2025 July 28th to August 1st – San Juan, Puerto Rico, main event will be at Inter American University of Puerto Rico Metro Campus and the closing banquet will be at Barranquitas campus.

(10) Nuevas Residencias Estudiantiles Inter Metro / New Inter Metro Student Residences - YouTube

Prepare for an unparalleled gathering of scientific discovery and collaboration! PSA 2025 will take place in Puerto Rico from July 28th to August 1st, 2024, hosted by the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Barranquitas and Metro campuses. This event promises an immersive exploration of innovative ideas, groundbreaking research, and dynamic discussions, bridging the micro and macro worlds of algal science.

Deadline of Call for Abstracts is extended to May 16th.

·       Meeting Registration and Abstract Submission

Register and submit your abstract: Meeting Registration & Abstract Submission

·       Field Trip Sign-Up

Explore Puerto Rico’s rainforests, labs, or coral reefs!

Reserve your spot: Field Trip Registration

·       Housing Registration – NOW OPEN!

Stay on-site for just $88 per person/night

Ø  Early check-in: Friday, July 25, 2025

Ø  Check-out: Saturday, August 2, 2025

Secure your housing here: Housing Registration

·       Field Trip Sign-Up Reserve your spot: Field Trip Registration

PSA Abstract Preparation Guide

Because program abstracts are now being archived along with meeting websites, they have become a resource to be consulted by the phycological community. Thus, the Scientific Program Committee is resolved to pay close attention to all submitted abstracts. An abstract should be informative and representative of the presentation, emphasizing data and results rather than methodology. Abstracts containing text such as "...data will be presented..." or "...conclusions will be discussed..." will be returned to submitters for revision.

All abstracts must be in English, using metric units. Do not include illustrations, figures, or photos. Please prepare your abstracy, labeled the filename as (Last name)_(First & Middle initial)_(Presentation type) (e.g., Huang_IW_oral).

Adhere to the following format, as demonstrated in the Sample Abstract below. Submissions that do not follow this format will be returned to authors for revision or may be rejected for consideration in the Scientific Program.

Authorship

Please use initials only for authors’ first and middle names. If individuals are authors on multiple abstracts, please be consistent in the formatting of their names (i.e., use of middle initial, suffixes such as Jr., III, etc.). Include contact emails for all authors.

Title

The title of the abstract must be in ALL CAPS and must not exceed 160 characters (including spaces).

Abstract Body

The body of the abstract must adhere to a maximum count of 1600 characters (including spaces), exclusive of title and author citations.

Example

Huang, I., Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Center for Coastal Studies, United States, wade76924sci@gmail.com; Zimba, P. V., Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Center for Coastal Studies, United States, paul.zimba@tamucc.edu

CYANOBACTERIAL BIOACTIVE METABOLITES – IS THERE A BETTER SYSTEM FOR CLASSIFICATION

Cyanobacteria, such as Microcystis, can produce a large number of secondary metabolites. Odorous metabolites affect the smell and flavor of aquatic animals, whereas bioactive metabolites cause a range of lethal and sub-lethal effects in plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates, including humans. To date, cyanobacteria are known to produce over 150 classes of bioactive compounds; however, several classes shares similar structures, thereby confusing readers. A recent reanalysis reduced the current known 157 bioactive classes to 55 classes by the structure similarity and bioactivity. This reanalysis provided a basis for more formal procedures to adopt a logical naming system. This reanalysis is needed for management of water resources to effectively communicate risk of lesser known but highly abundant compounds by knowing the right class/activity associated with each compound.

More questions, please contact Wade Huang - wade76924sci@gmail.com.

Tentative Schedule

AWARDS AND COMPETITION
Hoshaw Travel Award — Phycological Society of America (psaalgae.org)
Bold Award — Phycological Society of America (psaalgae.org)
Lewin Poster Award — Phycological Society of America (psaalgae.org)
Please find other awards at Phycological Society of America (psaalgae.org)

Plenary Speakers

The conference features an exceptional lineup of distinguished speakers:

Dr. Sylvia Earle

Renowned as “Her Deepness,” Dr. Sylvia Earle is a trailblazing marine biologist and ocean advocate. A pioneer in SCUBA-based marine research, Earle has authored over 200 publications and led groundbreaking underwater missions, including the all-female Tektite II project. She was NOAA’s first female Chief Scientist and founded Mission Blue to promote marine conservation. A National Geographic Explorer, Earle remains a global voice for ocean preservation.

Dr. J. Mark Cock

Dr. J. Mark Cock, a research scientist at Roscoff Marine Station in France, has revolutionized brown algal research. He developed Ectocarpus as a genetic and genomic model, spearheading the sequencing of its genome and advancing genetic tools such as CRISPR-Cas9. His research has uncovered key insights into the Ectocarpus life cycle, chromatin dynamics, and sex chromosomes. Recently, he led the Phaeoexplorer project, generating 67 complete genomes and deepening our understanding of Phaeophyceae evolution.

Dr. Elisabeth Varga

Dr. Elisabeth Varga, assistant professor at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, specializes in Food and Environmental Analysis. Her research bridges analytical chemistry and toxicology, focusing on biotoxins and ichthyotoxic compounds from microalgae such as Prymnesium, Karlodinium, and Alexandrium. An expert in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, Dr. Varga explores the structure and action of these compounds to advance understanding of algal toxicity.

