice. “OIG, generally speaking, discrimination allega- fields were “male” fields. Men bought into with the consent of complainant #1, notified tions do not fall under the purview of the the gender stereotype more strongly than did the program director that complainant #1 was Inspector General, and (b) the retaliation women. In a second study from the Green- concerned about the possible future restric- complaint was not a direct result of report- wald group (2), Nosek et al. found that men tions on her access to data at the Institute that ing an allegation of research misconduct and identified with math but that women identi- would adversely affect her ability to perform therefore could not be investigated under the fied with their selves, hence the catchy title to her work under her NSF awards. OIG jurisdiction of the agency’s research miscon- their article: “Math = Male, Me = Female, informed the program director that he was free duct regulation. Therefore Math ≠ Me.” This phenomenon to take appropriate action that, in his judg- To ferret out the truth in such a situation, made it hard for the women in the study to ment, would help complainant #1 get appro- it would be important to know if and in identify themselves as mathematically com- priate access to the facility’s data and facilitate what context other women in the depart- petent or as mathematicians. achievement of the goals of NSF’s award. OIG ment had experienced gender discrimination This then sets the stage for gender dis- also reminded the program director that he and to have documentation that supported crimination in science. The prevalence of should refer any allegation of misconduct in those statements. men in MSE and the implicit attitudes of science arising out of this situation to OIG.” continued on page 30

ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 • 29 Bioethics continued from page 29

So we see that for technical reasons, NSF did not play any role in settling the CALL FOR PROPOSALS claims of gender discrimination in either WSSA Undergraduate Research Award—2009 of these two cases. Indeed, the implica- tion of the last case is that because NSF/OIG focuses primarily on allega- The Weed Science Society of America has developed an Undergraduate Student Research tions of scientific misconduct and Grant designed to encourage and involve exceptional undergraduates in agricultural civil/criminal cases, it will rarely help to research. Interested faculty members are encouraged to identify potential award candi- investigate in alleged gender discrimina- dates and discuss the possibility of sponsoring a research project. Awards may be used tion. In both cases, the university or a as a stipend, for research budget expenses (travel, supplies, etc.), to defer fees, to defray state government authority intervened. If living expenses for summer research, or any combination of these items. you find yourself in a situation of gender discrimination, your first line of defense AWARD is with your local institution’s equal Up to $1000 for support of undergraduate research to be conducted over a minimum employment office and possibly the state of one quarter/semester during 2009. This award may be used to defray the cost of equal employment office. The key with research supplies or as a stipend. Support of a faculty sponsor is required. Awards will any discrimination case is documenta- be made to the student, to be administered by the faculty sponsor’s department. tion. Without it, cases are often reduced to “he said, she said,” which are difficult APPLICANT  at best to investigate adequately. The applicant is an Undergraduate student with a strong interest in weed science. Stu- Dina Mandoli dents majoring in all related disciplines may apply. [email protected]

Next Time: The close of TBI TO APPLY Applicants should prepare a 2-3 page research proposal including name, address, References phone number, e-mail address, title, objective, experimental approach, discussion, 1. Park, Lora E., Kathleen E. Cook, and budget and references. The discussion section of the proposal should describe the Anthony G. Greenwald. 2001. expected results and their possible significance to weed science. The student should Implicit indicators of women’s per- provide a cover letter in which general academic and career goals are discussed. A sistence in math, science and engi- copy of the student’s academic transcripts must also be provided. neering. Psi Chi Journal of Under- graduate Research, 6:145–152. FACULTY SPONSOR Any faculty member who is actively engaged in weed science research is qualified to 2. Nosek, Brian, A. Mahzarin, R. Banaji, be a sponsor. The faculty sponsor should review the research proposal with special and Anthony G. Greenwald. 2002. attention to the budget; the distribution of funds should be approved by both the stu- Math = Male, Me = Female, Therefore dent and sponsor. In addition, the sponsor should provide a letter of reference includ- Math ≠ Me. Journal of Personality and ing a statement of his/her willingness to supervise the proposed research and to pro- Social Psychology, 83(1):44–59. vide needed space, equipment and supplies above those requested in the proposal. The sponsor is encouraged to assist the student in presenting his/her results at a regional weed science meeting.

HOW TO APPLY The completed proposal, academic transcripts, cover letter and faculty letter of support should be forwarded to: Dr. John Jachetta, Dow AgroSciences, 9330 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268-1054; Phone: (317) 337-4686, Fax (317) 337-4649, e-mail: jjjachet- [email protected]. Proposals should be received no later than November 14, 2008. Funding decisions will be made by January 25, 2009 and presented at the 2009 WSSA National Meeting General Session.

