Conference Description
The Salt and Water Stress in Plants GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes an array of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.
Drought and salinity, as well as other stress factors that alter plant water status, limit agricultural productivity and are major factors determining the fate of plant ecosystems. Despite increasing concern about these abiotic stresses, we have limited understanding of how plants sense and respond to changes in water status or salinity. This lack of knowledge restricts the use of tools such as gene editing to optimize plants for future agriculture where water supply is limited and may become less predictable. Better understanding of plant stress biology can also help predict how plant ecosystems will respond in the future. The 2026 Salt and Water Stress GRC will highlight recent advances in the fundamental biology of abiotic stress sensing and signaling along with whole plant water relations and physiology, roles of plant-associated microbes in abiotic stress resistance, and evolutionary adaptations to chronically dry or saline environments. We will also continue the ongoing discussion from recent Salt and Water Stress GRCs on how to best bridge gaps between fundamental to application-driven research and onward to plant improvement for the next decades and beyond. The program will include a mix of disciplines and mix of established and early career researchers.
The conference will consist of nine sessions, on the topics listed below. The conference chair is currently developing their preliminary program, which will include the names of the invited speakers and discussion leaders for each of these sessions. The preliminary program will be available by August 27, 2025. Please check back for updates.
