St. Paul, Minnesota
July 22, 2009
Plant health scientists from
around the globe will gather August 1–5 during the Annual
Meeting of The American
Phytopathological Society (APS) at the Oregon Convention
Center in Portland, Oregon. On the heels of APS's incredible
Centennial celebration in 2008, registration for the 2009 APS
Annual Meeting has exceeded all expectations and will reaffirm
APS's position as the premier society for plant pathologists
dedicated to high-quality, innovative research.
APS President Jim Moyer, along with Program Committee Chair Barb
Christ and the Scientific Planning Board, have put together an
outstanding scientific program, including 32 special sessions on
today's most relevant plant disease topics and critical issues,
such as forensic plant pathology and science in the courtroom;
long distance introduction of plant pathogens to new regions of
the world; plant health emergencies and managing exotic pests;
biological vs. chemical control of plant pathogens; and many
more. The program also includes 240 oral technical presentations
and more than 650 posters.
The 2009 plenary session, entitled Achieving Scientific
Excellence in a Changing Environment, will address how the
events of the past year have crystallized many changes in the
scientific enterprise, launching APS into its second century
with a new array of challenges. Calls for increased efficiency,
shrinking budgets, and the consolidation of traditional
operating units are challenges shared by members from academia,
government, and industry. Leaders from each of the three sectors
will share their views on the changing world, how it affects
their scientific environment, and their insights for the future.
This year's plenary topics include:
- William S. Niebur,
vice president, Dupont Crop Genetics and Development
- Maura O'Neill,
senior advisor for energy and climate, USDA
- Neal Van Alfen,
dean, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences,
University of California-Davis
New to the APS program this year,
the 2009 Annual Meeting will include a special hot topic session
on Wednesday, August 5, entitled The Use of Fungicides to
Promote Plant Physiological Health. Speakers and presentation
topics have been specifically chosen to present unique
perspectives and a broad examination of the many possible
approaches to this new area of interest. “This session will
provide a rare opportunity to hear from a variety of distinct
voices and areas of expertise on a potentially controversial
subject,” notes Program Committee Chair Barb Christ. |
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