Keynote Speakers

Professor Keiko Sugimoto

RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science
Cell Function Research Team website
@K_Sugimoto_Lab

Professor Zachary Lippman

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Lippmann Lab website

Invited Speakers

Benjamin Blackman, UC Berkeley
Blackman Lab website

Devin O'Connor, Pairwise
Pairwise website

Caixia Gao, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Gao Lab website

Eric Giraud, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)
Plant Health Institute Montpellier

Jorge Dubcovsky, University of California Davis
Dubcovsky Lab

Jorge José Casal, Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura (IFEVA)

Website profile

Laura Moody, University of Oxford
Moody Lab website
BlueSky  |  X  | LinkedIn

Laura Ragni, Universität Freiburg
Website profile

Ross Sozzani, North Carolina State University
Website profile

Yuki Hirakawa, Hiroshima University
Hirakawa Research Group

Short Talk Speakers

Adil Khan, The University of Western Australia 
CRISPRi-based circuits for controlling gene expression in plants 

Alessandra Devoto, Royal Holloway University of London 
Analysis of chromatin landscape during drought and jasmonates treatment to increase plant fitness potential

Elena Salvi, University of Cambridge
Moving on from the foliar theory: Investigating the role of auxin and leaf-patterning genes during the development of the Hibiscus trionum petal pattern 

Giovanni Sena, Imperial College London 
Bioelectric patterns in plant tissue regeneration

Hatsune Morinaka, RIKEN 
Investigation of the cell fate reprogramming of differentiated cells: single-cell transcriptomics during shoot regeneration

Sabine Brumm, University of Cambridge
Exploiting conserved actin regulators to achieve pathogen resistance in barley through root remodelling

Ward Poelmans, Ghent University 
Parallel Paths: The Independent Adaptation of Ancestral Molecular Programs in Convergent Plant Root Evolution

Thomas H Dean, University of Warwick 
Identifying and understanding a novel genetic pathway controlling Axillary Meristem Induction in wheat

Anne Vatén, University of Helsinki 
Regulation of stomata production in seed plants

Flash Talk and Poster Presenters

Cloe de Luxán-Hernández, University of Copenhagen
From Defense to Healing: Mapping the Core Trio of Plant Resilience

Facundo Romani, University of Cambridge
The minimal cell-cycle regulation framework of Marchantia provides insights on the evolution of plants 

Maxwell R. Fishman, RIKEN
RGF peptides and their cognate receptors play a role in Phtheirospermum japonicum haustorium development 

Róisín Fattorini, University of Oxford
The molecular mechanisms underlying leaf vein development in maize (Zea mays) and rice (Oryza sativa)  

Meenu Kapoor, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
Molecular Insights into Stress Adaptations in the Moss Physcomitrium patens

Jeppe Ansbøl, University of Copenhagen
Autophagy-assisted cellular reprogramming enables pluripotency acquisition and maintenance in Arabidopsis

Ju Young Bang, Seoul National University
Molecular Basis of Plastic Flower Development in Seasonal Cleistogamy of Viola

Kumud Saini, University of Cambridge
Warming up to rush to exit: Leaf development reprogrammed 

Sarah Guiziou, Earlham Institute
Integrase circuits to elucidate and engineer plant development

Yordan Dolaptchiev, The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL)
Efficient targeted Gene Insertions in Diploid Potatoes 

Prakash Kumar Bhagat, Durham University
Efficient targeted Gene Insertions in Diploid Potatoes

Poster Presenters

Key Dates

• 29 March: Registrations open
• 29 April: Abstract submission deadline
• 13 May: Talk and poster acceptance notifications sent out
• 04 August: In-person and online standard attendance registration payment deadline
• 26 August: In-person late attendance registration payment deadline
• 16 September: Online late attendance registration and payment deadline

Abstract submissions are now closed

Abstract Submissions

We particularly welcome abstract submissions from early career researchers, women, people from ethnic groups underrepresented in science and/or resource-limited countries as they are currently under-represented in scientific research meetings. We will be promoting our Symposium to a diversity of research institutions and countries. If you know of any people, research groups or institutions you think would be interested in presenting a short talk and/or poster, please share this website with them or contact us at sls@slcu.cam.ac.uk.

