November/December 2018 • Volume 45, Number 6

p. 7 p. 13 p. 15 2019 ASPB Awards ASPB/AAAS 2018 Luminaries Nominations Mass Media Fellow Natasha Raikhel Opening Soon! Reports In

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLANT BIOLOGISTS

Ambassa-More, Please! Announcing the Newly Enhanced President’s Letter ASPB Ambassador Program #ASPBForward: BY STEPHANIE KLEIN, ASPB Ambassador and Membership Committee, RISHI R. Where We Are MASALIA, ASPB Ambassador and Membership Committee, KEN KORTH, Membership Committee, and JILL DEIKMAN, Chair of the Membership Committee Going BY ROB LAST he ASPB Ambassador Program was Society’s most active members. They engage Michigan State University established in 2006 to involve students their campus communities in outreach activ- Tand postdocs in communicating ities, represent ASPB at section conferences, ASPB’s mission to academic and industry and contribute articles to the ASPB News. ver the past communities and to the general public. ASPB Most importantly, ASPB ambassadors have year, ASPB ambassadors have since become some of the continued on page 4 Ocontinued a history of nearly 100 years of growth and change, and I have learned much about this great organization of people. The size and scope of activities and diverse passions of members, staff, and affili- ates made it difficult to choose one topic for this first letter, so I highlight ways that ASPB is working and planning efforts to serve members. First, some context. It is exciting to make the transition from president-elect to president. My president- elect year provided opportunities to learn Left to right: ASPB ambassadors Rishi Masalia, Stephanie Klein, Nathan Harlan, and continued on page 3 Kathryn McIntyre meeting up at Plant Biology 2018 in Montreal. Contents Council members highlighted in blue ASPB Council also serve on the Board of Directors.

President Rob Last Immediate Past President; Chair Harry Klee President-elect Judy Callis Secretary Andrew Bent Treasurer; Chair, Board of Trustees Rick Vierstra 1 President’s Letter Elected Members Christine Foyer Maureen McCann 1 Ambassa-More, Please! Announcing the Newly Chair, Membership Committee Jill Deikman Enhanced ASPB Ambassador Program Chair, Minority Affairs Committee Gustavo MacIntosh Chair, Publications Committee Neil E. Olszewski Chair, Women in Plant Biology Committee Laura Wayne 4 Let’s Nominate! Chair, Education Committee Sarah Wyatt Chair, International Committee Anja Geitman 5 ASPB Officers and Committee Members Assume Posts Chair, Science Policy Committee Nathan Springer for 2018–2019 Sectional Representatives Mid-Atlantic Section Hua Lu 6 2018–2019 Awards Committees Midwestern Section Gustavo MacIntosh Northeastern Section Carolyn Lee-Parsons Southern Section Ashlee McCaskill 7 2019 ASPB Awards Nominations Opening Soon! Western Section Kulvinder Gill

Environmental and Ecological Andy VanLoocke 8 New Positions for Early Career Professionals on Plant Physiology Section Primarily Undergraduate Leeann Thornton ASPB Committees Institutions Section 9 An ASPB Member Looks Forward to San Jose for ASPB Staff Plant Biology 2019 Chief executive officer Crispin Taylor, [email protected] Director of finance and administration Clara Woodall, [email protected] 10 Travel Support for Plant Biology 2019 Executive and governance affairs administrator Sylvia Lee, [email protected] Senior staff accountant Jotee Pundu, [email protected] 11 Highlights of the EEPP Section Annual Meeting in Senior staff accountant Francky Rakotomanana, [email protected] Montreal Director of meetings and events Jean Rosenberg, [email protected] Conference coordinator Teresa Myers, [email protected] Director, digital strategy and member services vacant Manager, member services Shoshana Kronfeld, [email protected] People Meetings, marketing, and membership assistant Melanie Binder, [email protected] 13 ASPB/AAAS 2018 Mass Media Fellow Reports In Web systems manager Mark James, [email protected] Legislative and public affairs director Tyrone Spady, [email protected] Executive coordinator, Plant Science Natalie Henkhaus, [email protected] Research Network Luminaries Education coordinator Winnie Nham, [email protected] Director of publications Nancy A. Winchester, [email protected] 15 Natasha Raikhel Publications assistant Diane McCauley, [email protected] Subscriptions manager Suzanne Cholwek, [email protected] Subscriptions assistant Linda Palmer, [email protected] Science Policy Managing editor Jennifer Regala, [email protected] Science writer, Plant Physiology Peter Minorsky, [email protected] 17 Policy Update Production manager, Plant Physiology Jon Munn, [email protected] Manuscript manager, Plant Physiology Ashton Wolf, [email protected] Senior features editor, The Plant Cell Nan Eckardt, [email protected] ASPB Staff Features editor, The Plant Cell Mary Williams, [email protected] Production manager, The Plant Cell Susan Entwistle, [email protected] 21 ASPB Welcomes Francky Rakotomanana as Senior Manuscript manager, The Plant Cell Annette Kessler, [email protected] Staff Accountant The ASPB News is distributed to all ASPB members and is also available online. It is published six times annually in odd-numbered months. Its purposes are to keep membership informed 21 Fond Farewells to Susan Cato and Stephanie Liu-Kuan of ASPB activities and to reinforce the value of membership. The ASPB News is edited and produced by ASPB staff from material provided by members and other interested parties. Copy deadline is the 5th day of the preceding even-numbered month (for example, April 5 for May/June publication). Contact: Nancy A. Winchester, Editor, ASPB News, 15501 Monona Drive, Rockville, MD 20855-2768 USA; [email protected]; 301-296-0904. © 2018 American Society of Plant Biologists

