The American Society Discovering Nature’s of Molecular Potential PharmacognosyThe ASP Newsletter: Volume 53, Issue 1 ASP Responds to Trump Administration Travel Bans By Dr. Edward J. Kennelly n early February, ASP President Dr. Cindy Angerhofer posted a state- ment on the ASP website (www. pharmacognosy.us/statement-from- Ithe-asp-president/) that expressed con- cerns about the first executive order of US President Donald Trump, signed on January 27, 2017, banning entry of cit- izens from seven predominately Mus- lim countries. While that order has been challenged in the federal court system, a new executive order was signed by Presi- dent Trump on March 6, 2017, restrict- ing immigration and travel from six of the seven countries in the original order un- less the travelers already have valid trav- el documents. The new executive order appears to be Demonstrators protesting the travel ban in Oakland California. somewhat narrower in scope than the origi- BENJAMIN MORGAN nal order. Six nations, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, and Libya are still included, and referenced a January 31 letter, co- action on the global scientific community, but Iraq has been removed. Green card hold- signed by more than 150 other scientific individual scientists and students from ers from those six nations are now exempt, organizations. She stated, “The American countries that have been singled out, and as are other people from these countries Society of Pharmacognosy stands in soli- the very future of scientific leadership by with valid US visas. A temporary restraining darity with the…scientific organizations the United States. ASP joins these scien- order was issued by US District Judge Der- who have signed a letter to President tific societies in voicing strong objection rick Watson on March 15, 2017, preventing Donald Trump urging him to rescind his to this Executive Order and offering the this new ban from being enforced. Executive Order of January 27 restrict- administration assistance in creating an President Angerhofer wrote to ASP ing immigration and visas. The letter well effective immigration and visa policy that members about the first executive order represents the detrimental impact of this continued on page 3 IN THIS ISSUE: SPRING 2017 ODS 2017-2021 Strategic Plan 9 In Memoriam: Dr. Rasoanaivo 15 Editor’s Corner 2 Hot Topics in Pharmacognosy 11 Conference Calendar 16 2017 ASP Meeting: City of Roses! 5 Fellows Offer ASP Members Career Advice 12 Brief News from Washington 17 Khan named director of NCNPR 6 Meet a New ASP Member 13 UIC Transfers Farnsworth Archives 20 Field Notes: Adventure in Guizhou Province 7 New Members 14 to Lloyd Library www.pharmacognosy.us EDITOR’S CORNER EMPLOYMENT SERVICE s I write this column in mid-March, there is still a lot of un- certainty about the new executive order by President Donald Trump regarding immigration and how this may impact ASP The Society offers a colleagues in the six predominately Muslim countries affect- placement service to aid Aed. ASP President Cindy Angerhofer posted a response to President our members in seeking Trump’s first executive order regarding immigration, and this is the positions or employees. basis for our lead article addressing how these policies may impact This service is available only to ASP. The ASP Newsletter reached out to members from these six na- ASP members and is free to both the applicant and tions mentioned in the executive order, but only a few responded. the employer. Even more recently, President Trump has sent his proposed bud- get to Congress, recommending significant cuts to many federal agencies that fund the re- For more information see the search conducted by the ASP. The Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of services website. Health, the funding agency of the International Cooperative Biodiversity Groups (ICBG) that www. have supported ASP members’ interdisciplinary research in drug discovery around the world, pharmacognosy.us/jobs/ has been recommended for elimination. The Newsletter will continue to closely monitor these proposed changes and other issues that impact members’ research. If your research has been impacted, please let us know ([email protected]). On a happier note, we are pleased to recognize the promotion of ASP member Dr. Ikhlas NEWSLETTER Khan as Director of the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mis- STAFF sissippi. Many ASP members know Dr. Khan as a leader in the field of botanical analysis. He has hosted several interim ASP meetings at the University of Mississippi, and the 2014 ASP Meeting as well. He has served on a number of ASP committees and is a critical member of the Edward J. Kennelly, Ph.D. Editor-In-Chief ASP. We congratulate Dr. Khan on this promotion and wish him continued success as Director. I hope many ASP members will be able to join us in Portland, Oregon, for the annual meeting Amy C. Keller, Ph.D. Assistant Editor from July 29 to August 2, 2017. The