These competitive awards are presented in recognition of outstanding performance in oral and poster presentations by students presenting research on plant growth regulation at the annual meeting. The Outstanding Paper and Poster Awards, which have been presented at the annual meeting since 1992, consists of a $250 payment and an award certificate highlighting the accomplishment. The awards underscore Valent BioSciences commitment to the field of plant growth regulation. Valent BioSciences and the Plant Growth Regulation Society of America encourage all interested graduate students to participate at the annual meeting.

Competitive awards have been established and will be offered for the 36th annual meeting of the Plant Growth Regulation Society of America August 2-6, 2008 in Asheville, North Carolina. These awards will provide funding to assist with graduate student expenses associated with registration and travel in conjunction with the annual meeting.

The 2008 winners:

VALENT BIOSCIENCES AWARDS

These awards, sponsored at the level of $250 by Valent BioSciences, recognize the best student poster and the best student oral presentations at the Annual Meeting of the Plant Growth Regulation Society of America. The 2008 student presentations were given as oral and poster presentations and awards were presented at the annual business meeting in San Francisco.

2008 Student Paper Award:

Vanessa Bremer and her advisor Dr. Carlos Crisosto for their paper entitled "Evaluating Ethephon as a Tool to Reduce Breba Crop Load on Ficus carica" by V. Bremer, M. Norton, T. Einhorn and C.H. Crisosto.

2008 Student Poster Award:

Eduardo M. Kawakami and his advisors Dr. Derrick Oosterhuis and Dr. John Snider, from the University of Arkasas-Fayetteville, for their poster entitled "Effect of 1-MCP on Ethylene Synthesis, Development and Physiology of Cotton Flowers Under Normal and High Temperature.".