Progress 12/15/09 to 12/14/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The 2009 IPG Symposium on Root Biology included exposure to interdisciplinary research in the plant sciences for undergraduate students; networking opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows; potential collaborative and interdisciplinary research projects for faculty. It also included an effort to broaden the participation of undergraduate students, particularly from small Midwestern and minority-serving institutions. took place on May 27-29, 2009, on the Columbia campus of the University of Missouri in the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center. Nineteen world-renowned experts shared their recent advances in studies of root development and root interactions with the abiotic and biotic environment. There were 167 attendees at the Symposium on Root Biology. Of the 167 attendees, approximately half (48.5%, n=81) were students and/or postdoctoral fellows and half were academics from research universities and institutions. Attendees represented 9 countries and 23 states. Invited speakers gave 30 or 40 minute oral presentations about their research. Each session also included at least one 20-minute poster presentation from either a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The Symposium also included a poster session for attendees, including students. The organizing committee invited poster submissions on topics related to plant biology research in general; the posters described recently completed research, research in progress, or publicly presented research. In total, 53 research posters were showcased at the IPG Symposium. Of those 53, 29 were submitted by students (graduate and/or undergraduate). Attendees received an unpublished program booklet with abstracts of oral and poster presentations. A Symposium website was created to advertise the Symposium. Information regarding the Symposium was also disseminated by (1) mailing of program brochures and postcards to members of the American Society of Plant Biologists and (2) advertisements on the Crop Science Society of America, the American Society of Plant Biologists, and TAIR online calendars. The Symposium also included a networking dinner for speakers, undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. The goal was to provide an informal venue for students and postdoctoral fellows to interact socially with invited speakers. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Melissa Goellner Mitchum (PI), Robert Sharp (Co-PI), Dale Blevins (Co-PI), Henry Nguyen (Co-PI), Dave Emerich (Co-PI), and Walter Gassmann (Co-PI) all served on the organizing committee for the 26th Annual Symposium on Root Biology. Responsibilities included identifying, contacting, and hosting speakers; establishing the program and schedule; selecting poster abstracts for short presentations; and identifying and following up with potential sponsors. Partner organizations included Journal of Experimental Botany, Biochemical Journal, National Science Foundation, Syngenta, Monsanto, Phenotype Screening, Conviron, and the National Center for Soybean Biotechnology. Collaborators at MU included the Interdisciplinary Plant Group, who hosted the symposium and provided financial support, and MU's Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (LS-UROP), who helped recruit undergraduates from minority and small, Midwestern institutions to attend the Symposium. Training or Professional Development: Invited speakers gave 30 or 40 minute oral presentations about their research. Each session also included at least one 20-minute poster presentation from either a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. Selection of these poster talks were based on abstracts submitted prior to the meeting. The Symposium also included a poster session for attendees, including students. The organizing committee invited poster submissions on topics related to plant biology research in general; the posters described recently completed research, research in progress, or publicly presented research. Poster sessions at scientific meetings, in general, give young investigators, such as undergraduate students, an opportunity to present and communicate their research efforts to a scientific audience and to receive feedback and for informal discussions with meeting speakers. The Symposium also included a networking dinner for speakers, undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audience: researchers interested in the study of plant biology in general and root biology specifically. There were 167 attendees at the Symposium on Root Biology. Of the 167 attendees, approximately half (48.5%, n=81) were students and/or postdoctoral fellows. Attendees represented 9 countries and 23 states. Eight undergraduates from small, Midwestern colleges and minority-serving institutions were recruited to attend the symposium. Multiple efforts were made to deliver science-based knowledge to our target audience. These efforts included oral presentations, poster sessions, and networking events. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Root development and function are vitally important for plant adaptation to the environment. Understanding of root biology remains limited, however, and increased attention to this critical area is needed to facilitate improvement of crop performance, especially in the face of environmental constraints. Yet, conferences focused specifically on root biology are limited. The 26th Annual IPG Symposium on Root Biology The 26th Annual IPG Symposium on Root Biology provided a venue and an opportunity for researchers who study plant roots and their interactions with abiotic and biotic factors from varying disciplinary approaches to share their research and approaches. Its outcomes/impacts included exposure to interdisciplinary research in the plant sciences for undergraduate students; networking opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows; potential collaborative and interdisciplinary research projects for faculty. It also included an effort to broaden the participation of undergraduate students, particularly from small Midwestern and minority-serving institutions. Poster sessions at scientific meetings, in general, give young investigators an opportunity to present and communicate their research efforts to a scientific audience and to receive feedback. The interdisciplinary nature of the IPG Symposium poster session offered a great opportunity for young investigators to see the diversity of topics, interests, and talents in the plant biology community. It also provided an excellent venue for extended informal discussions with meeting speakers and attendees. Interactions between speakers and younger investigators were also encouraged by the networking dinner. In the past, graduate students have been recruited to postdoctoral positions in speakers' labs following these opportunities.
Publications
- Peret, B., Larrieu, A., and Bennett, M. J. (2009). Later Root Emergence: A Difficult Birth. Journal of Experimental Botany, 60(13): 3637-3643.
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