Hello ASPS members,

The latest issue of Phytogen is available HERE.

The last issue of the Global Plant Council e-Bulletin can be accessed HERE.

The Aquaporin Workshop is open to everyone, it’s free and online, https://cbrin.com.au/events/aquaporins-solutions-exploring-how-aquaporins-can-solve-food-and-water-challenges/

Session 1 – Monday 2^nd November – understanding aquaporin regulation

Session 2 – Tuesday 10^th November – characterising plant aquaporins

Session 3 – Monday 16^th November – using aquaporins to solve real world problems

Session 4 – Monday 23^rd November – pitching ideas for solving aquaporin mysteries

Please note that separate registration links and timing information for each session are included within the above website link.

The proceedings include an outstanding collection of video talks from international and national speakers, and we will have representatives from a number of industry organisations participating.

In addition to the talks there will be interactive workshop challenge activities. Examples of the types of challenge topics are included below:

– How can we determine which endogenous molecules in cells are key in influencing aquaporin regulation? – Which native molecules synthesised by cells have ‘secret lives’ as aquaporin regulatory agents?

– The function of many aquaporins can be influenced by calcium, cyclic nucleotide, reactive oxygen species, hormone and phosphorylation kinase signalling, among other regulatory factors; how can we confirm the hierarchy in the order of influence of these signals?
– Throughout evolution aquaporins with many different types of functions have been selected for – have we scratched the surface of determining the complement of different roles of different types of aquaporins?

– How do we figure out what the role of aquaporins in organelles might be?

– What is the pathway for water and cation transport through aquaporins, is it via monomeric or tetrameric channels or does it depend on the specific aquaporin?

– How could diversity in aquaporin function be leveraged for medical applications? – How could manipulation of aquaporin function be achieved to reduce fluid pressure related problems associated with living in low gravity environments, and how can we figure out the complement of fluid and pressure related disorders that involve altered aquaporin regulation?
– How could diversity in aquaporin function be leveraged for crop improvement? – How do we test the relative proportion of water that moves through plasmodesmata relative to moving though aquaporins?
– Over-expression of some aquaporins increases tolerance to osmotic stress, whereas overexpression of other aquaporin isoforms reduces tolerance. Why?
– Can we distinguish the influence of ion channel aquaporins on root-to-shoot ion flux given that ion flux could be influenced directly by aquaporin ion transport and indirectly by the influence of aquaporins on transpiration?

– How do aquaporins control tissue-scale hydraulics to regulate plant responses to the environment?
– Is there any evidence that switching of aquaporin water and ion channel functions could have a role in charging membrane potential to power other ion transport processes?

– How many different segments and end applications, that are compatible with a circular green economy, could aquaporins be involved in? – Aquaporins are already used in space for water filtration, what other applications are there for ‘designer’ aquaporins for enabling successful colonization of space and more sustainable life on Earth?

Please share with any colleagues who may be interested in these topics.

Thank you in advance,

Caitlin Byrt.

Hello ASPS members,

The August Phytogen is now available HERE.

Next week is National Science Week. See what’s happening around Australia near you and virtually near us all including Taste Tomorrow.

The August Global Plant Council e-Bulletin is available HERE.

Keep well.

Hello ASPS members,

As we adjust to different ways of living and working in this changing world alternative opportunities also arise.  This year you can attend Plant Biology 2020 World Summit without having to travel to the northern hemisphere!

Plant Biology 2020 Worldwide Summit

July 27-31

Virtual event with talks, workshops, posters, networking events and virtual exhibit hall

https://plantbiology.aspb.org/

All talks will be recorded for access on demand by registered participants, and virtual posters will be available for viewing shortly before, during, and after the meeting.

#PlantBio20

Note also that there are group rates that bring the cost down significantly

We also have two new PhD opportunities have been posted on our job board and can be viewed here.

Finally a member of the public has ask for help identifying a tree they saw on a trip to the west coast of Tasmania. Responses can be e-mailed to admin@asps.org.au , FB ASPSozplants or Twitter @asps_ozplants.

Dear ASPS members,

11 Feb is International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

February Phytogen is now available HERE.   See the Plant Nutrition Trust Award reports and up coming conferences.

Applications for numerous prestigious ASPS awards are currently opened with a closing date 14^th of February 2020. Nominate yourself. More details below.

