Plant Genomes in a Changing Environment

We are delighted to announce the first conference on Plant Genomes in a Changing Environment. This meeting will bring together plant scientists working on the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, on populations in their natural environment as well as crop species. It will provide a forum to discuss recent advances in plant genome biology aiming at the elucidation of gene function and networks, natural and induced variation and their implications in agricultural breeding programmes.

There is increased recognition of the role of plant sciences in addressing some of the most critical global challenges, such as environmental change and food security. Plant science lies at the centre of these challenges by providing the fundamental research required to produce healthier foods, adapt to and mitigate climate change, protect biodiversity and achieve this through the sustainable intensification of agriculture. The use of whole genome data has enabled researchers across different areas to drive the understanding of plant development and evolution and their potential contributions to a sustainable agriculture.

The conference will showcase the application of genomic techniques to understand genomes and how they vary across changing environments. It will provide a platform for the transfer of knowledge of diverse plant systems that differ in their ecology, physiology, genomic complexity and the tools that are available for research and aims to connect researchers from academia and industry.

* Image credit: Jason Wallace

Conference poster

Download the poster for Plant Genomes in a Changing Environment 2018 to share with your colleagues!

Download poster (850 KB)

The conference will start at approximately 1pm on Wednesday 24 October and close at approximately 2pm on Friday 26 October 2018.

Scientific sessions:

• Structural Variation and Pan Genomes
• Artificial Variation and Gene Editing
• Epigenetic Variation
• Natural Variation and Ancient Genomes
• Regulatory Variation and Systems Biology
• Novel Technologies for Genome Analysis

Scientific programme committee

Joy Bergelson
University of Chicago, USA

Cristobal Uauy
John Innes Centre, UK

Michele Morgante
University of Udine, Italy

Keynote speakers

Caroline Dean
John Innes Centre, UK

Sally Aitken
University of British Columbia, Canada

Confirmed speakers

Isabel Bäurle – University of Potsdam, Germany
Youssef Belkhadir – Gregor Mendel Institute Vienna, Austria
Etienne Bucher – INRA, France
Hernan Burbano – Max Planck Institute Tübingen, Germany
Benjamin Brachi – INRA, France
Tetsuya Higashiyama – Nagoya University, Japan
Claudia Köhler – Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
Nick Loman – University of Birmingham, UK
Anne Osbourn – John Innes Centre, UK
Eric Schranz – Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Esther van der Knaap – University of Georgia, USA
John Vogel – University of California, Berkeley, USA
Doreen Ware – Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, USA

Scientific Conferences Team:

Nicole Schatlowski, Scientific Programme Officer
Jemma Beard, Conference and Events Organiser

Registration Fees:

The registration fee includes entrance to the lectures and poster sessions, an abstract book, meals (lunch and dinner) and refreshments during the conference. Breakfast will be provided for delegates who have booked accommodation.

Registration deadline: 25 September 2018

Accommodation
Accommodation is provided for the nights of 24 and 25 October 2018.
Please note: there is limited onsite accommodation and this will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, early registration is recommended.

If you wish to book onsite accommodation either side of the conference dates, please contact the Conference Centre directly.

Travel visas
Contact the conference organiser if you require a letter to support a travel visa application. Please note: letters will only be provided to confirmed registrants.

Non-European Economic Area or Swiss nationals may be required to have a visa to enter the UK. Early application is strongly advised, as this process can take 6-8 weeks or longer.

Please visit the following websites for further information:
UK Border Agency website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/

Information for general visitors and business visitors: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/visiting/business/business-activities/

A limited number of registration bursaries are available for PhD students to attend this conference (up to 50% of the registration fee) from Wellcome Genome Campus Scientific Conferences.

To apply, please contact the conference organiser. You will be sent a unique registration link which will hold your place, without taking payment, until you have been notified of the outcome of your application.
The following documents will need to be provided as part of the bursary application:

• Abstract (to be submitted via the portal during the registration process)
• CV
• A justification letter (explain how you will benefit from attending the conference)
• A supporting letter from supervisor stating financial need

Bursary deadline: 14 August 2018

Additional funding opportunities
Visit our support page for additional financial support currently available.

We welcome abstracts from all areas relevant to the main themes of the meeting, for both oral and poster presentations. Several oral presentations will be chosen from the abstracts submitted.

• • Abstracts will be considered from registered delegates, who have paid the registration fee
  • The presenting author must submit the abstract
  • All abstracts must be submitted by the relevant deadline
  • Registered delegates are permitted to submit up to two abstracts
  • Please use our online abstract submission system
  • Abstracts can be edited via the website up until the abstract deadline

Abstract deadline: 18 September 2018

Please note you will not receive a separate email when your abstract has been submitted. To confirm that your abstract has been received, go to ‘my basket’ and view ‘my account’. You will see the abstract document if it has been submitted correctly.