2  ASPB NEWS | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 President’s Letter

PRESIDENT’S LETTER submit your abstract before the 2017–2018 academic year saw a content, and let the community continued from page 1 first deadline. Oh, and by the way, step-change increase in Plantae know about the efforts and broad about the organization through there were more than 1,600 at- content: it now serves as a gather- recognition of our members. service on the meeting-organizing tendees at Plant Biology 2018 in ing place for the digital output The Twitter community at the Program Committee, as well Montreal! of the Conviron Scholars and Montreal conference was remark- as the Council and the Board The research described at Plantae Fellows programs, as ably active (#plantbio18; for stats of Directors. There also were our annual meetings has always well as hosting the What We’re and some tweets, see https:// opportunities to get involved in been a prime motivator for me to Reading blogs, employment op- tinyurl.com/ybuffon5), and this other activities near to my heart. attend; however, the most notice- portunities, and a portal to the activity allowed a broad group of One example is interacting with able changes since I attended my TapRoot podcast. scientists and citizens across the the Publications Committee, first American Society of Plant If you have not looked at world to know what they were on which I served in the 1990s. Physiologists annual meeting in Plantae in recent months, I urge missing and why they should Making appointments to the the early 1990s are the activities you to do so soon and regularly. come to Plant Biology 2019 in governance and awards commit- that promote professional devel- You can access on-demand video San Jose, California. opment and networking across content on topics of broad appeal, tees allowed me to work with Other Efforts Toward the disciplines, geographies, and learn about data management and committee chairs, and it was Future gratifying to experience the career paths. Indeed, the Program analysis, tune up your commu- enthusiastic responses from those Committee, staff, and leader- nication approaches, and find ASPB needs to strengthen our invited to participate. More than ship have a satisfying challenge out about phenomics and space impact for a broad group of a year of intensive exposure to the in accommodating the demand biology. Looking for a topic for a people, including early career and inner workings of ASPB revealed for satellite meetings, workshops, journal club or ideas to modern- private-sector members, and there changes that are propelling orga- networking events, and one-on- ize an upcoming lecture? What are plenty of changes afoot this nizational evolution, and this one mentoring activities at the We’re Reading (https://plantae. year. For example, the Conviron letter highlights two areas: the annual meetings. This is an area org/research/wwrtw/) and Plant Corporation increased support annual Plant Biology meetings in which the staff and volunteers Physiology News and Views for the Conviron Scholars pro- and the Society’s electronic media provide great leadership. (formerly Commentaries; http:// gram, and the next class will grow presence. In Montreal, the Plantae www.plantphysiol.org/content/by/ from 20 in 2017–2018 to 43 in Pavilion and ASPB booth served section/News and Views) provide 2018–2019 (https://tinyurl.com/ Plant Biology Meetings as venues for dozens of round- digestible summaries of diverse yd7dav89). Leadership responded The annual Plant Biology confer- table discussions, networking papers in our disciplines. This to a recent Membership Committee ence is a wonderful example of events, and social media–oriented content educates us and provides recommendation to double the size how a long-lived science society activities. In addition to serv- scholars at all career stages with and increase the activities of the has evolved to meet the needs ing the needs of attendees, these chances to hone their commu- 12-year-old Ambassador Program of community members while happenings are testing grounds nication craft and be recognized (https://tinyurl.com/yb6sqvky). The promoting scientific excellence, for events that could grow into by others in the community. Our details for 2019 can be found on education, and sound policy. new ASPB activities, commit- substantial investment in Plantae page 1 and at https://tinyurl.com/ Attendees experience a tremen- tees, collaborations, and—most is yielding interest and creating yah8986y. dous breadth of poster topics exciting of all—events that help buzz. Discussion at the ASPB Town from presenters ranging in age early career participants find After learning of my impend- Hall on the last afternoon of Plant from their late teens to their niches and grow into long-term ing term in ASPB leadership, I Biology 2018 and social media 90s. There are inspiring talks members. dusted off a moribund Twitter discussion before and after the from speakers selected for major account (@biokid001) to discover meeting provided ideas for how to and concurrent symposia. It is Electronic Media Presence how this platform is used by our make the Society more inclusive noteworthy that the majority of Although conferences, newslet- community of members, authors, and responsive. We are developing talks are selected from submitted ters, Signal emails, and the ASPB and conference attendees. This mechanisms for including early abstracts covering the full range website continue as mainstream continues to be an eye-opening— career scientists as members of of scientific and educational top- ways to engage the community, and time-consuming—avoca- the committees at the heart of our ics pursued by attendees. A bit the value of the Plantae digital tion. ASPB staff and community Society (see page 8 and https:// of advice: if you’d like the chance ecosystem (https://plantae.org/) members promote educational aspb.org/about/committees/). for a speaking opportunity at and social media has been in- and career development activi- Finally, we will work to be an Plant Biology 2019, be sure to creasing exponentially. The ties, advertise our journals’ continued on page 4 ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 45, NUMBER 6 3 PRESIDENT’S LETTER continued from page 3 increasingly welcoming place for all community members, regard- less of age, career path, ethnicity, gender identification, or sexual Let’s Nominate! orientation; this is inherently the right thing to do and a path to a he Call for Nominations who commit their time and http://excom.aspb.org/. A list healthy future for our community. for ASPB Board of energy to leading the Society. of prior presidents who have If you have suggestions, tag TDirector positions and Members will be nominating served ASPB can be viewed tweets #aspbforward (and tag the 2019 ASPB Awards is fast and then voting for a president- at http://aspb.org/about/past- @biokid001 to get my attention), approaching. An email message elect and an elected member presidents/. send an email, volunteer to write will be sent out to members of the Board of Directors. We The Call for Nominations a blog, do a training video, apply on January 4, 2019; nomina- need nominees to consider for will open soon, so please join to be an ambassador, and encour- tions are due by Wednesday, these positions, so do please your colleagues and nomi- age your friends to join and February 13, 2019. participate in the process and nate! n participate in ASPB (https://aspb. ASPB relies on a number let your voice be heard by org/membership/). n of dedicated individuals submitting a nomination at

AMBASSA-MORE, PLEASE! a one-year trial beginning in Alliance (see below) will fulfill Ambassador Program chair will continued from page 1 January 2019. this contribution requirement. also sit on the ASPB Council as a served the vital role of providing The new program is designed Ambassadors will have access nonvoting representative. a voice for early career members to enhance the ambassador to leadership training modules, Current ambassadors will in the Society, often lending input experience with leadership and networking opportunities, and continue in the new program, on key issues. science communication training other resources available on and applications are now being To further strengthen this activities and networking oppor- Plantae. To facilitate these aims, accepted for additional ambas- program, the Membership tunities, all while maintaining the discounts on section and national sadors. Candidates must be Committee—with input from original purpose of engagement meetings will be provided, and an a current ASPB member and current ambassadors and other with other plant scientists to share annual Ambassador of the Year complete the application avail- early career members—felt ASPB’s mission. The Ambassador will be recognized. able online (https://aspb.org/ that the Ambassador Program Program is open to members of The Ambassador Program will membership/aspb-ambassador- should be restructured to offer ASPB who are students or post- now have its own governing body, program/) by January 15, 2019. more leadership training and docs or who work in industry. the Ambassador Alliance, to Applications will be reviewed, career development opportuni- Ambassadors must complete at oversee its main operations. The and new ambassadors selected, by ties for this committed group least two activities to encourage Ambassador Alliance will consist the Ambassador Alliance together of members. We are happy people to engage with ASPB or of a chair, vice chair, secre- with the Membership Committee. to announce that a proposal to communicate the importance tary, Membership Committee Thanks to the entire to enhance the Ambassador of plant sciences. Alternatively, representative, and outgoing Membership Committee and Program was approved by the service on a standing ASPB chair. These positions will be ASPB Member Services staff for ASPB Board of Directors for committee or on the Ambassador elected by the ambassadors. The developing this proposal. n

4  ASPB NEWS | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 ASPB Officers and Committee Members Assume Posts for 2018–2019 Listed below are governance committee members for the current year. The year in which each committee member’s term ends is indicated in pa- rentheses. Please note that ASPB will be appointing early career researchers to most governance committees during the current year; see page 8 for more details on this initiative.

