North American Arabidopsis Steering Committee

A primary function of the organization is to organize and secure funding for (typically from government grants and sponsors) the annual International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (ICAR) when it is held in North America. The ICAR is currently on a 3 year rotation schedule so that it is held in North America once every 3 years. ICAR 2021 was scheduled for 2020, postponed due to Covid. ICAR 2021-Virtual had 1000 attendees. ICAR promotes rapid exchange of information among students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty & other professional scientists of the latest plant science information. The science conference also serves as an important forum for students & pre-professionals to highlight their research & education & take part in professional & educational development activities. The conference attendance ranges from approximately 500 to over 1,500 people, and is open to the international community of people (including the public) that may wish to attend and learn and share plant biology research and education advances/information. As part of the ICAR, the organization provides funding to a subset of invited speakers, particularly junior faculty that may lack significant travel funds. The organization also provides significant support to students & postdoctoral scholars, and groups that are under-represented in US science, as part of its mission to promote diversity and access within the scientific community. In 2021, NAASC provided support for ICAR participation for 276 (50 students, 67 postdocs, 54 junior faculty, 85 senior faculty, 20: others)

The organization serves as a liaison between members of the research community and government and not-for-profit granting agencies, and provides representation of the research community to service facilities such as the Arabidopsis Biological Resource Center (ABRC), which was established at Ohio State University in September 1991. The mission of ABRC is to acquire, preserve, and distribute seed and DNA resources that are useful to the Arabidopsis Research community. Additional groups that the organization has provided representation to includes:The Multinational Arabidopsis Steering Committee (MASC)- global plant scientist collaborations on Arabidopsis, the model plant. The Plant Science Research Network: the purpose of PSRN, established in 2015, is to further collaboration and coordination among various plant science groups to develop new funding and research priorities across the plant sciences. ROOT & SHOOT Initiative with the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB). Changing Cultures & Climates Initiative with the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB). The International Arabidopsis Informatics Consortium.

Another primary function of the organization is to support North American plant science activities involving research and education (often in cooperation and collaboration with international scientists). This support occurs in three major ways: (1) leading program and initiative development, including seeking governmental grants to fund projects; (2) participating in similar, related, and complementary activities to maintain and strengthen science ties; and (3) to provide advise or input when requested, from other groups and initiatives. Examples of how the organization carries out each of these: (1) Organization members previously secured a governmental grant from National Science Foundation to lead plant science activities including workshops, meetings, outreach efforts, and develop publications and other scholarly reports, and communicate w/public. 2) Members participate in workshops & other activities, including giving presentations, and/or co-authoring articles, with other groups. (3) The organization collaborates & gives input to related educational & scientific groups and societies in cooperation & support of domestic and global plant science initiatives.