www.apsnet.org
October 2012 • Volume 46 • Number 9
“Communicating Science” Took Center Stage at the 2012 APS Annual Meeting The year 2012 marks the first time that the APS Annual Meeting has been held in New England in almost 50 years, and it is the first time it has been held in Providence, RI. This year’s meeting drew more than 1,600 attendees and guests from 47 different countries located in every corner of the world. Some attendees could sleep in their own homes at night, while other guests traveled through 11 time zones and over multiple oceans to arrive in Rhode Island, the “Ocean State” of the United States and the “Sailing Capitol of the World.” This year’s meeting boasted over 900 scientific abstracts, including an impressive Poster Hall that housed more than 600 posters! More than 30 APS committees took advantage of the meeting as a place to meet and discuss vital subject matter topics as specific as virology and turfgrass pathology as well as topics of general policy, such as extension and teaching. One of the true stars of this year’s meeting was the Plenary APS President Carol Ishimaru kicked Session. Carol Ishimaru’s theme, Communicating Science, off the 2012 APS Annual Meeting in was brought to life with a unique and interactive presentation Providence, RI. approach. The session kicked off with a very humorous yet revealing video of ordinary neighbors trying to guess what phytopathology means. In a matter of minutes the audience was able to see firsthand how simply describing plant pathology can have a profound change in understanding from the public. The session continued through a variety of communication exercises, and by the end, all of the attendees left with a fresh approach for most effectively communicating their research efforts. Discussions continued well after the session, in hallways and small groups, definitely striking a chord with all those who attended. If you missed the session or if you need a reminder of the communication skills that were taught, make sure you check out the full video online at www.scientificsocieties.org/aps/plensess/2012.
The energetic and interactive “Communicating Science” Plenary Session gave attendees an opportunity to put their communications skills to use. David Gadoury, Cornell University (left), was a good sport about the constructive critique he received on explaining “What Is a Plant Pathologist?”
In addition to this insightful plenary session, the overall meeting held some of the most current and relevant scientific sessions in plant pathology, including a current look at pathogen effectors and host targets, new insights into the virulence mechanism of plant-pathogenic bacteria, and examining the question, “Do regulatory agencies really make the rules in crop protection?” Additionally, this year’s field trips really took advantage of the New England location from a scientific perspective. The trips
News Help This Video Go Viral
Unveiled at the 2012 Annual Meeting in Rhode Island, the new APS plant pathology video is now available for all members to share. The video is aimed at undergraduates in biology and related majors who have limited agricultural background, and it’s now available for your use in classroom settings, on organization websites, on display at career fairs, and for sharing with colleagues. The concept of developing a video for this purpose came out of the APS Department Heads Meeting as a high priority during the APS Annual Meeting in Hawaii (2011). The goal was to present plant pathology as an exciting and useful career for high school and undergraduate students to consider as they plan their future. APS Council approved and funded the effort, and one year later, under the direction of APS President Carol Ishimaru and a small committee of APS members, including Monica Elliott, Michelle Grabowski, Matthew Haas (graduate student), George Hudler, and David Schmale, along with APS staff member Michelle Bjerkness and Scott Whitman, the project consultant with FLM+, the company contracted for production, the video was completed. View the video today at www.apsnet.org/Pages/ APSVideo.aspx, and help spread the word about the growing field of plant pathology! n
“Communicating Science” continued on page 143
In this Issue Editor’s Corner ........................................ 142 Division News ......................................... 144 Public Policy Board ..................................144 APS Foundation ...................................... 150
Meeting ................................................... 151 2012 APS Annual Meeting Highlights .... 152 OIP News & Views ................................. 154 People ..................................................... 154
Classifieds ................................................ 159 APS Journal Articles ................................ 163 Calendar of Events .................................. 164