One Hundred Years of Supporting Plant Scientists
Nearly 100 years ago, ASPB was made possible by a $20,000 endowment. That gift launched Plant Physiology and formed a foundation on which ASPB has built its other respected journals, The Plant Cell and Plant Direct; numerous awards; the Plant Biology meeting; and, today, many geographical and topical sections that support the notable contributions to the field by plant biologists from around the world. The society’s growth over these first 100 years is attributed to that first endowment, through which a global community has grown.
read more...Centennial Challenge Countdown!
Priority Fundraising Goals
ASPB-Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award
First awarded in 2022, the ASPB-Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award is a biennial award that honors an ASPB member with a strong record of increasing diversity and inclusiveness in plant biology. This individual has made a significant impact in mentoring, supporting, and/or advocating for underrepresented individuals in their careers in the plant sciences at any level. The recipient is invited to deliver a plenary lecture at a Plant Biology annual meeting, receives a cash award, and has the option to accept the award from the president during the annual meeting awards ceremony. A travel allowance is provided for travel and meeting registration in the year of the plenary lecture. The award is currently funded through its first cycle; it is imperative that the society grow the award endowment to ensure that we can continue to offer the award from 2024 onwards.
ASPB Travel Award
ASPB is competitively awarding a limited number of travel awards to attend Plant Biology. The travel award program aims to increase attendance of early career scientists at the annual meeting by providing funds for those in financial need. Broadening participation of underrepresented groups to increase diversity and inclusion among Plant Biology attendees is a primary goal. Undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs, pre-tenure faculty, and professionals beginning their careers in plant science are also strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants must be members of ASPB; however U.S. residency is not a requirement to apply.
Centennial Challenge Campaign General Fund
Centennial Challenge Campaign General Fund – donations to this fund will be used wherever the need is greatest, as directed by the Board. Read more about the Centennial Challenge here: https://aspb.org/support-aspb/.
Additional Active Funds
ASPB Innovation Prize for Agriculture Technology
The innovation prize was inaugurated in 2015 to recognize the outstanding work of industry scientists in companies of all sizes who translate discovery research into real-world outcomes that benefit agriculture. The award additionally acts as a vehicle to increase the awareness of the highest quality science performed by industry scientists, and it showcases the opportunities and rewards of this career path. The award is currently triennial; increasing the size of the fund that supports it would allow ASPB to offer the award biennially.
Joe Varner Travel Award
Approved for fundraising by the ASPB Board of Directors in 2017, this fund seeks to establish an endowment for the specific purpose of providing funds for early career scientists to attend the ASPB Plant Biology meetings. The intent is to supplement the travel awards that ASPB already offers to early career scientists, and there is urgency to significantly increase the size of the endowment so that the society may start offering these awards for the Centennial conference.
Education Initiative
Engaging, educating, and encouraging the next generations of plant biologists is a priority for ASPB. Donations to this fund help support ASPB’s Education and Outreach efforts, including materials and curriculum development, community outreach events at Plant Biology meetings, and initiatives with allied organizations that help introduce plant biology to K-12 learners.
The Robert Rabson Award
The Robert Rabson Award, first given by the Society in 2012, recognizes Bob Rabson’s steadfast advocacy of plant biology through funding programs in the Department of Energy for research in basic energy sciences. The award recognizes postdoctoral scholars and faculty-level early career scientists in academic, government, and corporate research institutions who have made excellent contributions in the area of bioenergy research. The award is currently biennial; increasing the size of the fund that supports it would allow ASPB to offer the award annually.
Lawrence Bogorad Award for Excellence in Plant Biology Research
The Bogorad Award was approved by the Society’s executive committee in 2005 to honor Dr. Bogorad’s many contributions to plant biology, including his influential efforts to bring the techniques of molecular biology to bear on problems in plant biology and his inspired teaching and mentoring. The award recognizes a plant scientist whose work both illuminates the present and suggests paths to enlighten the future. The award is currently biennial ; increasing the size of the fund that supports it would allow ASPB to offer the award annually.
Eric E. Conn Young Investigator Award
The Eric E. Conn Young Investigator Award, first given by the Society in 2011, honors Eric E. Conn’s contributions in plant biology by recognizing young scientists who will be inspired to follow in his footsteps. The award recognizes not only outstanding research but also demonstrated excellence in outreach, public service, mentoring, or teaching by plant scientists at the beginning of their careers. This award is a monetary award made biennially for demonstrated commitment by a member of the Society who is generally not more than five years post-PhD on January 1 of the year of the presentation. It also provides a one-year membership to the Society. Breaks in careers will be considered when addressing the time limit of this award.
With your help, we can continue our work as stewards of the growth and development of plant biology while placing a priority on uniting the international plant science disciplines. There are many ways to give.
Recognizing Our Donors and Our Plant Biology Pioneers
