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From Tsunamis to Turf Wars: Hot Topics Take Center Stage at Annual Meetings of Weed Science Societies

Upcoming annual meetings of the Weed Science Society of America and its sister scientific societies in the U.S. and Canada will tackle a wide range of topics – from invasive species spread by the 2011 tsunami in Japan to turf wars involving the use of herbicides to battle weeds.

Five annual meetings are scheduled throughout the winter and spring. They are expected to draw hundreds of scientists, students, educators and others interested in sustainable weed management practices and the conservation of our natural resources.

North Central Weed Science Society (www.ncwss.org), December 9-12, 2013.

The society will meet in Columbus, Ohio, in a joint meeting with the Midwest Invasive Plant Network and the Ohio Invasive Plants Council. Two symposia are planned as part of the meeting – one on invasive plants and another on technology tools and communication trends for weed scientists.

Northeastern Weed Science Society (www.newss.org), January 6-9, 2014.

The theme of the society’s meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is “New Innovations in Weed Management.” Speakers from academia, industry and the U.S. Department of Agriculture will lead a symposium on emerging technologies and approaches to finding new tools for weed control. More than 100 presentations and poster sessions are planned on weed management and on the ecology and biology of weeds.

Southern Weed Science Society (www.swss.ws), January 27-30, 2014.

The society’s meeting in Birmingham, Alabama will feature a symposium on balancing life and career and a full agenda of research papers and posters.

Weed Science Society of America (www.wssa.net) and Canadian Weed Science Society (www.weedscience.ca), February 3-6, 2014.

A special joint meeting of the WSSA and CWSS will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia. Sam Chan, Ph.D., an Oregon State University expert in aquatic invasive species and aquatic ecosystem health, will discuss invasive plants and organisms spread by the 2011 tsunami in Japan. Tons of debris were swept into the ocean and carried across the Pacific, including concrete and steel docks that came ashore in the U.S. Scientists have identified a number of invasive species attached to the structures, including Asian brown seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida). In addition to Chan’s keynote, four symposia are planned:

  • Turf Wars and the Emergence of Pesticide Bans in Canada and the U.S.
  • Bioherbicides: Current Status and the Future Prospects
  • Addressing Global Herbicide Resistance Issues
  • Vulnerability of the Pacific Northwest to Plant Invasions

Western Society of Weed Science (www.wsweedscience.org), March 10-13, 2014.

This meeting will feature speakers from the U.S. Air Force Academy, who will discuss the integrated, multifaceted control strategies they’ve adopted to manage weeds across a wide range of land uses. A symposium is planned on the biology and management of invasive toadflax in the Western U.S. Toadflax, which spreads aggressively and out-competes desirable plants, is a growing problem with limited options for effective control. The meeting will be held in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

About the Weed Science Society of America

The Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit scientific society, was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their impact on the environment. The Weed Science Society of America promotes research, education and extension outreach activities related to weeds, provides science-based information to the public and policy makers, fosters awareness of weeds and their impact on managed and natural ecosystems, and promotes cooperation among weed science organizations across the nation and around the world.  For more information, visit www.wssa.net.