30 • ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 Public Affairs

Farm Bill Includes New and Increased Plant-Based Research Efforts

The enacted Farm Bill includes increased sometimes viewed such actions negatively USDA’s release of its research proposals for emphasis on plant-related bioenergy and at times have refused to spend mandato- the Farm Bill. ASPB noted to Buchanan in research as well as research on specialty ry dollars for research. We do not know at both meetings that a bioenergy research pro- crops. this point how appropriators will act on the posal for the Farm Bill is needed and that The Energy Title provision for the Bio- mandatory funding proposed for the Bio- Congress will expect such a proposal. mass Research and Development Initiative mass Research and Development Initiative. The Specialty Crop Research Initiative in provides $118 million cumulatively from In addition to the mandatory funds, the the Research Title is funded with $30 million 2009 to 2012 in mandatory funding for the Farm Bill authorizes $35 million in discre- in mandatory funds for fiscal year 2008 and continuation of the Biomass Research and tionary funds each year from 2009 through $50 million each year in mandatory funds Development Initiative, which has funded 2012. from 2009 through 2012. The use of manda- ASPB member researchers and other The Research Title includes the new Agri- tory funds increases the prospects that this researchers. This figure represents approxi- cultural Bioenergy Feedstock and Energy new research program will receive the spend- mately a doubling over current support. The Efficiency Research and Extension Initia- ing dollars needed. In addition to the mandatory funding is $20 million in 2009, tive, which is authorized at $50 million for mandatory funds, a total of $100 million for $28 million in 2010, $30 million in 2011, and fiscal years 2008 through 2012. This is each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012 is $40 million in 2012. authorized money and does not include authorized. It is hard to predict if a portion The authorizing committee (the Senate mandatory money, so its chances of receiving of the authorized funds will be appropriated, Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Commit- funding are less than if mandatory money although there is strong support for specialty tee) provides the actual dollars needed when was provided. ASPB met with Dr. Gale crop research. Both the House and the Senate it provides mandatory money, without going Buchanan, undersecretary for Research, Edu- have voted to override the president’s veto of to the Appropriations Committee for spend- cation, and Economics at the USDA, last the Farm Bill, and it is now law.  ing dollars. However, appropriators have summer and again in the fall before the

AFRI to Replace NRI

The National Research Initiative (NRI) will The description of plant research priori- includes a separate provision for conventional be replaced October 1, 2009, by the new ties under the previous Farm Bill for the NRI breeding in addition to the priorities for Agriculture and Food Research Initiative was as follows: “Plant systems, including plant research. The natural resources research (AFRI) under the newly enacted Farm Bill. plant genome structure and function; molec- priority provisions are the same in AFRI as Farm Bill writers saw that there was no ular and cellular genetics and plant biotech- under the NRI. ASPB will support continua- mandatory money for the Initiative for nology; plant–pest interactions and biocon- tion of key plant research programs in AFRI Future Agriculture and Food Systems (IFAFS), trol systems; crop plant response to that are now supported by the NRI.  so they included the IFAFS concept with the environmental stresses; unproved nutrient NRI programs under AFRI. This tends to qualities of plant products; and new food continue the current practice—the NRI has and industrial uses of plant products.” already been funding a portion of the awards These plant research priorities will continue characterized as IFAFS. under AFRI in the new Farm Bill. AFRI also

ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 • 31 Public Affairs

Nelson Visits Connecticut Delegation to Urge Support for NSF, USDA, Plant Research

ASPB member Timothy Nelson of Yale Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and of America, including a scientist from Con- University participated in a Capitol Hill Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. necticut, joined Nelson on the visits. visits day April 9 in support of funding for This subcommittee writes spending bills sup- The Biological & Ecological Sciences the National Science Foundation and the porting agricultural research. Coalition (BESC) and the Coalition on USDA. Nelson followed up the meeting with Funding Agricultural Research Missions Nelson met with staff of the offices of the DeLauro’s office with meetings with staff (CoFARM) asked member science societies Connecticut delegation, starting with the from the offices of Congressman John Lar- to coordinate and sponsor Hill visits on April office of Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D- son (D-Conn.), Congressman Joseph Court- 9. ASPB is a member of both coalitions. Nel- Conn.). Nelson, a constituent of DeLauro’s, ney (D-Conn.), Senator Joseph Lieberman son also attended a program April 8 at which recommended strong support for basic and (D-Conn.), and Senator Christopher Dodd agency officials gave presentations on applied research in plant biology. DeLauro (D-Conn.). ASPB Public Affairs staff and research programs.  chairs the Appropriations Subcommittee on representatives of the Weed Science Society

ASPB Members Beachy, Pakrasi, Stacey, Jaworski, McLaren Explore Energy Policy with Senator Bond

