PRESIDENT'S LETTER

For a Few Dollars More

Roger Hangarter

In an apparent attempt to reduce the federal budget deficit by half over the next five years, the nation is facing cuts in domestic spending that unfortunately include a reduced federal investment in science and technology. Concomitant with this, we see decreasing participation in professional societies by many scientists, including plant scientists. Indeed some plant-related professional societies have seen their membership decline by as much as 30 percent during the past several years. Thanks to the hard work of the ASPB Membership Committee, the number of ASPB members has remained relatively steady. However, analysis of membership data shows a significant annual turnover in the membership that is tied closely to attendance at the annual meeting (presumably for the reduced registration cost) and authorship in one of our journals (presumably for the reduced page charges).

When it is time to pay those annual dues, it appears that many members and prospective members view paying membership dues as if they were shopping for “stuff.” Sure, as an ASPB member you receive reduced rates on subscriptions to two of the best plant biology journals, discounts on page charges when publishing in those journals, reduced rates for registration for the annual Plant Biology meeting, discounts on purchases from participating companies, this newsletter, and a variety of other perks. However, the real value of membership in ASPB is not found in the purchase of these short-term benefits, as valuable as they are. The most substantial benefit to ASPB members is the long-term investment in the overall strength of the collective science and education conducted by the membership. As a professional society, ASPB provides a strong voice that yields substantial gains for all plant science research.

One of the most important roles of professional societies like ASPB is to help educate the U.S. Congress, executive branch, and the public about the importance of basic science research. In this respect, ASPB has been extremely effective in supporting the interests of all plant scientists, regardless of their societal affiliation. Although to an individual scientist it can sometimes seem futile to fight For a Few Dollars More for research, as a professional organization ASPB is able to explore all available opportunities and present a powerful voice in support of continued investments in basic plant research and science education. Our members depend on it, and the health of our discipline depends on it. This past year, as in previous years, Brian Hyps (ASPB’s director of public affairs), the Committee on Public Affairs, and the ASPB leadership have worked hard to maintain government investment in federal research programs, especially those programs that support plant sciences. In particular, Brian and the Committee on Public Affairs carefully monitor the activities of Congress. When issues related to the plant sciences are at stake, the committee rapidly mobilizes letter-writing and other educational campaigns that have greatly helped maintain congressional support of federal agencies like NSF, USDA, and DOE, which support a significant amount of the plant research conducted at our universities and colleges. As the U.S. Office of Management and Budget noted: “Research has and will continue to yield important scientific discoveries, which will further boost economic growth and enhance Americans’ quality of life.” ASPB will continuously work to remind those who decide the federal budget of the importance of this statement and the need to invest in science for the long term.

In the current economic climate, it is more critical than ever for ASPB and other scientific societies to clearly articulate to those who determine the federal budget how much more the world stands to gain For a Few Dollars More. It is only through the strength and support of an active membership that our individual voices will be heard. The true value of membership in a professional society is to enhance the profession through a collective voice in ways that individuals and ad hoc groups are not able to achieve. ASPB provides its members with an effective force that will help ensure the support is there for us to continue to make, and teach about, the many exciting scientific discoveries that are on the horizon.

Of course, if you are reading this, you are probably a member who appreciates and supports the work of ASPB. However, we can all help further amplify the voice of our profession by educating those free-spirited, non-member plant biologists we all know, in our labs, down the hall, on another floor, or in the building across the way, about the long-term value of participating in ASPB’s commitment to keeping our profession at the top of its game.

Roger P. Hangarter
rhangart@indiana.edu