Now accepting mini symposia proposals - 31st International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (ICAR) 2020

[Joanna Friesner]

Event: 31st International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (ICAR) 2020
When: Mon Jul 6th - Fri 10th 2020
Where: Seattle
Deadline to apply to lead a conference mini-symposium: July 31, 2019

Full details at: http://icar2020.arabidopsisresearch.org/

The International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (ICAR) returns to the US in July 2020, and will be in Seattle for the first time at the University of Washington. The ICAR 2020 conference webpage is live and we are NOW accepting community proposals for sessions until the July 31 deadline- note that proposals are encouraged from ALL career stages and there are several sessions reserved for students and postdocs.

In response to community feedback we've developed new approaches to better meet the needs of plant science researchers and educators interested in a moderate sized conference such as ICAR, and that focuses on the resources, techniques, and fundamental research taking place in Arabidopsis labs and in other labs that depend on Arabidopsis knowledge and resources.

We consistently heard that attendees prioritize the chance to present their work, especially in a talk; that most want greater diversity in the invited speakers list and in conference session topics. In response we have dramatically changed our and we anticipate a highly engaging and more diverse program next summer.

Some FIRSTS for ICAR 2020- Seattle:
-We are now accepting proposals for community-proposed and organized mini-symposia that we expect will encompass about half the program.
-We have reserved a number of sessions to be organized by early-career researchers.
-31 July 2019: Deadline to apply to organize an ICAR 2020 mini symposium.
-Selected symposia organizers will be provided budgets to enable them to recruit speakers for their sessions. Proposers may be at any career stage; we encourage students and postdocs organizers.

-We are seeking community input on invited speakers for the non-community organized part of the program, and on the new themes we've developed with significant discussion with our international External Advisory Board.
-Finally- we are putting significant emphasis on building, engaging, and supporting the diversity of our community, be it new parents, under-represented minorities, lgbtq scientists, students, and others. We're engaging various approaches to enable fuller participation and inter-personal connections and are soliciting input via our survey/proposal submission mechanism, where we invite folks to join and/or lead various groups at ICAR 2020.

-As part of our diversity and inclusion endeavor, a NAASC subcommittee launched the DiversifyPlantSci list (described fully below) in February; there are nearly 250 plant scientists that have signed up. Why did we make this list and how can you join it? Please see the blurb below.

Beyond ICAR, our DiversifyPlantSci list could be of value to you- e.g. as you and colleagues consider inviting visiting speakers for local seminars. Please see the description below; I encourage you to join (if applicable) and please share with others.
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We've even gotten some press in Science Magazine! "Just last week, a group of plant scientists started a new database for women, members of underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups, people who identify as LGBTQ, and people with disabilities; as of today, 124 plant scientists are already on the list." (now up to nearly 250)- https://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2019/02/how-scientists-are-fighting-against-gender-bias-conference-speaker-lineups

Please share the ICAR 2020 information with your networks.
ICAR 2020 Twitter: @ICAR_2020
DiversifyPlantSci Twitter: @DiversifyPlants

DIVERSIFYPLANTSCI

The North American Arabidopsis Steering Committee (NAASC) is committed to promoting a global plant sciences community that reflects the true diversity of all its members. To further this mission, the NAASC Diversity and Inclusion Task Force has created the DiversifyPlantSci online resource, a list of plant biologists from under-represented groups to reference for speakers, reviewers, and participants for career or mentorship opportunities.

This list is intended to highlight the diversity within the global plant science community.

We hope to increase diversity and inclusion by making it easy to expand invitations past one's personal networks.

To add yourself fill out this google form: https://goo.gl/forms/s461eDrbKzoK1JzD2

Nominate yourself if you are a plant scientist who: identifies as a woman; identifies as LGBTQIA+; has a disability; and/or is a member of an under-represented ethnic or racial group***.
Please do not nominate others, we allow self-registration only. However we strongly encourage you to forward this form's URL to others that you know and invite them to consider signing up for inclusion.
You may view the entries to identify diverse plant scientists for conferences, hiring, awards

Please do not nominate others, we allow self-registration only. However we strongly encourage you to forward this form's URL to others that you know and invite them to consider signing up for inclusion.
Yours,

Joanna Friesner, PhD
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Executive Director: North American Arabidopsis Steering Committee (NAASC)