An energy policy roundtable featuring Sena- to generate power, the AP tor Christopher (Kit) Bond (R-Mo.) and reported. several ASPB members was held May 28 at ASPB Committee on Pub- the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. lic Affairs Chair Gary Stacey The Associated Press (AP) reported that discussed the work taking Senator Bond renewed his commitment to place within the University of the corn-based ethanol industry. “The cost- Missouri Center for Sustain- of-food impact of ethanol is almost immeas- able Energy, including Senator Gary Stacey urable,” Bond said. “Ethanol, by lowering the research to maximize the Christopher cost of transportation, is helping lower the potential for bioenergy pro- Bond cost of food.” duction for lignocellulosic ASPB Member Roger Beachy said that the feedstocks. discussions of food versus fuel are polarizing. ASPB member Jan Jaworski discussed the “I am among the group of scientists who Danforth Center’s partnership with believe it’s not an either/or choice,” Beachy Metabolix and research into Camelina to said. Beachy is founding president of the develop energy oils from nonfood crops. Danforth Center, which has received a $1.2 Jim McLaren, a member of ASPB, dis- million grant to enhance oil production from cussed Missouri’s role in and resources for soybeans. plant-based energy and the Center for Ever- ASPB Member Himadri Pakrasi said green Energy’s role as an unbiased think tank Roger Beachy small “reactors” full of algae could be placed in making St. Louis a hub of excellence. near coal-powered plants, using carbon Monsanto Executive Vice President Jerry emissions from the coal stacks as a feedstock continued on page 34

32 • ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 Public Affairs

Chrispeels Examines Causes of Rising Food Prices

The following article by Maarten Chrispeels, The recent dramatic Over the past 25 years, devel- “Rising Food Prices: Multiple Causes But No increase in the price of oil oped countries have kept grain Easy Solutions,” was published May 9, 2008 in is a second major cause of prices artificially low through the San Diego Union-Tribune. the rise in food prices. massive farm subsidies. If we add Agriculture, food process- up all subsidies—such as direct A little over a year ago, tens of thousands of ing, and food distribution payments, import taxes, tax Mexicans protested rising corn prices in what are energy intensive. advantages—the total comes to became known as the “tortilla wars.” Today, Fields must be planted nearly $1 billion per day for all unrest over rising food prices has spread and fertilized, crops must the developed countries together. globally, and governments are scrambling to be sprayed and harvested, These subsidies have had the respond to this crisis and feed their poorest foods must be processed effect of reducing the incentive citizens. and transported, cows for investment in agriculture in According to the United Nations Food must be milked and the developing countries. They Maarten Chrispeels and Agriculture Organization, food prices milk pasteurized, and could always rely on importing worldwide have risen 80% since 2005. The meat, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables cheap food from abroad, and indeed the billion poor people in developing countries are transported over long distances in refrig- poor countries of Africa and Asia have also who are food insecure and spend up to 75% erated conditions. Every step in the food become big grain importers. of their income on food go hungry when chain requires energy. As energy prices go up, At the same time, the developed countries food prices double. The era of abundant so do food costs. dramatically cut their support for agricultur- cheap food seems to be coming to an end, Concerned about global warming caused al research in developing countries. The and malnutrition, which had been declining by the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide, the international agricultural research centers slowly for the past 50 years thanks to the European Union and many of our states, that brought us the Green Revolution crops Green Revolution, is on the rise again. including California, instituted biofuel man- that doubled global food supplies between Prices of all basic agricultural commodi- dates, and biofuel production is the third 1960 and 1990 have been starved for funds. ties—rice, corn, wheat, sorghum, soybeans— major cause of the food price increases. In At the same time, the United States and have nearly doubled in the last two years, most cases, producing biofuels means convert- the European Union made substantial invest- paralleling the rise in the cost of oil. Not ing oils from canola or soybean into biodiesel ments in the basic plant molecular sciences, only have bread and breakfast cereals or starch from corn or wheat into ethanol, set- including crop genomics. The genomes—or increased in price, but also beer (made from ting up a competition between food and fuel. the entire genetic makeup—of rice and corn barley or rice) and soft drinks (sweetened In the past 10 years, the proportion of the have been decoded, and those of other crops with corn syrup), as well as beef, chicken, U.S. corn crop used for the production of will soon follow, providing scientists with the pork, and all animal products, including ethanol has risen from 5% to 25%, causing genetic foundation to create vastly improved dairy, fed on grains. corn prices to rise. Farmers, seeing that they crops. It is as if the left hand wasn’t told what The causes of these price increases vary could get a good price for their corn, planted the right hand was doing, because all this from country to country and from crop to less of the other crops or moved those crops genomic information could benefit crop pro- crop and are so complex that no simple solu- to less fertile land. A smaller supply means ductivity, if only there were enough plant tion is in sight. The real solution is to acceler- higher prices. breeders and other agricultural scientists in ate agricultural production worldwide, a goal Global climate change brought about by developing countries to use it. that will take years to achieve. the rising temperature of the Earth is the Agricultural biotechnology has created The rising affluence in the emerging fourth major cause. Altered weather patterns two parallel paths to help translate genomic economies of China and India has increased have been accompanied by floods, tropical information into crop improvement. On the the demand for meat, and Asia has become a storms, and droughts all over the globe. Wit- one hand, plant breeding entered a new era big grain importer. People who can afford to ness Myanmar this week. Australia, normally by using genomic information to trace the would rather eat pork or chicken than rice a big exporter of wheat and rice, is in the transfer of desirable traits from one genera- and lentils. But it takes four to eight pounds grip of a multiyear drought and has seen its tion to the next. of grain to produce a pound of meat. grain production plummet. continued on page 34

ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 • 33 Public Affairs

ASPB Members Explore Energy Policy Commenting on the roundtable of ASPB with other life sciences research, we cannot continued from page 32 member experts, Senator Bond said, “Your fully measure the tremendous potential this Steiner said corn-based ethanol will only innovations are supplying homegrown ener- research holds.” become more practical as the corn plant gy solutions to Missouri and the nation. The Senator Bond conducted a six-city tour to becomes more efficient, AP reported. He sustainable plant energy sources you are discuss energy policy. In addition to the said genetic engineering and advanced researching will provide us with clean and roundtable in St. Louis, his tour included breeding could make an acre of land yield sustainable energy supplies. . . . I would like stops in Springfield, Joplin, Poplar Bluff, and twice as much corn as it does today by the to supersize our success with ethanol with Palmyra, Mo., the St. Louis Business Journal year 2030. new supplies from grass and woodchips. As reported. 

Chrispeels cally engineered wheat and potatoes with Maarten Chrispeels is a professor in the continued from page 33 valuable new traits. Division of Biological Sciences at the Universi- Just as we are learning which genes are In addition, many countries completely ty of California, San Diego, and director of its associated with human diseases, we can now oppose the planting of genetically engineered Center for Molecular Agriculture. figure out which genes are associated with crops, alleging—in spite of a complete lack of ASPB members interested in writing com- desirable crop traits such as disease resistance, evidence—that there are environmental and mentaries in their local newspapers can call the seed size, protein content, or depth of rooting. health risks. One silver lining on the dark newspapers to learn the requirements for sub- This approach, called marker-assisted breed- cloud of rising food prices may be that this mitting letters to the editor or op-eds. Op-eds ing, has already been implemented in devel- opposition is weakening as people see what are generally longer than letters to the editor. If oped countries, but a large cadre of trained biotechnology can do for crop productivity. you exceed the word limits, the letter or op-ed scientists and plant breeders working in devel- By 2040, we will need to double food pro- likely won’t get published. Some newspapers oping countries will be required if those coun- duction. This will require the application of want to have the letters signed and require tries are to reap the benefits of crop genomics. our new molecular knowledge to crop submission of e-mail address and home phone In addition, plant breeders can use genetic improvement as well as a substantial invest- number. engineering to transfer genes that specify ment in agricultural research all around the Choosing timely topics, as Chrispeels did desirable crop traits between plants of differ- world. We need to train thousands of plant with rising food prices, increases the chances of ent species. For example, the famous “golden breeders who have the capability of using all publication. Letters are more often selected that rice” rich in provitamin A was made by intro- that we will soon know about crop genes and respond to an editorial or other published item ducing a daffodil gene into the rice plant. applying it locally to generate the crop vari- in the newspaper. Don’t be discouraged if your Although the United States is the leader eties best adapted to the many ecological first letter or op-ed is not published. The in this technology, food companies and fast- niches where crops are grown. majority of submissions are rejected. However, food chains—afraid of protests by “green” If one-tenth of the money we now spend letters to the editor and op-eds offer a cost- organizations and of losing customers—are on subsidies were spent on agricultural inno- effective avenue for public education outreach. refusing to use certain genetically engineered vation, we could look forward to a world They can influence many readers, including crops. As a result, the biotechnology compa- where no one goes hungry. The only question decision makers.  nies abandoned their plans to release geneti- that remains: Do we have the political will?