Board of Directors Gustavo MacIntosh (2020), chair, International Committee Program Committee Judy Callis (2020), chair, Minority Affairs Committee Anja Geitman (2021), chair Andrew Bent (2020), chair, secretary president-elect Nathan Springer (2020), chair, Kranthi Mandadi (2019) Judy Callis (2019), president-elect Science Policy Committee Rob Last (2019), president Bijay Singh (2019) Wayne Parrot (2019), secretary-elect Andrew Bent (2019), secretary Laura Wayne (2020), chair, Women Jurandir Magalhaes (2020) in Plant Biology Committee Phil Taylor (2019) Rick Vierstra (2021), treasurer Zuhua He (2021) Christine Foyer (2021), elected Gilles Basset (2020) Maureen McCann (2019), elected member Rubén Rellán Álvarez (2021) Stacey Harmer (2021) member Anja Geitman (2021), chair, Membership Committee Shinhan Shiu (2022) Christine Foyer (2021), elected International Committee member Jill Deikman (2019), chair Hua Lu (2019), Mid-Atlantic Publications Committee Crispin Taylor, CEO (nonvoting) Rishi Masalia (2020), postdoc Neil E. Olszewski (2019), chair Section representative member Katayoon (Katie) Dehesh (2019) Board of Trustees Gustavo MacIntosh (2020), Stephanie Klein (2019), graduate Midwestern Section representative student member Steve Theg (2021) Rick Vierstra (2020), chair, treasurer Ashlee McCaskill (2020), Catharina Coenen (2019) Hong Ma (2022) Southern Section representative Kathy Osteryoung (2019) Ken Korth (2019) Pamela J. Hines (2023) Kulvinder Gill (2020), Western Hua Lu (2019), ex officio Julia Bailey-Serres (2021) Section representative Gustavo MacIntosh (2020), Science Policy Committee Kent Chapman (2022) Carolyn Lee-Parsons (2021), ex officio Nathan Springer (2020), chair Crispin Taylor, CEO (nonvoting) Northeastern Section representative Kulvinder Gill (2020), ex officio Harry Klee (2019), immediate Andy VanLoocke (2020), Ashlee McCaskill (2020), ex officio past president Constitution and Bylaws Environmental and Ecological Leeann Thornton (2020), ex officio Jim Carrington (2019) Ken Keegstra (2021), chair Plant Physiology Section representative Andy VanLoocke (2020), ex officio Shandrea Stallworth (2019), early Peggy Lemaux (2020) career representative Leeann Thornton (2020), Carolyn Lee-Parsons (2021), Bonnie Bartel (2021) Primarily Undergraduate ex officio Neal Stewart (2019) Institutions Section representative Jeffrey Chen (2021) Council Minority Affairs Committee Crispin Taylor, CEO (nonvoting) Scott Jackson (2022) Harry Klee (2019), chair, Gustavo MacIntosh (2020), chair immediate past president Carolyn Lawrence-Dill (2022) Education Committee Savithramma Dinesh-Kumar (2019) Rob Last (2020), president Sarah Wyatt (2019), chair Terri Long (2019) Women in Plant Biology Judy Callis (2021), president-elect Valerie Haywood (2019) Miguel Vega-Sanchez (2019) Committee Andrew Bent (2019), secretary Susan Bush (2021) Thelma Madzima (2020) Laura Wayne (2020), chair Rick Vierstra (2020), treasurer; Neelima Sinha (2020) Estelle Hrabak (2021) Sreekala Chellamma (2019) chair, Board of Trustees Cris Argueso (2021) Kelly Marie Gillespie (2020) MariaElena Zavala (2021) Maureen McCann (2019), elected Sona Pandey (2021) Grace Miller (2020) member Erin Friedman (2022) Eva Farre (2021) Jill Deikman (2019), chair, Joseph Jez (2022) Nominating Committee Li Tian (2021) n Membership Committee Tara Phelps-Durr (2022) Judy Callis (2021), chair, Neil E. Olszewski (2019), chair, president-elect Publications Committee Rob Last (2020), president Sarah Wyatt (2019), chair, Harry Klee (2019), immediate Education Committee past president ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 45, NUMBER 6 5 2018–2019 Awards Committees Listed below are awards committee members for the current year. The year in which each committee member’s term ends is indicated in parentheses.

Adolph E. Gude, Jr. Award Charles Reid Barnes Life Eric E. Conn Young Stephen Hales Prize Julia Bailey-Serres (2022), chair Membership Award Investigator Award Alex Webb (2019), chair Joe L. Key (2019), past winner Bill Lucas (2019), chair Danny Schnell (2021), chair Mary Lou Guerinot (2019), past Wendy Boss (2022) Deborah Delmer (2019), past Christophe Maurel (2019) winner winner Joseph Hirschberg (2025) Caren Chang (2021) Natalie Dudareva (2019) Jane Shen-Miller (2019), past Laurie Smith (2021) Harkamal Walia (2019) Sharlene Weatherwax (2025) winner ASPB Innovation Prize for Karen Koch (2019) Excellence in Education Award Summer Undergraduate Agricultural Technology Dean DellaPenna (2020) MariaElena Zavala (2019), chair Research Fellowship Chris Somerville (four award Marian D. Quain (2019), past Adán Colón-Carmona (2021), cycles), chair Enid MacRobbie Corresponding winner chair Membership Award David Fischoff (two award cycles) Yan Lu (2021) Jon Monroe (2021) Mondher Bouzayen (2021), chair Toni Kutchan (three award cycles) Erich Grotewold (2022) Renate Scheibe (2019) Fellow of ASPB Award Jane Langsdale (three award Amy Marshall-Colon (2022) cycles) Alejandra Covarrubias (2020) Eran Pichersky (2020), chair Chris Wolverton (2022) n Rodrigo Sarria (two award cycles) Wataru Sakamoto (2020) Sheila McCormick (2019) Jian-Kang Zhu (2020) Ed Cahoon (2020) Charles Albert Shull Award Neelima Sinha (2021) Kris Niyogi (2021), chair Early Career Award Nathan Springer (2019), past winner R. Keith Slotkin (2020), chair Martin Gibbs Medal Peggy Ozias Akins (2019) Gaurav Moghe (2019), past winner Richard Dixon (2021), chair Patricia Bedinger (2020) Hiroshi Maeda (2020) Ralph Bock (2019), past winner Lucia Strader (2020) Maureen McCann (2021) Sue Rhee (2021)

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6  ASPB NEWS | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 2019 ASPB Awards Nominations Opening Soon! The Time to Recognize and Honor Excellence Among Our Fellow Plant Scientists Is Near

he 2019 Call for Award Awards to Be Given responsible for the founding and made annually for exceptionally Nominations will be sent to early growth of the Society. It is a creative, independent contribu- TASPB members on January in 2019 monetary award made annually tions by an individual, whether 4, 2019, and nominations will be Adolph E. Gude, Jr. Award for outstanding investigations or not a member of the Society, due by Wednesday, February 20. in the field of plant biology by a who is generally not more than ASPB encourages you to partici- This monetary award honors the member who is generally under seven years post-PhD on January pate in the 2019 awards program Gude family, who made possible 45 years of age on January 1 of the 1 of the year of the presentation. the establishment of the Gude by nominating highly deserving year of presentation or is fewer Breaks in careers will be consid- Plant Science Center, ASPB’s individuals. Please watch for the than 10 years from the granting ered when addressing the time headquarters. The award, estab- Call for Nominations in your email of the doctoral degree. Breaks in limit of this award. lished by the Society and first inbox, on our website, and via so- careers will be considered when given in 1983, is to be made trien- Enid MacRobbie cial media. In the meantime, please addressing the age limit of this nially to a scientist or layperson in Corresponding visit ASPB’s awards pages (http:// award. The recipient is invited to recognition of outstanding service Membership Award www.aspb.org/awards-funding/ address the Society at the annual to the science of plant biology. aspb-awards/) so that you can see meeting the following year. This honor, initially given in 1932 who among your colleagues has Membership in the Society is not and renamed in 2018 to recog- received these awards in the past a requirement for the award. Charles Reid Barnes Life nize Enid MacRobbie’s many and determine who might be most ASPB Innovation Prize for Membership Award contributions to plant science research, provides life member- deserving in the future. Agricultural Technology This award was established in All that is required to make a 1925 at the first annual meeting of ship and Society publications to This prize was inaugurated in 2015 distinguished plant biologists nomination for ASPB’s awards is the Society through the generos- a one- to two-page letter of nomi- to recognize the outstanding work from outside the United States in ity of Dr. Charles A. Shull. It hon- nation and a detailed CV of the of industry scientists in companies recognition of their contributions ors Dr. Charles Reid Barnes, the nominee. However, nomination of all sizes who translate discovery to ASPB and to plant biology. first professor of plant physiology committees may opt to go back research into real-world outcomes The honor is conferred by elec- at the University of Chicago. It is to the nominator to ask for addi- that benefit agriculture. The award tion on the annual ballot. The an annual award for meritorious tional information if they deem it additionally acts as a vehicle to committee selects no more than work in plant biology; it provides necessary. increase the awareness of the three candidates, and these are a life membership in the Society Nominations should be highest-quality science performed placed on the ballot for approval to an individual who is at least submitted electronically as a by industry scientists, whether of corresponding membership 60 years old. Membership is a single PDF via https://awards. or not they are members of the by majority vote. The president aspb.org beginning January Society upon nomination, and requirement for the award, and, notifies successful candidates 4, 2019. The names of the showcases the opportunities and if appropriate, every fifth award of their election. Election of a 2019 award recipients will be rewards of this career path. The should be made to an outstanding corresponding member is to be announced in mid-April via Innovation Prize, which is made plant biologist from outside the considered each year and held if social media and email broad- biennially, is a monetary award United States. warranted, provided the election cast to ASPB members, and that also provides a one-year Early Career Award would not increase the number of the awards themselves will be membership in the Society. corresponding members beyond The Society’s executive commit- presented during Plant Biology Charles Albert Shull Award 2% of the dues-paying member- 2019 in San Jose, California. tee instituted the Early Career ship. ASPB membership is a re- This award was initiated in 1971 Award in 2005 to recognize out- quirement for this award. by the Society to honor Dr. standing research by scientists Charles A. Shull, whose personal at the beginning of their careers. interest and support were largely This award is a monetary award continued on page 8 ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 45, NUMBER 6 7 New Positions for Early Career Professionals on ASPB Committees BY JUDY CALLIS, President-Elect, @Judy_Callis, JILL DEIKMAN, Membership Committee Chair, @JillDeikman, and ROB LAST, President, @biokid001