Options for participating 

You can submit an abstract as part of the registration process. Abstracts submitted by people who have not registered will not be considered.

You must submit a 250-word maximum abstract if you wish to be considered for presenting a short talk, flash talk or poster. 

• Short Talk: 15-minute talk

• Flash Talk & Poster: 3-minute talk and poster presentation 

• Poster Only: poster presentation

Important points for submitting an abstract: 

• Make sure you download the abstract template (.docx, 13.8KB)
• Follow the formatting and 250 word limit. 
• Name your abstract file as your full name as used when publishing scientific papers. 
• Your topic should broadly align to the symposium theme Development Reprogrammed. 
• Abstracts may not be edited/updated after they are submitted. 
• Your abstract should be submitted in English. 
• Please only submit one abstract. 
• The submitting author will receive all correspondence about the abstract so we advise that the presenting author is the person who submits the abstract. 
• Submission of an abstract acknowledges your acceptance for the abstract to be published in the official symposium publications. 
• The presenting author must ensure that all co-authors have approved the abstract content and to its submission to be presented. 

Confirmation of abstract submission 

Your abstract is not successfully submitted until you receive a confirmation email after clicking the final submit button as part of the registration process. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact us at sls@slcu.cam.ac.uk. 

Notification that your abstract has been accepted 

Each abstract will be reviewed by the Symposium Coordinators. Notification of acceptance or rejection of submitted abstracts will be sent to applicants via email by Monday 13th May 2024. Full instructions concerning talk and poster presentations will be sent to presenters.

Instructions for Poster Presenters

If you are selected to present a poster, please bear the following in mind:

Please ensure you have the consent of all contributors to your poster to share the information on it and that you have appropriate copyright permissions in place. 

Please indicate any preference for a specific poster session time (lunchtime or evening).

Your poster should be portrait orientation and B1 size (707 x 1000mm / 27.83 x 39.37 inches). We will provide poster boards and velcro dots for your use. 

Here are some suggestions for creating accessible, engaging posters: 

https://guides.library.yale.edu/academic-poster-resources/accessibility

OSF | Better Scientific Poster

On-site facilities for children and carers

We have a number of onsite facilities and resources to support attendees and their families. While we are not able to provide on-site childcare, we have a dedicated family room and private lactation room with refrigerator for milk storage - both accessible at any time and located very close to the auditorium. We also provide a number of baby/toddler furniture items, such as highchairs, toilet seat and changing table.

Please contact events@slcu.cam.ac.uk if you have any questions or suggestions for ways that we can support you during the event. 

Junior Delegates

Children will be issued with a Junior Delegate pack including a name badge (first name only, with emergency contact details on the back) and some activities that they might enjoy. Children must be accompanied by a parent or carer at all times.

Family Room (Darwin Room)

A multi-use room will be a dedicated space for families to use during the day. This room has soft lounges, table and chairs, soft floor coverings and is a suitable space for carers to use when supervising young children or for childminders/partners/carers to use while the event is in progress. 

There are also baby changing facilities, toddler toilet seat and highchairs available on site.

Lactation

Breastfeeding is welcome in all public areas of the building. We also provide a private room for nursing and pumping with a separate fridge for milk storage. 

Access to the Botanic Garden

The Lab is surrounded by the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, a traffic free area with a café. Please contact the conference organisers so we can arrange for free access to the Garden for your partner/childminder during the conference.

Suggested activities for children

We are gathering ideas and suggestions from local families and will list nearby parks, activities and child friendly cafes and restaurants on this page closer to the date of the conference. 

Local Attractions

Please find below links to a number of family-friendly attractions within walking distance of the symposium or accessible by public transport.

