On November 17, IS-MPMI launched Connect, a website where members and nonmembers can interact with one another to increase communication, collaboration, networking, and inclusion. The discussions on IS-MPMIConnect are guided by a phenomenal group of Ambassadors with diverse backgrounds and life experiences. On November 17, Connect hosted its first virtual discussion, which was centered on topics relating to early-career professionals. Discussions at the event were led by an excellent panel representing a broad range of experiences and research backgrounds, including Dr. Pooja Saxena (Medicago, manager of product discovery), Dr. Jacqueline Monaghan (Queen’s University, assistant professor), Dr. Kevin Cox Jr. (Danforth Center, HHMI Hanna Gray Fellow), Dr. Edel Perez-Lopez (Laval University, assistant professor), and Dr. Suayb Üstün (ZMBP Universität Tübingen, group leader). A second virtual discussion on Caregiving During a Pandemic was held on December 1, during which parents shared and exchanged tips on how best to cope with caregiving responsibilities during these challenging times. An event titled Embracing Diversity was held on December 14 and was hosted by Giles Oldroyd, Simona Radutoiu, Franck Ditengou, Ayooluwa Bolaji, Ariel Herrera, Patricia Baldrich, and Charles Roussin-Léveillée from the IS-MPMI Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. On January 20, we look forward to welcoming Dr. Elison Blancaflor (Noble Research Institute), who will discuss the science and techniques behind a few of his favorite microscopy images. If you have ideas or requests for future events, you can provide feedback on the Connect website.

The development of Connect was spearheaded by Allyson MacLean (University of Ottawa). You can read more about her motivation to create a forum to facilitate networking, collaboration, discussion, mentorship, and inclusion in her article in the last issue of Interactions. Ally recruited others to help synthesize Connect, including University of Ottawa undergraduate student Rinky Sharma, IS-MPMI President Mary Beth Mudgett, MPMI journal Editor-in-Chief Jeanne Harris, Interactions Editor-in-Chief Dennis Halterman, and IS-MPMI Board members Charles Roussin-Léveillée and Patricia Baldrich. The team worked quickly to implement Ally’s vision and brought with them a collection of meaningful viewpoints, visions, and suggestions. To highlight these viewpoints, all of the members of the team were asked, “How do you expect IS-MPMIConnect to impact you and others, both personally and professionally?”

Mary Beth Mudgett:

A major challenge our IS-MPMI society faces is gathering and engaging with the people in our field or on the periphery throughout the year, for many reasons. At our last congress, we heard loud and clear from our members that they want more opportunities for networking, sharing resources, mentorship, professional development, and space to discuss and act on diversity issues. Being remote and physically disconnected due to the pandemic magnified these desires. I see Connect as a vital platform to gather us and provide just-in-time content to reconnect, meet for the first time, and provide support during a time when we are all craving intellectual and social engagement. I also see Connect as a framework for IS-MPMI to innovate in its activities as a society and include more voices of colleagues worldwide. I am grateful for Ally reaching out with her ideas, as the realization of Connect is just that—a creative initiative from our community.

Allyson MacLean:

I am very much looking forward to the opportunities that IS-MPMIConnect will provide in terms of networking and collaborating within the IS-MPMI community, but also more broadly, within the plant biology community. In fact, I have already met many amazing individuals who have helped organize this initiative and who are acting as Ambassadors for IS-MPMIConnect. One area I am very keen to explore as a new professor is how best to promote diversity and inclusion in my research group, and also in my teaching; IS-MPMIConnect offers an excellent venue for these conversations. I am excited to see what the new year will bring!

Charles Roussin-Léveillée:

Although some of us work in very diverse environments, inclusiveness is not always there. This is often due to the fact that views on this issue diverge enormously between individuals. I expect IS-MPMIConnect to disseminate the vision of members and nonmembers of IS-MPMI on a wide range of issues to help start conversations on how to find solutions to create a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable society. On a personal level, I expect to learn more about common issues that are rarely discussed in our community. Professionally, I expect my personal learning to help me create an ideal work and living environment for members of all communities.

Rinky Sharma:

IS-MPMIConnect represents the social connections and support in which our scientific community should grow. Mentorship, group discussions, events, the passing on of knowledge—everything that makes science worth being a part of—IS-MPMIConnect will help the present we want to persist through and the future we want to create. Personally, I have been endlessly astounded by just the team itself. The perseverance, initiative, and genuine care experienced has shown to me that while difficult, academia is growing in wonderful ways that promises a bright future if nurtured. In my personal view, IS-MPMIConnect will provide a network for all, bringing scientists of all ages, countries, ethnicities, and genders together in the creation of something helpful and kind.

Patricia Baldrich:

Humans are social animals, and we all crave and love to feel valued by and connected with our community. Connections with other humans help us relieve stress and boost both our mental and physical health. IS-MPMIConnect, our newly created platform, will for sure help make new connections between people around the world who otherwise would be strangers. I expect that this platform will provide me, and others, the opportunity to meet and connect with people who not only have similar interests, but are also facing the same challenges—and this to me is invaluable. I look forward to giving and receiving advice and tips from colleagues and new friends.

Jeanne Harris:

As an international society, it’s always been hard to stay connected with colleagues. Conferences fill that gap and are wonderful opportunities for connection, but they are infrequent and not everyone can attend. The silver lining of the pandemic is that it’s forced us to think hard about what is important to us and to think outside the box. IS-MPMIConnect is a way for us to connect with colleagues around the world, finding people who share our particular interests and struggles and giving us a forum to interact. The online aspect means that people can participate across time zones, participating in discussions asynchronously or joining a Zoom panel to interact in a virtual face-to-face, despite enormous geographic distance. Also, because it’s free, IS-MPMIConnect promotes inclusion, providing opportunities for people around the world to join for whom the cost of meetings or international travel make attending an in-person meeting impossible. I am looking forward to meeting and connecting with people around the world on IS-MPMIConnect—see you there!

Dennis Halterman:

As an international organization, IS-MPMI members have always benefitted greatly from the society’s intellectually and experientially diverse membership, but I feel that we have struggled to promote meaningful interactions outside of the congress or those we collaborate with on a regular basis. I envision IS-MPMIConnect being somewhere members can discuss topics outside of science-y lab meetings, seminars, or conferences. Ideally, this will help everyone with personal growth, as they find and interact with others with similar interests, concerns, and goals. Professionally, Connect offers a platform for engagement, training, and networking that is accessible worldwide and throughout the year. I am looking forward to being a regular participant who will hopefully learn as much as I contribute.

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