Dear Members of the Genetics Section of the Botanical Society of America,

We encourage all Genetics Section members to attend the BSA/CBA conference in Vancouver, BC this July 26 through 30, 2008 - http://www.botanyconference.org/.

Be sure to submit abstracts for your oral presentations and/or posters by the April 1 deadline - http://2008.botanyconference.org/engine/login.php?next=abstract.

In addition to sharing the latest finding from your and your student’s projects with your colleagues, the oral presentations will be evaluated for the Margaret Menzel Award (http://www.botany.org/awards_grants/detail/menzel.php), and student posters will be judged for the “Best Student Poster” award (http://www.botany.org/awards_grants/detail/zgenspa.php).

We are also looking for applicants for the 2008 student travel award ($200). Please note that this is a new award. Undergraduate and graduate students members of the section are encouraged to apply. There is an April 15 deadline. For details see the application website - http://www.botany.org/awards/GeneticsSTA.asp.

Also, we sponsor two graduate student research awards (up to $1000), to help support field and/or laboratory work related to a student’s Doctoral dissertation of Master’s thesis. There is an April 15 deadline. Information about eligibility and the application guidelines can be found at - http://www.botany.org/awards_grants/detail/genetics_gsra.pdf.

Finally, we encourage you all to attend our annual section business meeting in Vancouver. The time and location will be announced in the meeting program. This is a great opportunity to get involved in our section and we hope to see you there!

Thanks for your attention, and we look forward to seeing you in Vancouver, BC!

Vance Baird, Chair (vbaird@clemson.edu)
Clemson University

Theresa Culley, Vice Chair (theresa.culley@uc.edu)
University of Cincinnati

Kristina Schierenbeck, Secretary-Treasurer & Program Director (kschierenbeck@csuchico.edu)
California State University - Chico

Mission: The Botanical Society of America exists to promote botany, the field of basic science dealing with the study and inquiry into the form, function, development, diversity, reproduction, evolution, and uses of plants and their interactions within the biosphere.

The objectives of The Society are to: sustain and provide improved formal and informal education about plants; encourage basic plant research; provide expertise, direction, and position statements concerning plants and ecosystems; and foster communication within the professional botanical community, and between botanists and the rest of humankind through publications, meetings, and committees.