An invitation to Melbourne for Plant Reproduction for Food 2012

REGISTRATION and ABSTRACT SUBMISSION are now closed.

Due to an overwhelming response the meeting is now fully subscribed.  For further details please contact the Meeting Secretariat.  This includes those that have registered and paid for registration.  
All queries direct to the Meeting Manager,  Lara Birchby,  lara@themeetingpeople.com.au

Dear Colleagues,

We warmly invite you to take part in the XXII International Congress on Sexual Plant Reproduction to be held in Australia at the University of Melbourne, in the heart of Melbourne, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city. We plan to make Plant Reproduction for Food 2012 a memorable scientific and social experience.  As numbers are limited we would urge you to register as early as possible. The deadline for submission of abstracts is October 7th 2011 and this is also the early bird registration deadline.

Grains, cereals and vegetables, which are the basis of the modern world's food supply, rely on the success of sexual plant reproduction.

Impending global climate change conditions pose threats to our food supply as plant reproductive processes such as gamete development, pollination, fertilization and seed set are particularly vulnerable to environmental stresses.
Furthermore, there is a need to double the food produced from the same amount of arable land for feeding the rapidly increasing human population, projected to be 9.2 billion by 2050.
Research in fundamental and applied aspects of plant reproduction is thus critical for maintaining high yields of food and fibre.

The theme of this congress is Plant Reproduction for Food.
Plant Reproduction for Food will provide an interactive environment to share fundamental discoveries in plant reproduction in model and crop species with the aim of utilizing them to increase food yield.

Scientific sessions will focus on research advances in:
Flowering and time to flower, male gametophyte development and meiosis, pollen pistil interaction and self-incompatibility, evolution of reproduction and reproductive structures, female gametophyte development, fertilization, imprinting,  heterosis and hybrid systems, seed development growth and dormancy, fruit development, apomixis, reproduction and stress and reproduction biotechnology for food.
 
Plenary sessions will feature presentations from eminent international scientists. We would also like to maximize the number of oral presentations from congress attendees and encourage participation of early career researchers and students. A limited number of student and early career researcher assistance awards will be provided to assist attendance of young researchers.  Recipients of these awards will be entitled to a refund of registration fees only (not including social events) at the time of the meeting.  These will be awarded in cash at the time of the meeting.

The General Assembly of the International Association of Plant Sexual Reproduction Research will be convened by President Prof Thomas Dresselhaus during the formal scientific program. Speaker prizes will also presented at the conclusion of the meeting therefore we encourage you to attend these events.

We aim to publish full papers and reviews arising from the congress presentations in special journal issues.

Program updates will be available on our website and in regular email newsletters.

We look forward to seeing you in Melbourne in February 13-17, 2012.
 

Mohan Singh Chair
Prem Bhalla Treasurer
Anna Koltunow General Secretary.