SPB strives to be an in ASPB committees. We are happy the ASPB Council, which will allow Committee members will conduct inclusive professional to report that the ASPB Board of early career professionals to have teleconference interviews and Aorganization, seeking in- Directors approved a two-year trial representation on the Council. forward the application of the top put from and providing training for a program to do so. A broad call for self-nomina- candidate for each committee to the opportunities for members across The Education, International, tions has been opened (https://ecr. president-elect. the world and at all career stages. Minority Affairs, Program, secure-platform.com:443/a). The Applications are due January 15, ASPB currently involves early career Publications, and Women in Plant application consists of a CV and 2019, with successful candidates professionals in two standing com- Biology Committees each will a short cover letter that describes informed of their selection by mid- mittees—Membership and Science appoint an early career profession- the applicant’s reasons for apply- February for a March 1, 2019, start Policy. Feedback at the Plant Biology al, defined as an ASPB member in ing, prior preparation—includ- date. Although this is a trial plan, it 2018 Town Hall, as well as through good standing no more than eight ing service to ASPB—and a brief is our hope that it will be successful social media and direct conversation years since beginning graduate discussion of how this service will and lead to a permanent program. between members and leadership, studies. Each would serve up to contribute to the applicant’s career Thanks to community members led the committee chairs and leader- two consecutive years. The chair goals. A letter of support from who provided input at Plant Biology ship to propose expansion of early of the Ambassador Program will the applicant’s current supervisor 2018 and via social media and career professionals’ participation become a non-voting member of should be submitted separately. direct communication. n

NOMINATIONS OPENING SOON Excellence in Education service. Examples of relevant This award is to be given bienni- continued from page 7 Award Society service include, but are ally to an individual, whether or This award, initiated in 1988, rec- not restricted to, service on or on not a member of the Society, who Eric E. Conn Young behalf of ASPB committees, ser- has pioneered advances that have Investigator Award ognizes outstanding teaching, men- toring, and/or educational outreach vice on editorial boards of ASPB served to establish new directions The Eric E. Conn Young in plant biology by an individual, journals, and active involvement in of investigation in the plant sci- Investigator Award, first given by whether or not a member of the ASPB meetings. Current members ences. The recipient is invited to the Society in 2011, honors Eric Society. It is a monetary award to of ASPB who have contributed to organize a symposium at the an- E. Conn’s contributions in plant be made annually in recognition of and been members of the Society nual meeting the following year. biology by recognizing young for at least 10 years cumulative excellence in teaching, leadership in Stephen Hales Prize scientists who will be inspired to curricular development, or author- prior to their nomination are eli- follow in his footsteps. The award ship of effective teaching materials gible for nomination. Recipients of This award honors the Reverend recognizes demonstrated excel- in the science of plant biology. the Fellow of ASPB honor, which Stephen Hales for his pioneering lence in outreach, public service, may be granted to no more than work in plant biology published in mentoring, or teaching by plant Fellow of ASPB Award 0.2% of the current membership his 1727 book Vegetable Staticks. scientists at the beginning of their Established in 2007, the Fellow of each year, receive a certificate of It is a monetary award established careers. This award is a mon- ASPB Award may be granted to distinction and a lapel pin. in 1927 for an ASPB member who etary award made biennially for current members in recognition has served the science of plant bi- demonstrated commitment by a of direct service to the Society and Martin Gibbs Medal ology in some noteworthy manner. member of the Society who is not distinguished and long-term con- This monetary award, initiated The award is made annually. The more than five years post-PhD on tributions to plant biology. Areas in 1993, honors Martin Gibbs recipient of the award is invited to January 1 of the year of the pre- of contribution may include edu- for his outstanding service to the address the Society on a subject in sentation. It also provides a one- cation, mentoring, outreach, re- Society as editor-in-chief of Plant plant biology at the next annual year membership to the Society. search, and professional and public Physiology from 1963 to 1992. meeting. n 8  ASPB NEWS | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 An ASPB Member Looks Forward to San Jose for Plant Biology 2019 BY JEN ROBISON Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis

s I write, Plant Biology 2018 lab in January 2019. I don’t know if we is in the rear view mirror, will have any data (or travel funds) to Aand I’m eager to focus my bring my first research student to pres- attention on Plant Biology 2019. ent a poster. However, the Primarily I’m already planning for my favorite Undergraduate Institutions Section plant week of the year. The last day in and undergraduate research meetings Montreal, I won the raffle at the San are high on my list of things to attend. Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau I already have questions. Undoubtedly, booth. Included was a book called as I grow my lab, I will run into many 100 Things to Do in San Jose Before more. The meeting in San Jose gives You Die. Although I cannot get all me the opportunity to talk to profes- 100 done in the five days of Plant sors from small universities to get tips Biology 2019, I am excitedly flipping and tricks from my colleagues. I know through the book to mark must-see it is 300 days away, but each day I get a activities and restaurants. One section little more excited to attend. of the book is called “Mind the Geek,” On Plantae, 100 days before the so of course I started there. meeting begins (April 25, 2019), I will Did you know San Jose has the be making daily posts on a thread world’s largest Monopoly board? Or about 100 things to do in San Jose. that peregrine falcons are housed in I hope you will check in, and if you City Hall? The city is also home to a have been to the Bay Area, please rose garden with 3,500 shrubs cover- reply with your review and impres- ing 189 varieties. And in San Jose, sions. If you have not been there but Taco Tuesday is a real thing! I know want to weigh in, feel free! Maybe we what I’m eating on August 6! can start getting tour (networking) This will be my first Plant Biology groups together in plenty of time meeting with my PhD and assistant before the meeting starts. Hope to see professor title. I am starting my own you all on Plantae and in San Jose! n ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 45, NUMBER 6 9 Travel Support for Plant Biology 2019 August 3–7, 2019 – San Jose, California

ASPB 2019 Sharon Gray Women’s Young Investigator Travel Award Program for Plant Biology 2019 in San Jose, California Travel grant applications for eligible women are now being accepted. The submission deadline is December 12, 2018. All applications must be submitted electronically at https://wyita.aspb.org. Recipients will be notified by late January.

ASPB Recognition Travel Award Program for Plant Biology 2019 in San Jose, California Travel grant applications for eligible candidates are being accepted now. The submission deadline is January 30, 2019. All applications must be submitted electronically at https://rta.aspb.org. Recipients will be notified by late March.

