Conference: 19th International Congress on Plant-Microbe Interactions Travel Awards

第19届国际植物-微生物相互作用大会（IC-MPMI）将于2023年7月16日至20日在罗德岛州普罗维登斯召开。在过去的40年里，这个会议一直是宣布和讨论最具创新性的科学发现的主要论坛，这些发现阐明了植物和微生物相互作用的分子事件。该计划将包括使用不同生物系统研究病原和共生关系的成熟和年轻研究人员。全体会议和同期会议将重点介绍对农业科学进步至关重要的基础研究（如植物免疫系统、病原体毒力机制、植物微生物群和共生的进化/生态/细胞生物学）以及转化研究（如疾病控制的新方法、突破性技术和主粮作物工程）的最新进展。来自美国国家科学基金会的资金将用于部分支付研究生，博士后研究人员和早期职业教师的旅费，以便他们能够负担得起参加这次会议。特别注意促进少数民族、妇女、第一代学生和残疾人的更广泛参与。重要的是，本次会议推动的植物与微生物相互作用的研究和教育取得的进展，对于确保高质量作物的持续生产和满足21世纪全球对粮食和能源日益增长的需求至关重要。IC-MPMI的一个重要而独特的功能是联合研究专家，否则他们将不会交叉路径（例如，专家研究和实施新技术，工具和方法来解决与植物-微生物相互作用有关的各种问题）。过去的会议在促进科学信息交流、批判性讨论和在广泛的研究主题和地理位置建立强有力的合作方面取得了成功。会议还为研究生和博士后提供了重要的培养价值。旅行奖学金获得者将参加一个小型会议研讨会，旨在向学生介绍MPMI研究中的各种职业道路，并促进与从事MPMI相关研究的私营、公共和政府组织的领导人建立联系的机会。还将通过与全体会议发言人和获奖者提名的其他MPMI研究领导人共进午餐来促进网络。我们期待这次学生研讨会和午餐会将培养下一代科学家成功所需的新联系。一些参与研究的科学家与开发农业技术的公司和研究所有联系。对于那些对政府和行业相关研究感兴趣的人来说，学生接触这些实体将是关键。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The 19th International Congress on Plant-Microbe Interactions (IC-MPMI) will convene in Providence, Rhode Island, from July 16 through July 20, 2023. For the last 40 years, this meeting has been the premier forum for announcing and discussing the most innovative scientific discoveries elucidating the molecular events by which plants and microbes interact. The program will include a mix of established and young investigators working on pathogenic and symbiotic associations using diverse biological systems. The plenary and concurrent sessions will highlight the latest advances in fundamental research (e.g. plant immune system, pathogen virulence mechanisms, and the evolution/ecology/cell biology of plant microbiomes and symbioses) as well as translational studies (e.g. novel approaches for disease control, breakthrough technologies, and engineering staple food crops) critical for advancements in agricultural science. Funding from the National Science Foundation will be used to partially defray the travel costs of graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and early career faculty so that they can afford to attend this conference. Special attention has been made to promote broader participation of minorities, women, first-generation students, and the disabled. Importantly, advances through research and education in plant-microbe interactions facilitated by this conference are fundamental to ensure sustained production of high-quality crops and to meet the increasing demands for food and energy worldwide in the 21st century. An important and unique function of the IC-MPMI is to unite research specialists who otherwise would not cross paths (e.g., specialists studying and implementing new technologies, tools and approaches to solve diverse questions related to plant-microbe interactions). Past meetings have been successful at fostering the exchange of scientific information, critical discussion, and establishing strong collaborations across a broad range of research topics and geographic locations. The meeting has also provided significant training value for graduate students and post-doctoral scholars. Travel fellowship awardees will participate in a small meeting workshop designed to inform students about diverse career paths in MPMI research and promote networking opportunities with leaders from private, public, and governmental organizations pursuing MPMI-related research. Networking will also be promoted via a lunch with plenary speakers and other MPMI research leaders nominated by the awardees. We anticipate that this student workshop and lunch will foster new connections required for the success of our next generation of scientists. Several of the participating scientists have links to companies and institutes developing agricultural technology. Student exposure to these entities will be key for those interested in government and industry-related research.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.