2012 CSHL 77th Symposium: Plant Biology Conference

第77届冷泉港定量生物学研讨会，2012年5月30日- 6月4日冷泉港定量生物学研讨会汇集了来自世界各地的科学家，展示和评估快速发展的生物研究领域的新数据和想法。植物是人类健康不可或缺的一部分，许多物种已经被驯化了一万多年。在过去的几十年里，植物生物学经历了分子生物学和基因组学时代的革命。随着30多个植物物种的基因组现在可用，并且在不久的将来计划更多，对我们对植物进化和生物学的理解的影响继续增长。在气候变化影响环境的情况下，我们为各种目的而设计植物物种的能力日益增强，这可能为确保充足的粮食生产和可再生能源提供新的解决方案。研讨会将涵盖广泛的研究领域，包括遗传学，生物化学，分子和细胞生物学，发育生物学，生理学和种群/进化研究，从单细胞到整个生物体，从单一基因到基因组；预计特定植物区域将具有广泛的特色。基础生物学发现将与与社会福祉相关的应用相平衡，包括改良作物、燃料和栖息地。研讨会旨在培养下一代植物科学家，为优秀的年轻科学家提供与同行和更资深的科学家互动和学习的机会。大部分研究将以海报的形式展示，为年轻的科学家提供发展他们的想法、他们的演讲技巧以及他们与科学界其他成员互动的机会。妇女在研讨会的初级和高级代表都很重要，因为榜样在吸引新来者进入任何领域方面都起着关键作用。同样，实验室鼓励少数民族科学家参加并展示他们的最新研究成果。通过小组讨论，研讨会还旨在鼓励科学家在社会如何看待相关风险和利益的背景下考虑他们自己的研究的影响。因此，研讨会的目的是授权一个广泛和多样化的社区，目前和未来的植物科学家。实验室还计划向更广泛的受众传播这种当前思想的综合。在研讨会期间对主要科学家进行的深入采访提供了当前研究状况的另一种快照，并在网上免费提供给广大读者。最后，当地社区通过研讨会参与者之一对科学家和非专业人士的公开演讲来参与研讨会的总体主题。

77th Annual Cold Spring Harbor Symposium on Quantitative Biology, May 30 - June 4, 2012The Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology bring together scientists from all over the world to present and evaluate new data and ideas in rapidly moving areas of biological research. Plants are integral to human wellbeing, and many species have been domesticated for over ten thousand years. During the past several decades plant biology has been revolutionized first by molecular biology and then by the genomic era. With the genomes of more than thirty plant species now available and many more planned in the near future, the impact on our understanding of plant evolution and biology continues to grow. Our increased ability to engineer plant species to a variety of ends may provide novel solutions to ensure adequate food production and renewable energy even as climate change impacts our environment.The Symposium will span a broad range of areas of investigation including genetics, biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, developmental biology, physiology and population/evolution studies at levels ranging from the single cell to the entire organism and from single genes to genomes; plant-specific areas are anticipated to feature broadly. Fundamental biological discoveries will be balanced with applications relevant to societal wellbeing including improved crops, fuel and habitat.The Symposium seeks to nurture the next generation of plant scientists by providing outstanding younger scientists with an opportunity to interact with and learn from their peers and more senior scientists. Much of the research will be presented in the form of posters, providing younger scientists with the opportunity to develop their ideas, their presentations skills, and their interactions with other members of the scientific community. Representation of women at the Symposium at both junior and senior level is important, since role models play a key role in attracting newcomers to any field. Equally, the Laboratory encourages minority scientists to attend and present their latest research. Through panel discussions, the Symposium also aims to encourage scientists to consider the impact of their own research in the context of how society views the associated risks and benefits. Thus the Symposium aims to empower a broad and diverse community of current and future plant scientists.The Laboratory also plans to disseminate this synthesis of current thinking to a broader audience. In-depth interviews with leading scientists undertaken during the Symposium provide an alternative snapshot of the state of current research and are made freely available online to a broad audience. Finally, the local community is engaged in the general theme of the Symposium through a public lecture delivered by one of the Symposium participants to a mixed audience of scientists and laymen.