10  ASPB NEWS | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 Highlights of the EEPP Section Annual Meeting in Montreal BY RUSS MONSON University of Arizona

he Environmental improvement in membership • Pauline Lemmonier from the the initial methods for measur- and Ecological Plant numbers. We also discussed University of Illinois then ing gas exchange in desert scrub TPhysiology (EEPP) Section the upcoming election for our discussed whether phloem ecosystems to using satellite- held its fourth annual meeting secretary/treasurer and outreach loading strategies and capaci- based solar-induced fluores- alongside Plant Biology 2018 in officer and the vote to ratify our ties alter plant responses to cence to estimating global gross Montreal on July 16. The EEPP constitution that was to take elevated atmospheric carbon primary production, Russ painted Section is the first theme-based place in September. We further dioxide. a picture of how ecophysiology section within ASPB, and its mis- discussed working to become • Judy Simon from the can inform us about plant physi- sion is to advance the science and more engaged as a commu- University of Konstanz ological processes and how to practice of the discipline, inte- nity and more involved with the wrapped up the lightning scale them in space and time. grate the community, and support Phenome meeting, where we feel talks by discussing the role of The EEPP Executive and train early career members in that we can help bring a deeper nitrogen uptake in the battle Committee extends a big thank the area. ecophysiology perspective to the between native and invasive you to all the presenters and to The agenda for the meeting phenotyping community. tree species, indicating that the ASPB staff for helping make included three topic areas: the Early career scientists then native species could have a for an engaging and enlightening annual business meeting, light- presented their research through competitive advantage over in- discussion. Also, thank you to the ning talks, and a keynote address. lightning talks: vasives via better exploitation ASPB Membership Committee of organic nitrogen. and EEPP member dues for A slideshow of the agenda with • Demi Gamble from the supporting the meeting. n background information can be Australian National University The meeting wrapped up found on the EEPP network page discussed physiological strate- with Russ Monson, from the on Plantae (https://tinyurl.com/ gies by which cotton could be University of Arizona, present- y7cmo47f). made more resilient to climate ing on the history and his vision During the annual business change through advanced phe- for the future of the field of meeting, we discussed a recent notyping techniques. ecophysiology. From discussing

Left to right: Demi Gamble, Russ Monson, Joy Ward, Andy Vanloocke, Judy Simon, Frank Dohleman, Pauline Lemmonier ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 45, NUMBER 6 11 ASPB/AAAS 2019 Some former host sites

Mass Media Science & CNN en Español

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The Los Angeles Times Are you interested in science writing? The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel National Geographic

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Apply for the ASPB/AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellows PBS NewsHour Program and learn how to increase public understanding of science and The Raleigh News & Observer technology. Fellows in the 10-week 2019 summer program will work as Scientific American reporters, researchers, and production assistants in mass media organiza- tions nationwide. Application window opened October 16, 2018, and Slate closes January 15, 2019. Smithsonian Magazine

Visit https://www.aaas.org/mmfellowship for more details and to down- STAT load an application brochure, or email [email protected] for more infor- Univision mation. Voice of America

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ASPB/AAAS 2018 Mass Media Fellow Reports In BY ANNA GROVES

thank ASPB for continu- averse. This makes local papers ing to sponsor the ASPB/ a perfect platform for kindling I AAAS Mass Media Science interest and appreciation for & Engineering Fellows Program science where there may previ- each year. I have just completed ously have been none. my ASPB-sponsored tenure at the At the Journal Sentinel, I wrote Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and stories that I thought would be had an incredibly rewarding and interesting to Wisconsinites, productive experience. but I worked to expand people’s I was initially interested in boundaries just a little further this fellowship because I felt I into the world of science. My had a knack for writing and a favorite, and most successful, love for science, but wasn’t quite example of this was my story feeling the “fire in my belly” (in about a man whose colleagues Anna Groves, the 13th ASPB/AAAS Mass Media the words of one of my graduate in the Wisconsin Department of Science & Engineering Fellow. committee members) for scien- Natural Resources dubbed him tific research. The timing worked “the musky whisperer” in honor out perfectly for me to embark on of his impressive angling skills. the Mass Media Fellows journey As I interviewed him, he empha- most exciting of all—the nitrogen Magazine. This opportunity was right after defending my PhD sized how his science training had fixation mutualism discovered a direct result of this fellowship in plant biology this spring at made him a better fisherman. I in corn from Oaxaca, Mexico. I in terms of both the experience Michigan State (hi, Rob Last!). wove this throughout the narra- hope that nitrogen-fixing corn necessary to snag this dream job At the start, I felt a slight sense tive I wrote about him and ended does change the world, so I can and the network that made this of disappointment that I wasn’t up with a front-page headline that look back on my fellowship and happen. I started September 10. placed at a more well-known included the words “Think Like remember where I was when I So thank you, ASPB—thank outlet like National Public Radio a Scientist.” I love picturing those first heard the news (probably you for this incredible opportu- or Scientific American. But now, words plastered across kitchen only the true plant nerds will share nity. You have truly jump-started it’s clear to me that the way to get tables throughout Wisconsin. this memory, ha!) and brag to my a career that I believe will be science to a general audience is I even got a few opportunities grandchildren that I reported it to the most rewarding way for me to go to them instead of expect- to write about plants, with stories the people of Wisconsin first. to share a love of science with ing them to come to you. Local on how climate change will affect I am also pleased to report others. Plus, thanks to you, papers are read by local people, corn, how to plant milkweed for that before my fellowship was Discover Magazine now has a PhD including the science-illiterate monarch butterflies, the plant life over, I accepted a full-time posi- plant biologist on staff! n and, in today’s world, the science- of the Wisconsin State Fair, and— tion as assistant editor at Discover

ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 45, NUMBER 6 13 Summer researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute. Photo courtesy of Delanie Sickler.

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Check out the internship listings today at plantae.org/internships. Luminaries

Welcome to the ASPB News “Luminaries” column. Student and postdoc members are invited to submit their ideas for a 500- to 750-word interview they might like to conduct with a prominent scientist. Contact Membership Committee Chair Jill Deikman at [email protected], who will help you develop some questions to frame your story. If we publish your interview, you will receive a $50 Amazon gift card.

Natasha Raikhel Distinguished Professor of Plant Cell Biology Emerita, University of California, Riverside BY PRATEEK TRIPATHI ASPB Student Ambassador, The Scripps Research Institute

What got you interested in plant principle,” you will be driven, and their role in cell-specific expression, biology in general, and what you will be more interested. and this became the scientific ques- influences directed you to your When I was an assistant profes- tion of my career at that time. specific area of research? sor, I emigrated from the Soviet One day, I was invited for an It was an unusual journey. I was a Union to the United States. This interview at the Plant Research Natasha Raikhel musician and realized I could not was almost 40 years ago. I believe Laboratory (PRL) at Michigan be the best of the musicians out it was the right time, because State University. At that time, there, and hence it could not be molecular biology had just started it was a pioneering and highly you must give your life a chance, my professional career. I became to bloom in the United States. We respected institute in plant molec- and you must be excited, hard- (myself and my husband—both ular biology. When I was offered inclined toward biology after working, and incredibly driven. scientists—and our older son) a job at the PRL, I was beside crossing off fields I didn’t want to Some luck is always helpful, too. arrived in Athens, Georgia, and myself! In fact, it was love at first pursue from a list of careers. I had started all over again as postdocs. sight. I was so impressed with the Who influenced your scientific always loved and was fascinated I started by working with ciliates vibes and its international envi- thinking early in your career, by nature, so I decided to pursue in the zoology department of the ronment, and I wanted to work and how? biology. While working as a music University of Georgia but then there. The late Hans Kende and It was Joe Key who I would say teacher, I hired tutors to teach moved to the botany department Chris Somerville liked the ques- made me into a plant molecular me math, physics, and chemistry as an electron microscopist in the tion I was asking, and I was given biologist. Later, Hans Kende and and amazingly passed the exams cell biology lab. the opportunity to work in the Chris Somerville were instrumen- to gain admission to Leningrad Later, a vibrant leader and great PRL. These two people inspired tal in shaping my career and who I University in the Soviet Union, personality who transformed me the most as I learned how to am today, not only with regard to which was very hard. the botany department in the empower people and motivate science, but also as a human being. I was fortunate to have great University of Georgia, Joe Key, let them. Working in the PRL with teachers who motivated me to dig me learn molecular biology in his exceptionally talented students, What do you think are good deeper into biology, and I started lab. That’s how I stepped into the we found a signal that targeted career moves for young scientists? by working with ciliates. That new field and started studying plant secretory proteins to vacuoles, Listen to your heart and to nature. was the beginning of my scien- molecular biology. It was a great and from then onward I became Try to find out what drives you. tific career, and I found myself learning phase in my scientific known as a trafficking woman Be flexible and open to opportu- devoted to asking questions and career. In Joe’s lab I learned cloning (not drug trafficking, but vacuolar nity and challenges, and you will worked to get answers. I defended and the whole of molecular biology trafficking). be surprised how this can trans- my PhD and became a cell biolo- and, in fact, cloned my first gene. When I look back and try to form your entire professional gist. This is a key point; as soon as I decided to study carbohydrate- analyze my past, my advice to the career. you get interested in biology “in binding plant lectin proteins and young generation would be that continued on page 16 ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 45, NUMBER 6 15 Luminaries

