SS-ASPB meeting encourages graduate and undergraduate students to showcase their research in oral presentation or in poster formats. These formative educational experiences impact students' careers positively and contribute to their staying within the plant biology community. The organizing committee feels that providing opportunities for students to grow professionally is central to our mission as a society and there is nothing better than contributing to the future budding plant scientists.

The gathering attracts plant scientists and professionals as well as faculty to share their research findings, discoveries, and creative ideas. The SS-ASPB meeting not only advances our foundational knowledge about crop plants but also provides many leads to useful innovations for industry, farmers and consumers.

This year's symposium's theme is "Evolution of Signaling Mechanisms in Plants" with an outstanding lineup of internationally renowned speakers including:

Pradeep Kachroo, University of Kentucky (Plant immunity signaling)

Simon Gilroy, University of Wisconsin Madison (Calcium signaling)

Alan Jones, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (G protein signaling)

Jennifer Nemhauser, University of Washington (Auxin signaling)