Federation of European Societies of Plant Biology

Federation of European Societies of Plant Biology
Name	Federation of European Societies of Plant Biology
Abbreviation	FESPB
Formation	1978
Type	Professional association
Region served	Europe
Membership	National and thematic societies

Federation of European Societies of Plant Biology is a pan-European umbrella organization that coordinates national and thematic Botanical Societys, Plant Physiology groups and research institutes across Europe and associated countries. It provides a forum linking societies such as the British Ecological Society, Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft, Société Française de Physiologie Végétale, and networks connected to institutions like the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Max Planck Society, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, and the European Molecular Biology Organization. The federation acts alongside international bodies including the International Society for Plant Pathology, the Society for Experimental Biology, the American Society of Plant Biologists, and regional organizations such as the Nordic Society Oikos to promote research, training, and policy engagement.

History

The federation was founded in the late 20th century during a period of expansion in European science when organizations like the European Molecular Biology Organization, the European Science Foundation, and the European Research Council were shaping transnational collaboration. Early meetings involved representatives from national societies including the Italian Botanical Society, the Dutch Botanical Society, and the Polish Botanical Society, and were influenced by research programs at the European Commission and institutions such as the John Innes Centre and University of Cambridge. Over subsequent decades the federation responded to developments in molecular biology at laboratories like the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research and field research traditions at sites such as the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and collaboration with projects associated with the Horizon 2020 framework and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

Organization and Membership

Governance is conducted through an elected council and officers drawn from member societies, with links to academic departments at universities like the University of Oxford, the University of Wageningen, and the ETH Zurich. Member bodies include national societies such as the Spanish Society of Plant Physiology, the Portuguese Society of Plant Physiology, and thematic groups oriented around subfields represented at institutes like the John Innes Centre, the Sainsbury Laboratory, and the Institute of Molecular Biology (Jena). Collaboration extends to botanical gardens such as Kew Gardens and museums like the Natural History Museum, London, and to funding and policy partners including the European Commission and the Wellcome Trust.

Activities and Programs

The federation organizes training schools, workshops, and grants to support early-career researchers affiliated with centers such as the University of Helsinki, the University of Barcelona, and the University of Zurich. Programs emphasize areas studied at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Physiology, including photosynthesis research linked to work at the Royal Society and climate-related projects interacting with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the European Environment Agency. It runs collaborative initiatives with societies like the American Society of Plant Biologists and networks such as the Global Plant Council, promoting mobility through schemes analogous to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and cooperative grants resembling those of the European Research Council.

Conferences and Meetings

The federation convenes biennial congresses that attract delegations from societies including the German Botanical Society, the French Society of Plant Biology, and the Italian Society for Plant Biology, often held at venues associated with universities like the University of Vienna, the University of Copenhagen, or research centers such as the European Molecular Biology Laboratory. These meetings feature keynote speakers from institutions like the John Innes Centre, the Max Planck Society, and the Sainsbury Laboratory, and foster satellite meetings with groups such as the Society for Experimental Biology and the International Congress of Plant Molecular Biology.

Publications and Communications

Communications include newsletters, congress proceedings, and coordinated thematic reports disseminated to the membership network comprising societies like the British Ecological Society, the Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft, and the Polish Botanical Society. The federation partners with scholarly publishers and journals associated with organizations such as the Royal Society, the European Molecular Biology Organization, and specialist titles linked to the Society for Experimental Biology and the American Society of Plant Biologists to circulate research highlights and policy briefs to institutions including the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Natural History Museum, London.

Awards and Recognition

The federation administers prizes and travel fellowships that support researchers from member societies including the Spanish Society of Plant Physiology, the Italian Botanical Society, and the Portuguese Society of Plant Physiology, honoring work conducted at centers like the Max Planck Institute for Plant Physiology, the John Innes Centre, and the Sainsbury Laboratory. Awardees often proceed to receive broader recognition from entities such as the European Research Council, the Royal Society, and international bodies like the American Society of Plant Biologists.

Category:Plant biology organizations Category:Scientific societies in Europe