LUMINARIES What experience or training do you continued from page 15 think is most important to have? A good skill set and experience If you were able to repeat your are a plus. I think creativity and years as a graduate student or the ability to think deeply are the postgrad, would you do any- ultimate keys to a scientific career, thing differently? and perhaps any career. With my career trajectory and the limited choices I had growing up What is the single most impor- and getting a PhD in the Soviet tant factor for a successful Union, followed by my move to the career in plant biology? United States, I can’t think of any Joe Key oversaw the birth of plant Hans Kende was director of the It is important to take care of possible way to better deal with it molecular biology and its commu- Plant Research Laboratory during people, especially young people. I all. Every phase in my life so far has nity at the University of Georgia. my time there. believe that in the present situation been exciting and brought different when funding is lacking, we need flavors so close to me. more leaders. We need to advocate for science and take care of people, What journals do you regularly society, and, above all, science. follow? I follow all the major journals— What advice would you give Nature, Science, Cell, and PNAS. educators to encourage young One cannot read all of it, but I people to explore science and look through these journals and plant biology? others, including eLife, The Plant Teach science very early in Cell, and Plant Physiology. their life, and never omit the subject of plant biology from the What scientific discoveries over curriculum! Students must have the past couple of years have influ- the opportunity to study plant enced your research directions? Chris Somerville initiated the Arabidopsis EST project (published in biology as early as possible to be I came to this country when 1994) and influenced the thinking of all of us, and me in particular, about serious and excited about it. Once molecular biology was just getting Arabidopsis genetics. With Chris is his wife and my close friend, who is they realize how amazing plants started, so I don’t feel like a second- also a plant scientist, Shauna Somerville. are, they are less likely to skip the class citizen in that area. Genetics subject when they go to college. came naturally after I started my As an employer, what are the key What advice would you give to a Even for students who choose a own lab. I think genomics changed qualities you look for in a poten- student interested in plant biol- different career, serious exposure everything. We don’t have to work tial team member? ogy today? to plant biology is a foundation on one gene at a time; now we can for their understanding of and I look for the “best person.” A best Work hard, ask good questions, focus on the whole pathway and value placed on life on our planet. person asks creative and provoca- and use good controls. Be curious articulate a suitable hypothesis tive questions. A best person is and flexible. Try to take charge of specific to our question with one How do you look at the future driven and understands what your work. Ask questions—why experiment. This is incredible. of basic plant science as part of a question he or she is asking and and how—to yourself as well as policy-making body? to your advisers and mentors. What do you think is the next how to approach it. Most impor- It’s hard to say, especially when big thing in plant biology? tantly, a best person can explain Don’t do an experiment because funding is not good; it’s tough now. Well, it’s not in plant biology, why the question is important. I you can do it (you can do tons of I believe we should do what we are but biology in general: we now like people who embrace together- experiments these days!); do it doing in the basic sciences and it have an enormous amount of ness, because only together can we only if you have to do it to move will get translated. Without basic information, and we need to put make a difference. Students need forward. So think before doing an science, the future of plant biology it all together so that people have to be self-motivated and driven. I experiment. is a nonstarter. We scientists have easy access to it and can use it to don’t want to be a constant baby- to be more proactively involved answer fascinating questions and sitter. To be independent, you need and make our voices heard by contribute to great science. to be curious and motivated. those involved in policy making. n 16  ASPB NEWS | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 Science Policy

Policy Update BY LAUREN BROCCOLI Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC

Farm Bill Update Congress Passes Appro- ity of the budget was resolved political influence, to ensure U.S. On June 21, the House of priations Package for Sev- before the fiscal year ended on scientific leadership in the face Representatives passed H.R. 2, the eral Agencies, Continuing September 30. of a rising China, and to address sexual harassment in the scien- Agriculture Improvement Act of Resolution for Others Sources and Additional Information tific community. Droegemeier 2018, and a week later, the Senate Early in September, Congress • The L-HHS-ED summary is emphasized OSTP’s role as the passed its version of the 2018 passed and the president signed available at https://tinyurl. coordinator of government-wide Farm Bill, S. 3042, also called the into law a “minibus” three-bill com/yaj9lcwk. science initiatives, workforce Agriculture Improvement Act of spending package that includes • The Energy and Water development issues, and technol- 2018. Although negotiations to the final version of the fiscal year Development summary is ogy transfer. A floor vote for the reconcile the two different bills (FY) 2019 Energy and Water available at https://tinyurl. nominee has not yet been sched- occurred throughout the sum- Development Appropriations com/ycm8wjq4. uled, but Chairman John Thune mer, Congress failed to reach bill, which provides funding for (R-SD) expressed hope that a conference package before the DOE Office of Science and Senate Commerce Com- Droegemeier would be quickly the 2014 Farm Bill expired on the Advanced Research Projects mittee Favorably Reports confirmed by the full Senate. September 30. The House version Agency–Energy (ARPA-E). In the Kelvin Droegemeier contains controversial provisions FY2019 conference bill, the Office Sources and Additional Information On September 5, the Senate to increase work requirements of Science received a 5% increase Committee on Commerce, • The full confirmation hearing, for the Supplemental Nutrition and ARPA-E a 3.6% increase. Science, and Transportation including archived webcast, Assistance Program and to alter Later in the month, Congress favorably reported the nomina- can be found at https://tinyurl. forest management activities that passed a second minibus that com/y9wexpml. tion of Kelvin Droegemeier to are delaying a final resolution. included the FY2019 funding for • The White House announce- be director of the White House At the time of this writing, Defense and Labor, Health and ment of Droegemeier’s nomi- Office of Science and Technology House and Senate Agriculture Human Services, and Education nation is available at https:// Policy (OSTP). Droegemeier is Committee leadership was (L-HHS-ED) appropriations tinyurl.com/ycuvfaqv. an extreme weather expert who expected to meet to discuss bills and a continuing resolution negotiations. It remains unclear (CR) until December 7 for the was most recently vice president NSF Releases Core Pro- whether leadership will advance seven appropriations bills that for research at the University of gram Solicitations for the an extension bill to maintain have yet to be completed. The Oklahoma and previously served Biosciences Directorate programs from the 2014 Farm CR funds the remaining appro- as vice chairman of the National The NSF Directorate for Bill that have recently expired. priations bills, including funding Science Board. If confirmed, Biological Sciences (BIO) has re- Ranking Member Debbie for USDA and NSF, at FY2018 Droegemeier would be responsi- leased updated core solicitations Stabenow (D-MI) has been levels through December 7, 2018. ble for coordinating and oversee- for its Division of Environmental quoted as saying that the effects Notably, this bill provided a $2 ing government-wide initiatives Biology (DEB), Division of of the Farm Bill’s expiration will billion increase for NIH. in science and technology. Integrative Organismal Systems not be felt until December, so an Further progress on FY2019 The vote, which was unani- (IOS), and Division of Molecular extension may not be necessary. appropriations will be delayed mously in favor of Droegemeier’s and Cellular Biosciences (MCB). Progress on a final 2018 Farm until after the midterm elections nomination, followed a confirma- Notable changes include a move Bill will also be affected by the in November. The outcome of the tion hearing the previous week to no-deadline submissions and recess for midterm elections; elections will affect the remaining in which members were gener- a new restriction that limits PIs Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat funding bills because of contro- ally supportive of the nominee. to one submission per year to the Roberts (R-KS) recently indicated versial policy riders and spending Primary topics of discussion core programs of each division. his intention to vote on a final bill pressures, such as the administra- during the confirmation hearing Additionally, each core solicita- after the election. tion’s border wall. This is the first included (but were not limited to) time since 1997 that a major- the need to protect science from continued on page 18 ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 45, NUMBER 6 17 Science Policy

