NORTH AMERICAN ARABIDOPSIS STEERING COMMITTEE

A primary function of the organization is to organize and secure funding for the annual International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (ICAR) when it is held in North America. The ICAR is currently on a 3 year rotation schedule so that it is held in North America once every 3 years. ICAR promotes rapid exchange of information among students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty & other professional scientists of the latest plant science information. The science conference also serves as an important forum for students & pre-professionals to highlight their research & education & take part in professional & educational development activities. The conference attendance is approximately 500 when in North America, and is open to the international community of people (including the public) that may wish to attend and learn and share plant biology research and education advances/information. As part of the ICAR, the organization provides funding to several invited speakers (particularly early career faculty that may lack significant funds.) The organization also provides significant support to students & postdoctoral scholars and others with reduced access, as part of its mission to promote plant biology and increase access within the scientific community. In 2024, ICAR was NAASC-organized in the US, and the organization provided some funding for participation support for 130 conference attendees, the majority of which were students, postdocs, and early career (non-tenured) faculty.

Another primary function of the organization is to support North American plant science activities involving research and education (often in cooperation and collaboration with international scientists). This support occurs in three major ways: (1) leading program and initiative development, including seeking governmental grants to fund projects; (2) participating in similar, related, and complementary activities to maintain and strengthen science ties; and (3) to provide advise or input when requested, from other groups and initiatives. Examples of how the organization carries out each of these: (1) Organization members previously secured a governmental grant from National Science Foundation to lead plant science activities including workshops, meetings, outreach efforts, and develop publications and other scholarly reports, and communicate w/public. 2) Members participate in workshops & other activities, including giving presentations, and/or co-authoring articles, with other groups. (3) The organization collaborates & gives input to related educational & scientific groups and societies in cooperation & support of domestic and global plant science initiatives. In 2024, the organization had its first year of paid membership for community members to help support activities. This membership drive was in conjunction with the main activity (our conference, ICAR), and also included participation in additional online activities (mainly professional development webinars). The membership drive brought in revenue from the community.