PRESIDENT'S LETTER
ASPB—Cultivating a Dynamic Future in Plant Sciences
 As I write this, my yearas the Society’s president-elect is concluding and I am stepping in to the role of president. What an honor to serve as president of one of the largest scientific organizations dedicated to plant biology! My term as president-elect offered opportunities to experience firsthand the numerous workings of the Society. I am happy to report that the Society is piloted by dedicated and capable hands, from the professional staff headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, to the active members of our many committees that advance ASPB’s mission and functions. The dedication, talents, and accomplishments I see are truly exceptional. As a member of ASPB for more than 35 years, I confess that I often took the Society for granted, failing to notice the effective ventures advanced in support of the plant sciences and ASPB’s steady service to its member scientists. Among the many insights I have gained during the past year, foremost has been a renewed appreciation for the value of a strong society that continues to be a relevant and potent global influence; I challenge each of you to take a fresh look at ASPB, too.
As times change, the Society is responding proactively. In my future letters to the ASPB News, I hope to detail interesting new developments as they arise, but in my inaugural letter I want to touch on some exciting developments already under way. In response to a potentially changing financial landscape, the Society has launched two new ad hoc committees. One is the Business Development Committee, which is charged with identifying prospective revenue streams that, based on mission-relevant products and services, will allow the Society to continue providing services to its membership and the greater community for many years to come. The second committee is the Exploratory ASPB Foundation Committee, which will investigate approaches toward significantly increasing the size of the Society’s endowment, thereby bolstering the return on investment that supports much of the “good works” undertaken by ASPB each year. Both are bold moves that reflect the vision and quality of the ASPB leadership. (I can say that because I was not personally involved in initiating either committee; those kudos are due, respectively, to Tuan-hua David Ho, who has just completed his term as immediate past president, and to Nick Carpita, whom I’m succeeding as president.)
From within the Society’s membership, a renewed and concerted effort is under way to encompass and integrate all sectors of plant biology. An important example of this that I wholeheartedly support is the initiative to expand the platform from which we address the interests of the private sector. I believe that our mission will be better served with the increased involvement of scientists working in industry. Open dialogue is one tangible way to foster connections and to ensure that the Society provides valuable and relevant service to science conducted outside academic and government research labs. As a first step, we have launched a new interest group, Bridging the Private & Public Sectors, that can help the Society effectively engage plant biologists across all career paths. Some scientists who have recently left my own laboratory are working for industry, not academia—a growing trend noted by many—and I hope that ASPB will continue to be an important contributor to their professional careers. I invite all members to join the new private–public interest group and promote dialogue (and action!) that leads to synergy. Just log in to the aspb.org site, point your browser to http://my.aspb.org/members/group.asp?id=83752, and click on the “Join group” logo near the top of the page (must be logged in).
As part of the visioning process, ASPB continues to play a leadership role at the national and international levels. One example of the Society’s leadership at the national level is the Plant Science Research Summit, organized by ASPB and held September 22–23 this year in Chevy Chase, Maryland, which brought together nearly 100 scientists and leaders to identify research priorities in plant science that can address the grand challenges facing the world today in areas that include human health, energy, food, and environmental sustainability. The group that convened included scientists whose interests range from fundamental to applied, as well as representatives of commodity groups and attendees working in academia, government, and the private sector. The post-summit work to draft a report that articulates a consensus plan to invigorate and guide plant science research over the next decade is under way now, and input into this draft report is being widely solicited from the broader community. (For more information, see article on page 23). Likewise, ASPB has been providing leadership at the international level through the Global Plant Council to help bring a unified voice to issues that are of a global nature, such as climate change. The Global Plant Council was initiated by ASPB in 2009 at the behest of former Membership Committee chair Mel Oliver, and its efforts will not only benefit plant biologists working in academia, government, and the private sector, but also, even more importantly, will conceivably help preserve the world as we know it for future generations to come. That is the kind of society to which we belong and that I am proud to be part of.
Finally, as the Society constantly strives to reflect the interests and needs of its membership, it frequently solicits and responds to feedback and comments. For example, a recent survey on the topic of the ASPB News revealed that many of you would prefer a more condensed version and, in particular, a shorter President’s Letter. So, I will close here—but with an invitation to members to contact me (or other members of the leadership) by phone or e-mail with your perspectives, suggestions, and concerns throughout this coming year.
Steve Huber |
