Conference: FASEB-2008 Conference on Mechanisms in Plant Development, August 10-14, 2008 in Saxtons River, VT

研究植物如何生长发育对我们继续提高农业生产力和效率，同时最大限度地减少对环境的负面影响至关重要。世界各地的研究人员正在利用各种实验系统和技术来了解植物发育的机制。对于这个多样化和快速发展领域的研究人员来说，最重要的是有一个论坛来讨论最近的工作，在这个论坛中可以出现共同的原则和新的主题，并且可以确定关键的、未解决的问题。该提案是为FASEB夏季研究会议提供部分资金，该会议名为“植物发育机制”，将于2008年8月10日至14日在佛蒙特州萨克斯顿河举行（由Neelima Sinha和Cris Kuhlemeier组织）。该会议在过去的二十年中每隔一年举行一次，规模较小（约100人参加），将促进植物发展领域最新工作中出现的新主题和原则的提炼，并促进具有共同兴趣的参与者之间的新认识和合作。与会者将包括首席研究员、博士后和博士生，根据本次会议的近期历史，预计其中40-50%为女性。会议计划包括七个环节。每次会议，演讲者的选择都是基于他们正在进行的研究的高质量和兴趣价值，以及我们对他们清晰而引人入胜的演讲能力的了解。此外，发言者的选择是为了在男女发言者之间，在初级、中级和高级调查人员之间创造平衡。此外，还邀请了几位在研究中采用新兴技术和方法的发言者。每天的海报会议和10-12个简短的谈话将为所有参与者提供向国际观众展示他们的作品的机会。与会者将有充足的时间进行非正式讨论。

Studies of how plants grow and develop are vital for our ability to continue improving agricultural productivity and efficiency while minimizing negative environmental impacts. Investigators around the world are working to understand mechanisms of plant development using a variety of experimental systems and techniques. It is of utmost importance for investigators in this diverse and rapidly moving field to have a forum for discussion of recent work in which common principles and new themes can emerge, and in which key, unanswered questions can be identified. This proposal is for partial funding for a FASEB Summer Research Conference entitled "Mechanisms in Plant Development" to be held August 10-14th, 2008 in Saxtons River, VT (organized by Neelima Sinha and Cris Kuhlemeier). This conference, held every other year for the past twenty years, has a small size (~100 participants) and will facilitate the distillation of new themes and principles emerging from recent work in the plant development field, as well as fostering new acquaintances and collaborations between participants with shared interests. Participants will include principal investigators, postdocs, and Ph.D. students, 40-50% of whom are expected to be female based on the recent history of this meeting. The conference program includes seven sessions. For each session, speakers were chosen based on the high quality and interest value of their ongoing research, and on our knowledge of their ability to give a clear and engaging presentation. In addition, speaker choices were made to create a balance between male and female speakers, between junior, intermediate and senior investigators. Moreover, several speakers were invited who employ emerging technologies and approaches in their research. Daily poster sessions and 10-12 short talks will provide opportunities for all participants to present their work to an international audience. There will be ample time for informal discussions among participants.