Gaining Insights from Evolution to Mitigate a Challenging Future

This long-standing Gordon Research Conference has been held on a triennial basis since 1976 and has served as a major, yet intimate, venue where scientists interested in all aspects of the "carbon-side" of photosynthesis discuss some of the most exciting and pressing issues facing the field. The Conference has strong international representation maintained in part by alternating between sites inside and outside the U.S. In 2014, we were pleased to have the inaugural Gordon Research Seminar for our GRC immediately preceding the main meeting, which provided a unique opportunity for post-docs and graduate students to network, present research, and interact with established scientists.

The 2014 GRC on CO₂ assimilation occurred shortly after the atmospheric CO₂ concentration passed the landmark value of 400 ppm and as effects of climate change have become more pronounced. Pressures on food and fuel supplies, and on ecosystem function are continually increasing, generating a growing recognition that understanding and improving photosynthesis is essential to address and mitigate these challenges. Major international initiatives to improve photosynthesis made this an exciting time for the field. Topics covered at the meeting included fundamental research on photosynthesis, including the regulation, partitioning, and engineering of carbon assimilation, and an understanding of environmental impacts on function over multiple through time scales. Approaches ranged from post-genomic technologies and systems biology through fundamental biochemistry, physiology and molecular biology integrated within ecological and agronomic contexts. Conferees ranged from beginning graduate students and postdoctoral associates to leading senior plant scientists. A number of "hot off the press" findings by both established and early career scientists were chosen from the submitted abstracts.