News from the In Vitro Plant Cell Sciences Section

ExPlants
Mary Ann Lila, University of Illinois, recently traveled to Dushambe, Tajikistan and Almaty, Kazakhstan to establish new partnerships for bioexploration for pharmaceutical applications. She will visit San Jose, Costa Rica in March to develop international research partnerships.

Mary Ann Lila and David Ellis visited Rotorua, New Zealand in February to deliver keynote addresses at the International Association of Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology biennial meetings, New Zealand branch.

Dr. Magfrat Muminova, Department of Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Genetics & PEB, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is visiting the laboratory of Barbara M. Reed, National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Corvallis, OR. She is studying cryopreservation techniques to complement her research specialties plant tissue culture, molecular biology, and genetic transformation of agronomic crops.

Dr. Carol M. Stiff, President and CEO of Kitchen Culture Kits, Inc., has moved her company to Milton, Wisconsin.

Seeking Host Labs for Philip White Training. The Philip White Memorial Award is used to supplement expenses for a student to further study plant tissue culture by acquiring specialized training in a plant-tissue-culture related technique not available at his/her home institution, by traveling to another laboratory. Host institutions/scientists are needed to offer this training. If you would be willing to be involved in this, please contact Carol Stiff, Chairman of the White Committee. We often get applications from students who want specific training but do not know where to obtain it. Please note that this is not restricted to the U.S.- we need training for our students worldwide. Thanks for your help……………..carol stiff (kck@turbonet.com)

RETIREMENT
Dr. Henry Shands, Center Director of the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP) in Fort Collins, Colorado, retired on December 31, 2006, after 20+ years with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Although Dr. Shands was not a member of the Society of In Vitro Biology, he was a pillar in the US National Plant Germplasm System and well known by many SIVB members. Prior to assuming the directorship at the NCGRP, Dr. Shands was the Agricultural Research Service's Assistant Administrator for Genetic Resources in Washington, D.C., after serving for 12 years on the ARS National Program Staff as Program Leader and Associate Deputy Administrator for Genetic Resources. He was active in international research activities, including serving as Acting Director of the ARS International Programs Office and an Advisor with the Rural Development Department at the World Bank. He serves as an advisor to the World Bank's Genebank Upgrading Program for the CGIAR's International Agricultural Research Centers. His previous research focused on plant breeding and genetics of major food crops. He is a Fellow of the Crop Science Society of America, Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and recipient of the Frank N. Meyer Medal for Plant Genetic Resources. In 2004, he was awarded the William L. Brown Medal for Excellence in Genetic Resources Conservation. In November 2005, he was installed as President Elect of the Crop Science Society of America.

Submitted by Barbara M. Reed, reedbm@hort.oregonstate.edu

DR. MICHAEL KANE HONORED
Dr. R. Kirby Barrick, Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Florida announced the establishment of the Marion C. and Virginia T. Roche Faculty Excellence Fund. This new endowed fund is made possible by a generous gift from Mr. Roche, an alumnus of the College and long-term high school agriculture instructor, to fund the activities of the Marion C. and Virginia T. Roche Professor.

The purpose of the fund is to enhance teaching in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. I have appointed Dr. Michael E. Kane, Professor in Environmental Horticulture, to serve as the Roche Professor for the first three-year term. Dr. Kane will be providing leadership in renewing our commitment to teaching excellence through peer observation, including preparing faculty to observe and appropriately critique teaching in its broadest sense. Dr. Kane will partner with Dr. Anna Ball, Director of the CALS Teaching Resources Center, and the Associate Deans in CALS to provide workshops, seminars and materials to help faculty meet our goals.

I know that you join me in thanking Mr. Roche for his generosity and Dr. Kane for accepting this important assignment.

(Received from R. Kirby Barrick, Dean, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida, P. O. Box 110270, 2001 McCarty Hall, Gainesville FL 32611. 352-392-1961, fax: 352-392-8898, E-mail: kbarrick@ufl.edu)

DR. PAMELA WEATHERS HONORED
Dr. Pamela Weathers has joined the Arkansas Bioscience Institute (ABI) at Arkansas State University as the first director of the Molecular Biosciences (MBS) Doctoral Program, the newest doctoral program approved for ASU. Dr. Weathers was also named as the inaugural Judd Hill Distinguished Chair of Agricultural Biotechnology in the College of Agriculture. Dr. Weathers is currently on leave for two years from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA where she is a Professor in Biology and Biotechnology. WPI is one of the leading engineering schools in the country, and Dr. Weathers has built an impressive program of research involving the production of secondary metabolites from plant tissues and cells grown in bioreactors. She arrived at ASU on a full-time basis in January, 2007. According to Dr. Carole Cramer, the Director of the ABI, "Dr. Weathers' background is an ideal fit with the mission of ABI and the MBS, both of which are focused on the interface between agriculture and medicine. Her experience and skills with mentorship of graduate students will be invaluable in building this new doctoral program, and her research strengths will lead to the development of an ongoing collaborative research program with WPI" and other programs around the country. Dr. Greg Phillips, Dean of the Colleges of Agriculture, Science and Mathematics, and Engineering echoed that Dr. Weathers brings a wealth of expertise to ASU. "Dr. Weathers knows what it takes to launch an effective doctoral program, and she will be a tremendous asset to ASU. Her name recognition nationally and internationally in the scientific community will do justice to the Judd Hill Foundation and the College of Agriculture as the Judd Hill Distinguished Chair of Agricultural Biotechnology. In addition, she will help us build bridges between the College of Engineering and ABI." The new MBS program is the second interdisciplinary and cross-college doctoral program housed in the College of Sciences & Mathematics. (Modified from the Arkansas State University website)