34 • ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 Public Affairs

Lignin Research on Spike Moss by ASPB Members Chapple, Weng, Stout, Li Lycophytes Could Contribute to Cellulosic Ethanol Production

The National Science Foundation reported in of the National Academy of Sciences. All four nings of the evolutionary innovations that a news release May 22 that biologists have are members of ASPB. allowed plants to thrive on land, including discovered that a fundamental building block “We’re excited about this work not only lignin,” said Banks. in the cells of flowering plants evolved inde- because it may provide another tool with Chapple and his colleagues conducted the pendently, yet almost identically, on a sepa- which we can manipulate lignin deposition recent study as part of a broader effort to rate branch of the evolutionary tree—in an in plants used for biofuel production, but understand the genetics behind lignin specif- ancient plant group called lycophytes that because it demonstrates that basic research ically, as the material is an impediment to originated at least 420 million years ago. on plants not used in agriculture can provide some biofuel production methods because of Researchers believe that flowering plants important fundamental findings that are of its durability and tight integration into plant evolved from gymnosperms, the group that practical benefit,” said Chapple. structures. includes conifers, ginkgos, and related plants. The plant studied—Selaginella moellen- “Findings from studies such as this really This group split from lycophytes hundreds of dorffii, an ornamental plant sold in nurseries have implications regarding the potential for millions of years before flowering plants as spike moss—came from Purdue colleague designing plants to better make use of cellu- appeared. Jody Banks, a member of ASPB. While not a lose in cell walls,” said Gerald Berkowitz, a The building block, called syringyl lignin, coauthor on the paper, Banks helped kick- program director for the Physiological and is a critical part of the plants’ scaffolding and start the study of the Selaginella genome Structural Systems Cluster at the NSF and water transport systems. It apparently with NSF support in 2002 and is now scien- the program officer overseeing Chapple’s emerged separately in the two plant groups, tific coordinator for the plant’s genome- grant. “Different forms of lignin are present much like flight arose separately in both bats sequencing effort conducted by the Depart- in crop plant cell walls; engineering plants to and birds. ment of Energy Joint Genome Institute in express specifically syringyl lignin could Purdue University researcher Clint Chap- Walnut Creek, Calif. allow for easier breakdown of cellulose. ple and graduate students Jing-Ke Weng and “Because Selaginella is a relict of an Overcoming this obstacle is an important Jake Stout, along with postdoctoral research ancient vascular plant lineage, its genome next step for advancing second-generation associate Xu Li, conducted the study with the sequence will provide the plant community biofuel production.”  support of the NSF and published their find- with a resource unlike any other, as it will ings in the May 20, 2008, issue of Proceedings allow them to discover the genetic underpin-

Combining Organic Farming with Genetically Engineered Crops

Committee on Public Affairs member Pam The article cites the merits of combining Ronald published an article in the Boston organic farming practices with the use of Globe on March 16 addressing topics from a genetically engineered crops. Pam has taken book she and her husband wrote, Tomorrow’s the lead for a number of years in seeking better Table: Organic Farming, Genetics, and the relations between organic farmers and inter- Future of Food. The book became available ests involved in modern plant science tech- earlier this year. nologies, including genetic engineering. 

Pam Ronald

ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 • 35 Public Affairs

ASPB Member Wurtzel Contributes to Future ASPB Research with Global Health Significance Meetings

Professor Eleanore T. lines of maize by using Wurtzel of Lehman College the DNA diversity that in New York is part of a team already exists in these of researchers working in collections.” seven laboratories in the Wurtzel’s work in the United States and Mexico project focused on iden- that has developed tools for tifying critical enzymes breeding new lines of maize in the biosynthetic path- rich in provitamin A, which way that help to accu- could dramatically improve mulate carotenoids. the health of millions of Carotenoids are nutri- people around the world. tionally important com- Their research was published pounds that are manu- on January 18, 2008, in the Eleanore Wurtzel factured in plants and journal Science under the title “Natural needed by humans for development and as Plant Biology 2009 Genetic Variation in Lycopene Epsilon a source of vitamin A. Wurtzel’s laboratory Honolulu, Hawaii Cyclase Can Enhance Provitamin A Biofor- investigates gene regulation in crop plants tification of Maize.” to understand how carotenoid content and July 18–22, 2009 Each year, vitamin A deficiency is the composition are controlled. cause of eye disease in approximately 40 “It was through this multi-institutional million children and places hundreds of collaboration,” Wurtzel added, “that such Plant Biology 2010 millions at risk for other health disorders. basic research could be translated to devel- Montréal, Canada Maize is the most common crop grown in op useful tools for plant breeders.” much of sub-Saharan Africa and the Amer- In addition to Wurtzel, who is also on July 30th–August 5, 2010 icas, where substantial numbers of children the faculty of the City University of New Joint Annual Meeting of have vitamin A deficiency. Plant breeders York (CUNY) Graduate Center, contribu- the American Society of currently use visual markers to select and tors include researchers from Cornell Uni- Plant Biologists and the produce the most nutritious crops possible. versity, the University of Illinois, the Boyce Canadian Society of Plant As a result of this research, breeders now Thompson Institute, the University of Physiologists/Société Canadienne de will be able to develop breeding programs North Carolina, USDA, the International Physiologie Végétale using DNA-based indicators. These indica- Maize and Wheat Improvement Center tors will track plants that carry a genotype (CIMMYT) in Mexico, and DuPont Crop needed to produce the highest levels of Genetics Research. Wurtzel’s lab, the only For more information go to provitamin A. one based in New York City, is located at http://www.aspb.org/ The research, Wurtzel noted, capitalizes Lehman College, which houses the CUNY on new knowledge about how plant genes doctoral program in plant sciences. ASPB meetings/ influence nutritional traits. “This discov- members Tom Brutnell and Ed Buckler ery,” she said, “came about through molec- have been collaborating with Wurtzel on ular analysis of maize from around the this research.  world. Breeders will be able to develop new

