Conference: 2026 Salt and Water Stress in Plants GRC and GRS: Multi-Scale Mechanisms of Stress Resistance Leading to Agriculture and Ecosystem Insight; May 24-29, 2026 Switzerland

Changes in precipitation have fundamentally altered water availability across the United States and much of the planet. Coupled with rising land and atmospheric temperatures, soil drying is enhanced through increased evaporation, plant water loss, and a rise in soil salinity. More frequent extreme weather events also disrupt agricultural systems and ecosystems. This international Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Symposium on salt and water stress in plants will directly address these challenges by bringing in experts in plant stress biology to discuss advances and challenges. The conference proposal aligns with the current NSF priorities in biotechnology and provides researchers and students from the USA an opportunity to showcase and discuss advances in the field that have broader impacts and benefit society, including global food security, ecosystem stability, and human well-being. Simultaneously, activities focused on networking and professional development will engage early-career researchers and students, thus strengthening the scientific workforce needed to address these challenges.

The conference has three primary objectives: (i) Support the sharing of cutting-edge ideas and research on plant responses to water and salt stress; (ii) Facilitate and support collaborations and interaction between researchers conducting basic and translational research that advances biotechnology applications on enhancing stress resilience in crops; (iii) Broaden participation of all scientists in science and engineering, mentor and provide intellectual opportunities to junior and early career scientists. Travel awardees from institutions in the USA will share their research through oral or poster presentations, learn and synthesize information gathered by participating in various symposiums and professional development workshops.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

Award Number: 2611584
Principal Investigator: Siobhan Brady
Funds Obligated: $14,820
State: RI