POLICY UPDATES • The IOS Core Programs Gale Buchanan, who served areas for 2019. The FFAR chal- continued from page 17 Solicitation can be found at as undersecretary of REE during lenge areas guide funding oppor- https://tinyurl.com/y85wtjge. the Bush administration, echoed tunities and are designed to solicit tion offers a Rules of Life track • The MCB Core Programs Woteki’s concerns. He asserted innovative proposals that address that spans the core BIO programs. Solicitation can be found at that although Secretary Perdue’s global challenges in food and BIO also released an updated https://tinyurl.com/y92nf63y. goal to provide better service to agriculture. The broad research solicitation for its Infrastructure • The ICB Program Solicitation stakeholders is admirable, moving themes included in this request Capacity for Biology (ICB) can be found at https://ti- ERS and NIFA would be counter- for comments are soil health, program. The ICB program is nyurl.com/hljzbsb. intuitive to that objective. Former sustainable water management, divided into four opportuni- ERS administrator Susan Offutt advanced animal systems, next- ties: Cyberinfrastructure for Association of Public Data called the move an existential generation crops, healthy food Biological Research, Collections Users Hosts Webinar on threat to ERS, contending that systems, and urban agriculture. in Support of Biological Research, NIFA Relocation the reorganization could result in FFAR hosted a public meeting on Improvements to Biological On September 20, the Association a drastic funding decrease. She October 12, and comments were Field Stations and Marine of Public Data Users hosted a emphasized that the move from accepted through its website. Laboratories, and Instrument public webinar regarding the REE to the Office of the Chief FFAR was established in the Capacity for Biological Research. relocation and restructuring of Economist would undermine 2014 Farm Bill with $200 million An earlier program, Advances in the National Institute of Food the independence of ERS and as part of an effort to encourage Bioinformatics (ABI), has been and Agriculture (NIFA) and the complicate its mission to conduct archived and will no longer be ambitious, innovative proposals Economic Research Service (ERS). unbiased economic and statistical accepting proposals. The new in food and agricultural research The webinar included remarks research. Offutt also urged a thor- cyberinfrastructure program is capable of providing solutions from two former USDA chief ough review of the plan. similar to ABI but does not have to society’s grand challenges. scientists and a former admin- USDA deputy secretary any tracks or outlined types of The House did not reautho- istrator of ERS, who expressed Stephen Censky joined the awards. rize FFAR in its version of the concern over USDA’s proposal to conclusion of the webinar. In his NSF anticipates $40 million in 2018 Farm Bill, but the Senate relocate NIFA and ERS outside of remarks, Censky emphasized funding and intends to support version authorized an additional Washington, DC, and shift ERS the immediate need to relocate between 50 and 80 awards for $200 million on the condition oversight responsibilities from NIFA because the building’s lease the ICB solicitation. Individual that FFAR be financially self- the Research, Education, and is ending. He cited a National projects or sites are eligible for sufficient by the next Farm Bill. Economics (REE) mission area to Academies study from the 1990s one submission per fiscal year, Congress has yet to finalize the the Office of the Chief Economist. as supporting the reorganization. and an individual PI can appear 2018 Farm Bill, and conference Catherine Woteki, undersec- Although he did not address on no more than two submis- negotiations are still ongoing. retary of REE during the Obama staff recruitment and retention sions per fiscal year. Submissions administration, characterized data, Censky acknowledged that Source and Additional Information must include a one-page project the move as rushed and “ill components of ERS and NIFA • More information about the summary that highlights the conceived,” urging USDA to that interact with Congress and 2019 FFAR challenge areas intellectual merit and broader other federal research agencies conduct and release an in-depth is available at https://tinyurl. impacts of the proposal in will remain in Washington, DC. cost–benefit analysis to justify com/yb6hlgkx. addition to a longer project the move. She also stated that Source and Additional Information description that provides a more Funding Opportunity: the proposed realignment of in-depth justification for the • A recording of the webinar ERS is likely a violation of the NSF BIO Releases Two proposal. Additional proposal can be found at https:// 1994 Farm Bill, which created Solicitations for Rules of submission information can be tinyurl.com/y7kxx8pv. REE and delegated the func- Life Big Idea found on the solicitation. tions of ERS to that part of the FFAR Updates Research NSF has released two new so- Sources and Additional agency. Woteki also asserted Challenge Areas for 2019 licitations for one of its 10 Big Information that the justification of reducing On September 25, the Foundation Ideas, “Understanding the Rules • The DEB Core Programs costs lacks merit as USDA has for Food and Agriculture (FFAR) of Life (URoL): Epigenetics” and Solicitation can be found at yet to conduct any analysis that released a request for comments “Building a Synthetic Cell—An https://tinyurl.com/y79h9jr3. demonstrates significant savings. on its updated research challenge Ideas Lab Activity.”

18  ASPB NEWS | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 Science Policy

Led by the Directorate for how epigenetic phenomena lead Full proposals are due geosciences, ethics and statistics, Biological Sciences, URoL goals to emergent properties that ex- February 1, 2019. NSF anticipates engineering, and graduate and are to better understand the plain the fundamental behavior approximately $15 million to undergraduate education. “rules” of how life functions, of living systems,” explaining that $18 million in available funding Preliminary proposals are due to develop research tools and successful projects should “iden- to support six to 12 new awards. December 28, 2018, and “partici- infrastructure to advance this tify general principles (‘rules’) There are two submission tracks: pation in the Ideas Lab requires field, to train the next genera- that underlie a wide spectrum Track 1, up to $500,000 over an invitation in response to a tion of researchers, and to foster of biological phenomena across three years, and Track 2, up to $3 preliminary proposal. Submission convergent research across size, complexity (e.g., molecular, million over five years. of a full proposal derived from cellular, organismal, popula- NSF. Although proposals for Understanding the Rules of Life: the Ideas Lab requires both tion) and temporal scales (from both new solicitations must be Building a Synthetic Cell—An participation in the Ideas Lab sub-second to geologic) in taxa submitted to BIO’s Division of Ideas Lab Activity and an invitation to submit a full Emerging Frontiers, a cross- from anywhere within the tree of proposal.” Full proposals (by invi- foundational team of program life.” Furthermore, these projects The goal of the URoL Building tation only) are due May 13, 2019. officers will oversee the program. must integrate multiple research a Synthetic Cell Ideas Lab is to The Ideas Lab will take place Researchers who have not previ- perspectives, approaches, and dis- facilitate new transformative Monday, February 25, to Friday, ously engaged on URoL are ciplines; examples listed include research proposals that bring to- March 1, 2019, at a location close encouraged to participate. Both biology, chemistry, computer sci- gether multidisciplinary expertise to NSF headquarters in Northern solicitations limit individuals to ence, engineering, geology, math- to work toward “designing, fab- Virginia. NSF anticipates approxi- serve as PI or co-PI on only one ematics, physics, and social and ricating, and validating synthetic proposal, although there is no behavioral sciences. cells that express specified pheno- mately $10 million in available limit on proposals per institution. Through this solicitation, NSF types.” The Ideas Lab mechanism funding to support four to six Additional information on the seeks to explore the impact of is an intensive process that aims new awards in FY2019. to leverage advances in “biophys- two URoL solicitations is present- epigenetic inheritance and the Sources and Additional Information broader consequences of this ics, chemistry, computer science, ed below. • The URoL Epigenetics solici- biological phenomenon across geosciences, materials, soft con- Understanding the Rules of Life: living systems (e.g., populations, densed matter, and biology with tation is available at https:// Epigenetics communities, ecosystems). NSF progress in engineering and social tinyurl.com/yaj96qz3. The URoL Epigenetics program is focused on “understanding the sciences.” Proposals that address • The URoL Building a Synthetic is intended to support and pro- relationship between epigenetic education in existing and future Cell Ideas Lab is available at mote multidisciplinary research, mechanisms associated with envi- technologies and in bioethics are https://tinyurl.com/ycuxebow. education, and workforce training ronmental change, the resultant also important considerations • More information on the in the field of epigenetics. The phenotypes of organisms, and for NSF. NSF welcomes prelimi- Rules of Life Big Idea is avail- solicitation calls on proposals to how these mechanisms lead to nary proposals from a range of able at https://tinyurl.com/ use “complementary, interdisci- robustness and adaptability of disciplines including mathemat- ydav7x6o. n plinary approaches to investigate organisms and populations.” ics, physics, biology, chemistry,

ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 45, NUMBER 6 19 Power Your Event with ASPB Meeting & Event Solutions

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ASPB Welcomes Francky Rakotomanana as Senior Staff Accountant

Francky Rakotomanana joined individuals in the Washington, Academic Excellence Award. ASPB on November 5, 2018, DC, area. During his three years Francky is fluent in three as a senior staff accountant. with HSS as a staff accountant, he languages: Malagasy, French, and He will assist the Finance and was responsible for entering the English. He was born and raised Administration Department in transactions in the accounting in Madagascar, and arrived in implementing effective internal system, processing payroll, and the United States in 2010 with controls and improving the pro- preparing financial statements his family. Since then he has cesses in place in order to pro- and income tax returns. been very active in his Malagasy duce timely and accurate financial Francky graduated from the community in Washington, DC. information. University of Maryland Robert H. As a member of Youth Group Francky landed his first Smith School of Business with a FMK-DC, a Malagasy gospel full-time position at Heymann, BS in Accounting. He is a member choir, he has performed at their Suissa and Stone (HSS), a public of the international honor society annual Christmas concert and accounting firm that caters to Phi Theta Kappa and received in Sunday services as a tenor small businesses and high-profile the Dr. Harry Harden Jr. Student singer. n

Fond Farewells to Susan Cato and Stephanie Liu-Kuan

Susan Cato Stephanie Liu-Kuan The staff, committee members, and other volunteers of ASPB wish the best to Susan Cato, who has left ASPB offers a fond farewell and her position at ASPB for a new op- best wishes to Stephanie Liu-Kuan, portunity at Healthcare Financial who left her position as accounts Management Association. receivable and payable specialist Susan worked at ASPB for five in September. Born in Taiwan, years. During that time she helped Stephanie came to the United create and launch Plantae.org, States in 1981. She held positions the online community for plant scientists. As part of this effort, Susan with a variety of nonprofit organizations before joining ASPB in 1999. worked to increase the engagement not just of members, but of all plant Stephanie is taking some time off for extensive global travel, and we scientists. She also worked to launch the first online seminars and to wish her bon voyage! n increase the visibility of Plantae at the annual meeting. Before coming to ASPB, Susan spent many years at various associa- tions doing web and digital strategy. Susan has been an exceptional leader, colleague, and friend, and we wish her the best of luck. n ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 45, NUMBER 6 21 Rethinking the Past and Shaping the Future of Plant Biology Deadline for submission: June 30, 2019 In celebration of 30 years of publishing the best research in plant molecular, cellular, and developmental biology, we encourage authors to submit their most exciting new results for consideration for a special 30th Anniversary Collection on shaping the next 30 years of plant cell and developmental biology. The 30th Anniversary Collection will focus on the historic strengths of the journal, and articles in the area of molecular-mechanism directed cell and developmental biology are especially encouraged. This includes large- scale studies that demonstrate how genome-wide analyses can address fundamental questions of plant biology. We will be looking for ways in which these papers enlarge upon or change our concept of the molecular mechanisms underlying a biological process or phenomenon.

Submissions will be accepted until June 30, 2019. All articles chosen that are published in 2019 will form part of the 30th Anniversary Collection. Just add a note to your cover letter that you wish to have the submission considered for the 30th Anniversary Collection. All articles accepted into the collection will receive open access free of charge and will be highlighted with an In Brief article and first author profiles.

The 30th Anniversary Collection will also include a series of commentaries on classic papers published in The Plant Cell that opened up new areas of investigation or otherwise had a major impact on their field. Looking to the future, we have also invited reviews on genome- and informatics-enabled emerging model organisms that broaden our understanding of fundamental processes in plants, from the subcellular level to the field and from seconds or minutes to evolutionary time scales. Submit your best work to The Plant Cell and help shape the future of plant biology!

Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation 13. Publication Title 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation (All Periodicals Publications Except Requester Publications) ASPB News September/October 2018 (All Periodicals Publications Except Requester Publications) 1. Publication Title 2. Publication Number 3. Filing Date 16. Electronic Copy Circulation Average No. Copies No. Copies of Single 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation Average No. Copies No. Copies of Single ASPB News 1535_ 5489 Each Issue During Issue Published 10/01/18 Each Issue During Issue Published N/A Preceding 12 Months Nearest to Filing Date 4. Issue Frequency 5. Number of Issues Published Annually 6. Annual Subscription Price Preceding 12 Months Nearest to Filing Date a. Paid Electronic Copies bi-monthly 6 $30 a. Total Number of Copies (Net press run) 2674 2720 N/A N/A 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication (Not printer) (Street, city, county, state, and ZIP+4®) Contact Person b. Total Paid Print Copies (Line 15c) + Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a) Nancy Winchester (1) Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 (Include paid American Society of Plant Biologists distribution above nominal rate, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies) 1514 1672 15501 Monona Dr, Rockville, MD 20855-2678 Telephone (Include area code) 301-251-0560, ext. 117 b. Paid c. �Total Print Distribution (Line 15f) + Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a) Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 (Include paid 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher (Not printer) Circulation (2) (By Mail distribution above nominal rate, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies) and d. Percent Paid (Both Print & Electronic Copies) (16b divided by 16c ¯ 100) Outside Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, same as above (3) the Mail) Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS® 1032 1005 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor (Do not leave blank) I certify that 50% of all my distributed copies (electronic and print) are paid above a nominal price. Publisher (Name and complete mailing address) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS (4) (e.g., First-Class Mail®) 17. Publication of Statement of Ownership Crispin Taylor, American Society of Plant Biologists, 15501 Monona Dr, Rockville, MD 20855-2678 c. �Total Paid Distribution [Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), and (4)] ✓If the publication is a general publication, publication of this statement is required. Will be printed Publication not required. Editor (Name and complete mailing address) 2546 2677 in the November/December 2017 issue of this publication. d. Free or (1) Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies included on PS Form 3541 Nancy Winchester, American Society of Plant Biologists, 15501 Monona Dr, Rockville, MD 20855-2678 Nominal 18. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner Date Rate Managing Editor (Name and complete mailing address) Distribution (2) Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541 (By Mail 10/01/2018 and Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS Outside (3) N/A the Mail) (e.g., First-Class Mail) 6 1 I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form 10. Owner (Do not leave blank. If the publication is owned by a corporation, give the name and address of the corporation immediately followed by the (4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or other means) or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions names and addresses of all stockholders owning or holding 1 percent or more of the total amount of stock. If not owned by a corporation, give the 5 1 (including civil penalties). names and addresses of the individual owners. If owned by a partnership or other unincorporated firm, give its name and address as well as those of each individual owner. If the publication is published by a nonprofit organization, give its name and address.) e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3) and (4)) Full Name Complete Mailing Address 11 2 American Society of Plant Biologists 15501 Monona Dr, Rockville, MD 20855-2678 f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e) 2557 2679

g. Copies not Distributed (See Instructions to Publishers #4 (page #3)) 117 41

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