Conference: 23rd International Conference on Arabidopsis Research, July 3-7, 2012, Vienna, Austria

第23届拟南芥研究国际会议（ICAR）将于2012年7月3日至7日在奥地利维也纳的霍夫堡宫举行。世界范围内对拟南芥的深入研究不断产生有用的信息，影响我们对其他植物和非植物物种的理解。拟南芥研究正日益促进知识向其他植物的转移，由于一个充满活力的研究界的努力，以及利用对粮食、饲料和燃料作物等具有经济重要性的植物研究的进展和资源，研究工作正在加速。本次会议的重点是整合了与MCB支持的主题相关的拟南芥生物学的许多方面。拟南芥研究继续影响着我们对其他植物和一般生物学的理解。会议的一个特别亮点将是由多国拟南芥指导委员会主办的会议，其中将包括关于MASC路线图（从初级到丰产）的会谈。此外，会议还将举办关于其他植物、农业主题、生物能源、系统生物学和生物信息学的特别会议。更广泛的影响本次会议的资金将用于支持代表性不足的少数民族和/或来自MSI， HBCUs和1890院校的教师的注册，住房和旅行费用。组织者有一个完善的计划，鼓励少数民族和早期职业科学家参与并提供财政支持。此前，美国国家科学基金会为第22届ICAR提供的资金用于支持10名代表性不足的少数民族学生和教师，22名国内年轻研究人员和11名受邀演讲者，他们也是早期职业科学家。北美拟南芥指导委员会去年秋天开始了他们的评估工作。这些调查是发给自2004年以来获得国家科学基金资助的少数族裔和早期职业获奖者的。调查的结果非常令人满意，并记录了参加ICARs的积极影响，包括促进出版和新的合作，提交资助建议和促进新课程的发展。

Intellectual Merit The 23rd International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (ICAR) will be held at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria, July 3-7, 2012. Worldwide intensive research efforts on Arabidopsis thaliana continue to produce useful information that impacts our understanding of other plants as well as non-plant species. Arabidopsis studies are increasingly facilitating knowledge transfer to other plants and efforts are accelerating due to the efforts of a vibrant research community and the leveraging of advances and resources that inform studies in plants of economic importance including food, feed and fuel crops. The focus of this conference is integrated across many aspects of Arabidopsis biology relevant to topics supported by MCB. Arabidopsis research continues to impact our understanding of other plants and of general biology. A particular highlight of the meeting will be the session sponsored by the Multinational Arabidopsis Steering Committee, which will feature talks on the MASC Roadmap (from Bench to Bountiful Harvests). In addition, the meeting will feature special sessions on other plants, agricultural topics, bioenergy, systems biology and bioinformatics. Broader ImpactsThe funding of this conference will be used to support the cost of registration, housing and travel for underrepresented minorities and/or faculty from MSI, HBCUs and 1890 institutions. The organizers have a well-established program for encouraging participation and providing financial support for minorities and early-career scientists. Previous NSF funding for the 22nd ICAR was used to support 10 underrepresented minority students and faculty, 22 domestic young researchers and 11 invited speakers who were also early career scientists. The North American Arabidopsis Steering Committee began their assessment efforts last fall. The surveys were sent to previous minority awardees and early career awardees who were supported by NSF funding in the periods since 2004. The results of the surveys were quite favorable and document positive impacts of attendance at the ICARs, including facilitating publication and new collaborations, submitting funding proposals and facilitating new curriculum development.