PRESIDENT'S LETTER

The Year Ahead

Since succeeding Dan Bush as the Society’s president, I have been working on my ASPB “to do” list. I thought I’d take this opportunity to share some of my major “to do” items with you and to solicit your help in ensuring that ASPB is the first place people turn to for all things plant biology.

First on the list is hiring a new executive director. John Lisack, who ably served as executive director for the past five years, is now CEO of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. We are working with Margot Lansing of Lansing & Associates to identify an individual who will provide vision and leadership for our Society, as well as supervision and fiduciary oversight for the Society’s staff of 22 and budget of over $5.4 million. We also hope to find someone who will have the energy and foresight to lead ASPB into new activities while helping to provide a stable financial base. In the interim, the highly skilled team of professionals who staff our headquarters operation are ensuring that ASPB continues to serve our membership, our readers, and the public.

Second on the list is to continue to position the Education Foundation to maximize its impact. The ASPB Education Foundation was established in 1995 to increase the public’s knowledge about the role of plants in all areas of life. In the broadest sense, the goal is to have ASPB and its Foundation serve as the leading source for information and expertise in plant biology. The Foundation is intended to complement the work of the Society by helping to raise funds and to develop programs. Its mission is to

• promote a broad understanding of the importance of plant science in providing an ongoing supply of affordable, high-quality food, fiber, and renewable resources
• provide education on the importance of plants to agriculture, medicine, environment and environmental cleanup, cosmetics, clothing, building, and more
• make available accurate information on the latest developments regarding genetically modified crops and biotechnology
• improve the range of knowledge of school children by increasing the focus on plant science in the K–12 curriculum by developing curriculum materials, teacher development, and hands-on learning materials
• encourage young scientists to pursue careers in the growing field of plant biology
• increase plant science activities in science museums and discovery centers by developing programs, exhibits, background information, and links to scientists.

Yes, the Public Affairs Committee and the Education Committee also address some of these goals, and there has been some confusion in the past over the Foundation’s role. However, I think we can all agree that there is plenty of work to do, and the Foundation offers an opportunity to tackle significant projects that are beyond the scope of other ASPB committees.

The Foundation board is currently without a chair, as Dan Cosgrove has had to step down, and the search is on for a new chair. Our hope is that the new chair will continue to shape an agenda that not only captures everyone’s imagination but also sparks successful fundraising efforts that the whole Society can enthusiastically embrace. One important change initiated for the coming year is that the Foundation will have a modest budget to fund education projects. A call for proposals will come out in the spring.

We really appreciate all the energy that Robin Lempert, the current director, has put into researching K–12 educational initiatives this past year, as well as her other efforts on behalf of the Foundation. Stay tuned for more discussion of the Foundation in the upcoming year.

Third on the list is working to ensure that ASPB is a welcoming place for all plant biologists. How can we reach out to other plant-based societies? Should we think about hosting more joint meetings and/or more satellite meetings? This past October we held a new meeting on Plant Genetics, and the feedback has been very positive. We welcome suggestions from you, the members, about other areas of plant biology that are currently underserved.

Mary Lou Guerinot
Dartmouth College
guerinot@dartmouth.edu