PRESIDENT'S LETTER

In the Line of Fire

Roger Hangarter

Change anything and you run the risk of ending up In the Line of Fire. Since the start of the present millennium, ASPB has undergone a number of changes. You may recall the heated discussion about changing the name of the Society to the more inclusive American Society of Plant Biologists, formerly the American Society of Plant Physiologists. While there are individuals who still dislike that change, I think most members agree that the change has made the Society more inclusive to plant scientists sharing the common passion of understanding how plants grow, develop, function, and respond to their environment. Coincident with the name change, the ASPB Committee on Public Affairs was becoming more engaged in defending the use of biotechnology, which has become the mainstay for much of the cutting-edge research that has been driving nearly all areas of plant science. As mentioned in a previous column, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” our defense of biotechnology has occasionally put us In the Line of Fire of those who misinterpret our support of biotechnology for advancing plant science research as being synonymous with the evils of corporate greed. We certainly do not support corporate greed or any of the evils it may lead to, but it is important for us to remind policy makers that plant biology is the Million Dollar Baby that feeds, clothes, houses, and decorates the world, and for it to continue to do so in the future, plant science must have the capability to advance.

During her tenure as editor-in-chief of Plant Physiology, Natasha Raikhel, in the course of making changes to the journal, also occasionally found herself In the Line of Fire. Thankfully, she endured the flames and implemented a number of excellent changes, and today Plant Physiology is one of the top-ranked plant biology journals in the world. Through her dedication, persistence, and boundless energy, Natasha has greatly enhanced the visibility of Plant Physiology and in doing so has helped increase the visibility of plant biology in general. As you know, one of the major functions of our Society is to produce the best scientific journals in the field of plant biology. Having the best journals requires having them in the best hands. ASPB was extremely fortunate to have Natasha steer Plant Physiology in exciting directions. Her achievements with the journal have been in many areas, including promoting the highest quality science, bringing us highly informative reviews and commentaries, establishing policies to maintain and encourage high ethical standards for both authors and the editorial board, implementing state-of-the-art online technologies, and enhancing the visual presentation of the journal. As I’ve said before, we are extremely grateful to Natasha for her extraordinary dedication and numerous contributions to the core function of ASPB.

The wheels of evolution continue to turn, in spite of what nearly 50 percent of citizens in the United States apparently misbelieve, and more changes at ASPB are in progress. On July 1, Natasha completed her term as editor-in-chief of Plant Physiology and passed the torch to the capable hands of Don Ort. As our science continues to evolve, we can rest assured that Don will steer Plant Physiology along the crest of the evolutionary wave our science is riding. I expect that as he faces the challenges of continuing to improve what is already an excellent journal, he will occasionally find himself In the Line of Fire. However, I also anticipate that Don, like Natasha, will endure the flames and that we will see the journal continue on its present evolutionary path toward new levels of excellence.

Many changes at ASPB seem to occur with apparent ease, at least insofar as the membership notices. However, no matter how small the change may outwardly appear, there are often many adjustments that must occur behind the scenes. The transition to a new editor-in-chief is certainly not a minor change. However, thanks to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved at ASPB headquarters, and the Publications Department in particular, this transition has progressed as seamlessly as possible.

Once again, thank you Natasha for a job exceptionally well done!

Roger P. Hangarter
rhangart@indiana.edu