As the president of the Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists/ Société Canadienne de
Physiologie Végétale I am pleased to welcome you to visit our website. The CSPP/ SCPV
was founded on Oct 27th, 1958, during the 9th Conference of Plant Physiology held at
the NRC Prairie Regional Laboratory in Saskatoon. At its founding, the goal of the
society was to encourage research and education in the field of Plant Physiology and
its application. While the name of the society reflects this goal, the research of CSPP’s
members has expanded to include the use of the latest molecular and genomic tools to
investigate the function of plant communities, whole plants, tissues and cells.
We find ourselves after 50 years to be a robust and active organization, with a good
membership base. This positive outlook is not only based on the membership numbers,
but it is reflected in the diversity of experience that members have with the society.
Our membership includes founding and emeritus members, members like me who have been
with the society for the length of their scientific career (over 30 years) and new
student members. This mix of experience is really the best indication that the society
has been able to effectively reinvent itself to include new developments in plant science
and yet remain true to the founding principles that continue to engage those who started
many years ago.
The history of the society is recounted in two excellent documents available on our
website under the archive section
(http://www.cspp-scpv.ca/archives-e.shtml). The first
article entitled "CSPP- The first 25 years" was written by Paul Gorman and RGS Bidwell.
The second was written by our current archivist, Constance Nozzolillo. I am grateful for
the enormous efforts that these members put into preserving our history.
We celebrate the research achievements of our members by awarding a number of prizes
including the Gold Medal for outstanding published contributions, or for distinguished
service to plant physiology. The winners of these awards have established international
reputations spanning a broad range of research subjects in plant biology
(http://www.cspp-scpv.ca/awards-e.shtml).
I would encourage all CSPP members to nominate their colleagues for these important awards.
Our annual and regional meetings are excellent places for students, postdoctoral fellows
and professional scientists to report their research results and make important career
connections and establish collaborations. The quality of the research reported in poster
and oral presentations has been consistently outstanding.
The CSPP/SCPV has strong ties with related national and international organizations.
Through Plant Canada we network with several other societies that share a common interest
in the plant sciences. We also meet regularly with the American Society of Plant Biologists
and are already planning the 2010 joint meeting in Montreal with that organization.
The work of the society is done by a large group of volunteers. I am grateful for the
willingness of the members of the executive and the various committees that continue to make
this a vital and vibrant society.
As we launch into the next 50 years I wish everyone success with their science and
scientific collaborations.