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY.

36 • ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 ASPB Education Forum

What Can We Do to Improve STEM Instruction and Learning?

The National Academies’ National Research same concepts within their milieus (e.g., pre- Council (NRC) Board on Science Education service teacher educator, state education pol- hosted a conference April 9, 2008, in Wash- icy adviser). ington, D.C. The meeting’s primary goal was A second goal of the conference was to to introduce science educators, administra- create a dissemination strategy for RSS. tors, and policy makers to the book Ready, Attendees focused on methods for promot- Set, Science! Putting Research to Work in ing RSS within their spheres of influence in K–8 Science Classrooms (RSS), by Sarah instruction, administration, or policy. Sug- Michaels, Andrew W. Shouse, and Heidi A. gested action points included the following: Schweingruber. RSS is a user-friendly derivative of NRC’s 1. Offer RSS as a text for teacher training technical tome Taking Science to School programs. (TSS). RSS offers eight chapters and four 2. Develop an effective two-page summary of appendixes filled with validated teaching RSS highlights. Contact state legislators techniques and sample teaching vignettes and local decision makers. Focus on just a designed to clarify the four most effective few trendsetting states (not all 50 right strands of science instruction as outlined by now). the TSS project for use in all science, technol- 3. Match RSS strands and vignettes with state ogy, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) for a stop to “mile-wide, inch-deep” curricula science standards and/or adopted curricula. education: and for the provision of sustained explo- 4. Upgrade online access to RSS content ration. available at the National Academies Press 1. Foundational Knowledge and Conceptual Schweingruber pointed out that young website (see below). Change children are more aware of scientific con- 5. Disseminate information about RSS and 2. Organizing Science Education Around cepts than they get credit for. Their lack of offer specific teaching vignettes via Core Concepts mature language doesn’t mean they can’t teacher-oriented websites used to share the 3. Making Thinking Visible: Talk and Argu- think about and explore fairly sophisticated latest and greatest techniques, specific les- ment scientific experiences. She also explained that sons, and materials. 4. Making Thinking Visible: Modeling and despite the book’s subtitle, RSS content is 6. Collaborate with other agencies on public- Representation. applicable to high school and undergraduate ity, public outreach, and legislator and STEM curricula. Additionally, Schweingruber decision maker contact plans. Create and Carlo Parravano (Merck Institute for Sci- emphasized that RSS can support pre- and share a spreadsheet of everyone involved ence Education and NRC Board on Science in-service teachers’ efforts to help students and the specialties of each. Education member) began the session by think aloud and talk through concepts, create stating that RSS confirms in research what quality models, and pursue inquiry-based Anyone interested in learning more about we already “know” about teaching science: learning. Ready, Set, Science! is encouraged to check out Inquiry-based learning that actively engages Sarah Michaels (Clark University) delved http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id= students is extremely effective. Parravano into the practical format of RSS. She 11882. A podcast overview of RSS is available explained that the challenge is to get the RSS explained that the book’s blue pages are sam- through http://media.nap.edu/podcasts/ teaching models disseminated widely to ple teaching vignettes or case studies. These nax42readysetsc.mp3. RSS coauthors can be teachers. vignettes are very carefully designed to teach reached via e-mail: Sarah Michaels at Heidi Schweingruber (RSS coauthor and a concept to students while also guiding [email protected], Andrew Shouse at acting director, Board on Science Education) teachers to organize lessons using the four [email protected], and Heidi Schweingruber emphasized that the RSS teaching models strands of science education. One RSS at [email protected].  focus on creating testable questions, working vignette even features activities from ASPB in collaborative teams, and incorporating the member Paul Williams’s Fast Plants pro- four strands of science instruction. She called gram! Additional speakers addressed these

ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 • 37 Education Forum

Fostering Change in Undergraduate Biology Education— What Can ASPB Do?