Call for nominations for ASPS president elect

We are currently seeking nominations for the next ASPS president. If you have a passion for Plant Science and an interest in helping to drive and shape research and education in the Australian Plant Science community please consider nominating.

Nominations can be sent to the secretary@asps.org.au by Friday the 28^th of February 2020

ASPS Research Awards

The Peter Goldacre Award and the Jan Anderson Award are the premier research awards from ASPS. The Peter Goldacre award is awarded for research contributions for early/mid-career researchers (male or female) within 10 years since PhD, and the Jan Anderson Award specifically recognises the significant contribution of mid-career female researchers.

ASPS Teaching Awards

The ASPS Teaching Award recognises excellence, innovation and/or other contributions with successful learning outcomes to teaching plant science at the University level.

Applications for these awards need to be sent to the secretary@asps.org.au by the 14^th of February, 2020.

Please see full details and eligibility requirements on the ASPS website: https://www.asps.org.au/awards

Kind regards,

Dr Simon Williams

Honorary Secretary, ASPS

Dear ASPS members,

Applications for numerous prestigious ASPS awards are currently opened with a closing date 14^th of February 2020.

The January edition of Phytogen is out now and can be accessed HERE.

The January 2020 Global Plant Council e-bulletin can be accessed HERE.

ASPS Research Awards

The Peter Goldacre Award and the Jan Anderson Award are the premier research awards from ASPS. The Peter Goldacre award is awarded for research contributions for early/mid-career researchers (male or female) within 10 years since PhD, and the Jan Anderson Award specifically recognises the significant contribution of mid-career female researchers.

ASPS Teaching Awards

The ASPS Teaching Award recognises excellence, innovation and/or other contributions with successful learning outcomes to teaching plant science at the University level.

Applications for these awards need to be sent to the secretary@asps.org.au by the 14^th of February, 2020.

Please see full details and eligibility requirements on the ASPS website: https://www.asps.org.au/awards

Kind regards,

Dr Simon Williams

Honorary Secretary, ASPS

Dear ASPS members,

As another year passes between meetings our Honorary Treasurer, Rosemary White, comes to the end of her term. We would like to thank Rosemary for all her efficient and hard work during her term in this position and hope she stays an active member.

This means that we are now looking for nominations for this position as part of our new Executive Committee and Council.

If you are interested in this position, please fill the ASPS Council nomination form and email it to secretary@asps.org.au and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Kind Regards,

Kathleen Soole

President ASPS

Dear ASPS members,

Just a reminder to submit your ASPS2019 poster abstract before October.

Submit your abstract HERE

Register for ASPS2019 HERE

View the draft ASPS2019 program HERE

If you haven’t already read the September edition of Phytogen it can be viewed HERE.

The International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS, ISSN 1422-0067, Impact Factor: 4.183) is an open access journal which provides an advanced forum for molecular studies in biology, chemistry and biophysics. Our aim is to provide rigorous peer review and enable rapid publication of cutting-edge research to educate and inspire the scientific community worldwide. IJMS is indexed by the Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science), MEDLINE (PubMed) and other important databases. Manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision provided to authors approximately 17 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 4.9 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2018).

Plants (ISSN 2223-7747; Impact Factor: 2.632) is an open access journal of plant science. Our aim is to encourage scientists and research groups to publish theoretical and experimental results of research in all fundamental and applied fields of plant science. Plants is indexed by the Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science), BIOSIS Previews (Clarivate Analytics), Scopus and other important databases. Citations are available in PubMed and full-text are archived in PubMed Central. Manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision provided to authors approximately 13.7 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 5.8 days (median values for papers published in 2018).

Hello ASPS members,

The August edition of Phytogen has been published and can be accessed here.

The GPC August e-bulletin can be viewed here.

New employment opportunities have been posted on the ASPS job board and can be viewed here.

Hello ASPS members,

The deadline for 2019 ASPS student travel grant applications has been extended to 5.00pm June 28th 2019. If you are a student or supervisor of a student who has been meaning to apply there is still time. Application attached.

You can also download the June edition of Phytogen here.

The Global Plant Council June E-Bulletin is available here.

Hello ASPS members,

The deadline for 2019 ASPS student travel grant applications has been extended to 5.00pm June 28th 2019. If you are a student or supervisor of a student who has been meaning to apply there is still time. Application attached.

You can also download the June edition of Phytogen here.

The Global Plant Council June E-Bulletin is available here.