organizers have written an update in this Newsletter about the scientific program that will include a variety of symposiums, such asNatural Products from Nancy Novick Design & Production Unique Ecosystems and Natural Products Biosynthesis and Synthetic Biology. There will also be Devhra BennettJones a number of social gatherings, including a visit to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Gordon Cragg, Ph.D. Abstracts are due on April 30, 2017. Kevin Tidgewell, Ph.D. In our regular columns, we accompany ASP member Dr. Chunlin Long into the field to learn ASP Newsletter Committee about the ethnobotanical research he is doing with ethnic minority groups in the People’s The contribution deadlines are: Republic of China. Dr. Long and his group report about their recent trip to Guizhou in south- Spring Issue Feb. 15 ern China, a province with 18 ethnic minority groups. In our “From the Archives” column, Ms. Summer Issue May 15 Fall Issue Aug. 15 Devhra BennettJones details the donation of the Norman R. Farnsworth archives to the Lloyd Winter Issue Nov. 15 Library. Professor Farnsworth was a founding member of ASP and served as the society’s sec- ond president. He was a leading researcher in pharmacognosy, as well as being devoted to Please send information to: bringing modern literature search capabilities to the field through his database NAPRALERT. The Edward J. Kennelly, Ph.D. Lloyd Library will now house many of the key records of this founding father of the ASP. We were Editor In Chief, ASP Newsletter Department of Biological Sciences saddened to learn that a friend of the ASP, Dr. Philippe Rasoanaivo, passed away last year. “In Lehman College, CUNY Memoriam” allows us to learn more about his life and work. Dr. Georgia Perdue continues to 250 Bedford Park Blvd. West write her “Brief News from Washington” article about issues with regards to federal agencies Bronx, NY 10468 and natural products research. With the proposed budget cuts, Dr. Perdue may be busier than 718-960-1105 ever following how this plays out. [email protected] ISSN 2377-8520 (print) Dr. Edward J. Kennelly ISSN 2377-8547 (online) THE ASP NEWSLETTER VOLUME 53, ISSUE 1 PAGE 2 ASP Responds to Trump Administration Travel Bans continued from page 1 stays true to American principles as a nation of immigrants.” One of the largest concentrations of international pharmacog- Dr. Angerhofer told the ASP Newsletter that the second ban nosy researchers in the US is at the National Center for Natural did not appear to be substantially different from the original in Products Research (NCNPR) at the University Mississippi School terms of its effect on the scientific community. of Pharmacy, University, Mississippi. According to NCNPR Director In the past decade, ASP has had 8 members from Iran and and ASP member Dr. Ikhlas Khan, “When it comes to natural prod- one from Sudan, according to the Society’s MemberClicks da- ucts and the traditional knowledge accumulated from their use, “Knowledge has no boundaries and the exchange of thoughts and collaborations are the key for future meaningful developments of the natural products industry in US.” — Dr. Khan tabase. There have been two ASP members from Iraq. It is not we look to the Far East. These Eastern traditions and knowledge possible to tell how many ASP members are from one of these are the genesis of the natural products industry here in the US as six countries but reside somewhere else. well as the Western Hemisphere. Knowledge has no boundaries The ASP Newsletter made a concerted effort to contact all and the exchange of thoughts and collaborations are the key for 10 identifiable members from the six potentially banned na- future meaningful developments of the natural products industry tions by e-mail and social media in an attempt to learn how in US. The proposed travel ban will almost certainly hinder the this policy change is impacting pharmacognosy researchers open exchange of scientists that ultimately will erode the possibil- abroad. Only a few responded to the ASP Newsletter inquiries, ity of building strong collaborative, international research efforts. and those that did asked for anonymity. Even though only six countries are currently affected by this ban, One Iranian ASP member who resides in the US wrote about it will have broad implications throughout the scientific commu- the newly issued executive order, “It will have a negative impact nity. In addition to immediate hurdles, the long-term implications on any scientific exchange as it will make it impossible for sci- for developing countries as well as the future of young scientists entists in Iran to travel to the US, either to take part in a confer- in the area of natural products research are unpredictable.” ence or symposium or to do research in an American laboratory Another ASP member (and Fellow) with extensive experience as a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow.” This ASP mem- working with international scientists is Dr.