Last year in Chicago at Plant Biology 2007, strategies for professional societies: • Students need to be prepared to make representatives from the National Science future decisions on scientific issues. 1. Concept Literacy Foundation hosted a discussion of the topic • Students need to read, write, and apply What can professional societies “Vision and Change in Biology Undergraduate what they learn. do to help? Education: A View for the 21st Century.” An • The “process of science” should be taught. • Use meetings, journals, and websites as article describing this standing-room-only ses- Faculty need to realize that they cannot clearinghouses for material to support sion was published in the September/October teach all the material in biology. concept literacy, active or experiential 2007 issue of ASPB News (http://www.aspb.org/ • Students need to understand that science learning, and broad career horizons. newsletter/septoct07/33edforum3.cfm). is “evidence based” and “evolution based.” • Encourage the integration of their roles Participants in this discussion were divid- • Faculty members need to remember to with those of educational societies. ed into small groups and asked to define cur- “teach the science” and convey that science • Provide help in assessing and institutional- ricular goals, course designs, and delivery is a “way of knowing.” izing “good ideas” and “feedback loops” for options, as well as the related faculty prepa- • Some follow-up with students is needed good science. ration and institutional structures needed to once they leave the classroom, course, and • Encourage faculty development and pro- create effective change for the future of institution. vide faculty with support. undergraduate biology education. Over the • Become resource stewards by creating, con- 2. Active and Experiential Learning past year, NSF has led a series of similar con- solidating, and disseminating materials. versations with key scientists, life science • Students need real-world problems to analyze. organizations, and biology educators to iden- • Students must be able to understand and What resources are available? tify and prioritize goals. analyze controversies. Providing resources can be the role of funding In May this year, NSF, the American Asso- • Students need to experience the way scien- agencies. It is understood now that great schol- ciation for the Advancement of Science tists “do” science. arship is rewarded, but there is a need to bring (AAAS), and the American Institute of Bio- • Students must develop critical thinking skills. provosts and administrators into the conversa- logical Sciences (AIBS) gathered representa- • Faculty members have to look at their own tion to support educational scholarship. teaching methods and develop ways to tives from more than 60 professional soci- What is the next step? address these student needs. eties in Washington to continue this NSF plans to continue the conversations and discussion and to present some findings 3. Broad Career Horizons discussions while ramping up for a “Vision of from the conversations with scientists and • For the majority of students, their terminal Change” conference, at which societies will be biology educators held over the past year. course in science is undergraduate intro- asked how they are contributing to the vision. NSF also asked these representatives to iden- ductory biology. This is the students’ “gate- At a minimum, this is a decade-long plan with tify possible strategies professional societies way to science” and educators’ last chance shared visions and partners. Add your exper- could use to foster change in undergraduate to enhance their understanding of science. tise to the conversation. Submit your specific biological sciences education. • Students come from diverse backgrounds successes in fostering change in undergradu- In her summary of findings, Penny Firth and will go into a broad range of careers. ate biology education to [email protected].  of NSF described three components of what They will be the K–8 teachers, politicians, Jane Ellis NSF called “A Shared Vision” and possible lawyers, and business leaders of the future. [email protected]

What Did You Say? A Future Without Textbooks?

Recently I attended a Biology Summit at the AAAS, NSF, and the American Institute of graduate biological sciences education in the headquarters of the American Association for Biological Sciences (AIBS), brought together United States and hear from a number of the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Wash- representatives from more than 60 life science experts discussing science, engineering, and ington, D.C. This summit, cosponsored by organizations to discuss the future of under- mathematics in a changing world.

38 • ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 Education Forum

As we approached the last presentation of any level of detail using multiple pathways can be visual, conceptual, and skills-oriented. the first day, “The Education Publishing and models. These can be modular in design It is outcome based; therefore, the goal is Transformation,” many of the attendees were and delivered by MP3s (digital audio players) mastery of material by learning specific con- thinking that this was one we wished we and PDAs (personal digital assistants, or tent, solving problems, or developing labora- could skip. What could we get from a text- handheld computers). tory techniques and skills. book company’s representative that was so Experiential learning, which has been dif- The concepts of “annual” and the “15-week important? Wow! Were we surprised! ficult to design in the past, is now upon us. semester” will no longer apply. The future is in Michael D. Lange, McGraw-Hill Higher In virtual tours, students and others can developing material for a global market. Con- Education vice president for new product “experience” a walk through a tropical forest tent will be customized to faculty and students launches in science, engineering, and mathe- or a tour inside the cell. Online labs, simula- and delivered directly to students by subscrip- matics, gave one of the most intriguing talks tions, interactive collaborations, and gaming tion and download. Very important, the con- of the conference about the transformation tools are being developed to enhance learn- tent will be updated continually. Companies taking place in the educational publishing ing. As we know, powerful computational are starting to develop modules of best prac- business. As stated in a description of his and quantitative sites are available for all to tices and organizing electronic bulletin boards presentation, “Changes in demographics and use that had not been accessible to the edu- to help in this new endeavor. technology, as well as the rising cost of high- cational system and public until recently. This very challenging time for publishers er education, are driving publishers to recon- Lange stated that the future is in assess- opens up many exciting instructional oppor- sider their role in the 21st century.” ment and testing, in which pretests are given, tunities. Help inform the Society’s efforts to In his presentation, he noted that the and material is then individualized to the support this transition by submitting your future is in digital content, in which databas- student and is self-paced with formative experiences with this type of content delivery es and wikis are readily available for use assessment. Necessary remediation takes to [email protected].  along with primary sources and case studies. place on the basis of specific assessment Courses can be designed by instructors with results for each learner. This type of learning