University of Cambridge Museums and Botanic Garden

• Cambridge University Botanic Garden
• Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
• The Fitzwilliam Museum
• Museum of Zoology
• Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
• Museum of Classical Archaeology
• Kettle's Yard
• The Polar Museum
• Whipple Museum of the History of Science

Centre for Computing History

Cambridge Ice Arena

Cambridge Outdoor Market

Cambridge Science Centre

Cherry Hinton Hall Park (duck ponds)

Nene Valley Railway (home to Thomas)

Sheep's Green (play park)

Getting to Cambridge

Train

The city of Cambridge is easily accessible by train, with the primary station located about a mile from the city centre, which takes approximately 20 minutes on foot. The Sainsbury Laboratory is located only 1 km, or 0.6 of a mile, from Cambridge Station.

For train schedules and ticket reservations, visit National Rail Enquiries or Trainline.

Driving 

There is no car parking available at SLCU other than two spaces reserved for those who require disabled access. If you are planning to drive to Cambridge, we recommend you either book accommodation that includes parking or use the Park & Ride scheme. If you need to park in the area, full-day pay and display parking is available at the Cambridge Rail Station and Trumpington Road (0.3 miles). For more information, please visit www.cambridge.gov.uk/parking.

Bus

Local bus services usually run to/from Cambridge bus station in Drummer Street, and/or the adjacent Emmanuel Street and St Andrew’s Street. There are frequent buses from the railway station to the city centre.

The 'U' Universal bus service bus service runs from Eddington, next to the Madingley Road Park and Ride site, through to our Biomedical Campus from Monday to Saturday, and from Eddington to Cambridge Railway Station on Sundays.

Creating an inclusive and respectful meeting

Professional and respectful etiquette

We are looking forward to many productive and invigorating discussions at the Sainsbury Laboratory Symposium. In order to create a space that fosters open dialogue and where everyone feels welcomed, respected and safe we expect that all Symposium participants will treat others with consideration and professionalism.  Discrimination, intimidation, hostile conduct and all other forms of harassment will not be tolerated. 

To help create a meeting that welcomes free expression of ideas, please: 

• Listen to the contributions of everyone with respect and appreciation. 
• Be open to other participants’ opinions. Critique ideas, not people. 
• Give feedback constructively and with kindness. 
• Share your thoughts and be mindful that time is limited and others may wish to speak.

Positive action

We are working to provide a Symposium where everyone can participate. We acknowledge that science in general and this conference in particular do not reflect the true diversity of the global plant science community. We are taking the following actions:

• Actively promoting the Symposium as a platform to present their work to scientists around the world and in particular targeting institutions and countries that are underrepresented in scientific research meetings.
• Establishing an abstract review committee of early career scientists (students and postdoctorates).
• Collecting optional demographic data of participants who register to present at and attend our Symposium. The purpose of these questions is to assist with diversifying speakers in sessions & engaging non-traditional speakers including the prioritisation of balanced demographics in speakers. This will also enable the Symposium organisers to determine if their outreach and dissemination efforts are effective.
• Presenters will have the option to have their presentations be made public after the symposium so that their content can reach a larger audience.
• Providing a multi-use family space for carers, lactation room, gender neutral toilets, and accessible spaces.
• Providing a neuro-inclusive evironment, for example providing hybrid attendance options for everyone at any stage of the symposium, providing a quiet room that provides a respite from the meeting while still offering the opportunity to listen in on sessions with headphones, offering priority access to refreshments and meals and asking in-person delegates to minimise the use of perfume and other scented products.
• Accessible auditorium, with flexible seating options (fixed seating, bench seats, free-standing chairs and designated wheelchair spaces) and provision of an audio induction loop system.
• Asking delegates at registration to identify ways that the Sympoisum can be made more readily accessible to them and making changes in response.

If you have any comments of questions regarding the Symposium EDI initiatives, please contact sls@cam.ac.uk.