Time: Saturday, October 21, 2017
Location: BSRB D. Dan and Betty Kahn Auditorium
Program:
8 – 9am: Breakfast & Registration
9 – 9:15am: Introduction
9:15 – 10:30am: Session I: Green Life Sciences
Plant epigenetics
Andrzej Wierzbicki
Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan
Green life science from a DoD lab perspective: biomaterials and biodeterioration
Wendy Goodson
Air Force Research Lab, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
Can character displacement play an important role in the evolution of root traits of closely related plant species?
Sara Colom (Gina Baucom Lab)
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan
A conserved protein modification with multiple functions in different plants
Cora MacAlister
Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan
How viruses evict close relatives, and why?
Feng Qu
Department of Plant Pathology, Ohio State University
10:30 – 10:45am: Coffee Break
10:45 – 12pm: Session II: Plants & Food Systems
Today’s agriculture in society
Sasha Preuss
Monsanto Company
Golden rice, GM activism and ‘crimes against humanity’
Aniket Aga
School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan
Functional traits in agroecosystems: managing plant diversity for multifunctionality
Jennifer Blesh
School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan
Effects of species and location on Coffea spp. leaf litter decomposition in Chiapas, Mexico
Lauren Schmitt (Ivette Perfecto Lab)
School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan
Broccoli as a functional food to eliminate cancer stem cells
Duxin Sun
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan
12 – 1:30pm: Lunch*
1:30 – 2:30pm: Session III: Green Life Science Research & Teaching
Phylogenetics, computational genomics, and plant evolution
Stephen Smith
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan
Botanical discovery in the Amazon basin — role of the university herbaria
Chris Dick
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan
Challenges and opportunities of green life science education in liberal arts colleges: a case from Hope College
Jianhua Li
Biology Department, Hope College
Green life sciences at Matthaei-Nichols
David Michener
Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, University of Michigan
2:30 – 3:20pm: Panel Discussion: Green Life Science Research, Teaching & Career Opportunities
Panelists: Cornelius Barry, Jennifer Blesh, Steve Clark, Chris Dick, Wendy Goodson, Jianhua Li, Cora MacAlister, Sasha Preuss
3:20 – 4pm: Reception*
4 – 5pm: Keynote Speech
Plant science research, teaching, and training at Michigan State University
Cornelius Barry
Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University
*Poster Presentations: Lunch break and social mixer/reception