ASPB Grant Awards Program Update Daniel Scheirer Races to Get Energy Ingenuity About Biofuels on Track

ASPB member Daniel Scheirer (Duke Uni- roll. Race for Your Future presents graphi- Race for Your Future also incorporates a versity) is gearing up to get students from cally appealing information that students novel approach to understanding fuel econo- kindergarten through college racing into the use to gain “plant biology savvy and energy my that allows participants to choose from a future by driving fuel-efficient cars—virtual ingenuity” in order to take their own band variety of cars and fuels to meet criteria put cars, that is. Since 2006, when he received on an ecoefficient road trip across the Unit- forth by the activity. Guidelines may ask $21,888 from the ASPB Grant Awards Pro- ed States. The program offers both simple users to find the combination that allows for gram, Scheirer has been developing and mar- and technical scientific language to accom- the greatest distance on a single tank of gaso- keting a series of computer games about the modate any teaching level. Users learn to line or to choose the most environmentally development and uses of biofuels. The goal identify different fuels and to understand friendly combination. Students must think of Scheirer’s project, entitled “Renewable the problems or risks associated with each. and drive as they analyze and interpret the Biofuels: From Camarasaurus to Corn,” is to The game reveals the step-by-step procedure data generated by the trip. get students actively engaged in learning how through which plants are used to make Interested in learning more? Race to your plants create energy, how the energy is trans- biofuels. Users must correctly organize keyboard, start your search engine, and verify formed into biofuels, and how the technolo- screen icons to re-create the production that your energy ingenuity is up to speed at gy fits into the greater scheme of politics, process and make headway on their road http://hdbiology.com/raceforyourfuture.  business, and everyday life. trip. The end result shows the carbon cycle A functional version of Scheirer’s first from corn seed to eventual release of car- game, Race for Your Future, is now ready to bon dioxide.

ASPB News, Vol. 35, No. 4 • 39 ASPB Headquarters Telephone Extensions and E-Mail Directory

For your convenience, keep this listing of extension numbers and e-mail addresses handy when you contact ASPB headquarters so that you can reach the person best able to assist you. Our office telephone number is 301-251-0560 Crispin Taylor / ext. 115 Taylor Crispin [email protected] / ext. 131 Gordon Donna [email protected] / ext. 110 Rosenberg Jean [email protected] / ext. 140 Kimnach Kim [email protected] / ext. 144 Pundu Jotee [email protected] / ext. 143 Liu-Kuan Stephanie [email protected] / ext. 141 Cholwek Suzanne [email protected] / ext. 114 Hyps Brian [email protected] / ext. 117 Winchester Nancy [email protected] / ext. 119 Long John [email protected] / ext. 120 Kessler Annette [email protected] / ext. 125 Csikos Leslie (Ash) [email protected] Sahli / ext. 123 Wendy [email protected] Missing journal issues Subscriptions, institutional and individual Plant Physiology (except missing issues) Disposition of a manuscript All other questions The Plant Cell (except missing issues) Disposition of a manuscript All other questions ASPB News Advertising Plant Physiology The Plant Cell ASPB News Membership Accounts payable Accounts receivable Accounts payable/receivable problems ASPB meetings Public affairs/government relations Education Society governance ASPB Education Foundation International issues Awards Biochemistry & Molecular Biology of Plants Website Online orders

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ASPB News (ISSN 1535-5489; Online ISSN 1544-9149) is published bimonthly by the American Society of Plant Biologists, 15501 Monona Drive, Rockville, MD 20855-2768 USA, tele- phone 301-251-0560, fax 301-279-2996. Members’ dues include a subscription price of $2 per year to ASPB News. Subscription price to nonmembers is $30 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Rockville, MD, and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send address changes to ASPB News, 15501 Monona Drive, Rockville, MD 20855-2768 USA.