Dr. Arthur R. Grossman

Dr. Arthur R. Grossman, Staff Scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science and courtesy professor at Stanford University, is renowned for his contributions to plant biology and photosynthesis research. Leader of the groundbreaking Chlamydomonas genome project, Grossman has mentored over 50 students and postdocs, authored seminal publications, and received prestigious awards, including the Darbaker Prize and the Gilbert Morgan Smith Medal. He recently co-authored the Chlamydomonas Sourcebook (2023).

Mid-week, Wednesday, Workshops/Field Trips

Field Trip Sign-Up Reserve your spot: Field Trip Registration

1.         Adventure at El Yunque National Park

Explore El Yunque’s rainforest with Dr. Johansen and discover diverse algae species in their natural habitat. Learn about algae’s ecological roles, resilience, and adaptations while experiencing the unique environment shaped by time, water, and stone in this hands-on scientific adventure.

2.         From Lab to Life: Exploring Algae-Based Innovations

Begin with a guided tour of Dr. Liz Vazquez’s lab to explore how algae are transformed into sustainable products. Then, join artist and phycologist Jenny Gil to creatively use algae as natural pigments, crafting your own artwork at the intersection of science and art.

3.         Explore Puerto Rico’s Underwater Wonders: Snorkeling & Coral Restoration Tour

Join us for a guided snorkeling tour with Pure Adventure, led by a local marine biologist—gear provided! Explore marine life and optionally visit ISER Caribe’s coral reef restoration center. Wrap up with a relaxing stop at nearby cafés. Booking required for the restoration tour.

Join us for this extraordinary event, where science and collaboration will take center stage!

Wade Huang, Program Director - wade76924sci@gmail.com.

Get ready for a tidal wave of excitement! PSA 2024 is not just about algae; it’s about amplifying the enthusiasm with our protist pals! Brace yourselves because the PSA-ISOP-ISEP 2024 meeting in Seattle is a mega-event, bringing together the powerhouses of algae and protists. Our theme will be From Micro to Macro: Cultivating Resilience in Communities. Mark your calendars for July 29th to August 1st, 2024, as the Husky Union Building (HUB) at the University of Washington transforms into the epicenter of groundbreaking discussions. Be prepared to be immersed in an extravaganza of ideas, scientific revelations, and collaborative brainstorming sessions that transcend micro and macro worlds.

Scientific Program or Program at a Glance available now!

Registration is Open & Don’t Forget to Book Your Stay!!!

REGISTRATION FEES

·       Professionals: $525
·       Students: $300
·       Post-docs: $300
·       Indigenous Representatives/Affiliates: $300
·       Retirees: $300

IF YOU HAVE REGISTERD, PLEASE USE OUR APP AND ONLINE PLATFORM FOR OUR EVENT.

You can Download the Whova app to access the event:

• View the event agenda and plan your personal schedule.

• Access to documents and slides shared by organizers or speakers.

• Find who else is attending this event and reach out to people ahead of time.

• Plan some social activities such as a morning run, coffee hours, or meet-ups with your fellow attendees. You can even post job openings.

• Receive updates such as last minute session changes from the organizers.

ACCOMMODATION & LOGISTICS

Accommodation
Dormitory booking: Open now. https://washington.irisregistration.com/Form/5751

Regular: Sunday, July 28 – Friday, August 2, 2024
Package Rates (per person):
·       $541.63 Double Occupancy - Private Bathroom
·       $784.13 Single Occupancy - Private Bathroom

Early Arrival Housing: Friday, July 26, 2024.
Late Departure Housing: Sunday, August 4, 2024.
Rates (per person, per night):
·       $80.25 Double Occupancy - Private Bathroom
·       $128.75 Single Occupancy - Private Bathroom

Parking
Overnight parking is available near the residence halls. Complimentary parking is not available, and rates are subject to change without advance notice. Availability is limited and not guaranteed. Additional information regarding parking is available on the UW Transportation Services website.

Transportation
Getting to campus – Visit the UW (washington.edu)

LOOKING FOR SOME MEETING GOODIES?
Looking for the perfect event T-shirt or a sleek water bottle for our upcoming meeting? Look no further than the PSA Redbubble shop! Dive into a treasure trove of all-you-need items with unique graphic designs from past and present meetings. Click the link above or search for “PSAalgaeStore” on Redbubble.com to explore an array of cool merchandise ready for you to grab! Get geared up and make a statement at our event! When you are in our shop, select the design and you will be able to see all the products on offer - shirts, hats, stickers, notebooks, phone cases, and even pet bandanas.

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM
MORE INFORMATION AND COMPLETE SCHEDULE IS IN THE PROGRAM!

Letters for Acceptance have been forwarded.
Oral presentation, is scheduled for 10 minutes plus 2 minutes for questions.
Poster presentation, size should be 36” x 48” (90 x 120 cm2) and the orientation must be PORTRAIT.

For any inquiries or clarification, feel free to reach out to the Program Director.

Schedule, as of July 24, 2024

IDEA Symposium (Opening Ceremony)

Aqua Harmony: Empowering Indigenous Narratives on Water Quality

• Neil Harrington

• Rosa Hunter

Plenary Speakers

Presentation Title: HARMFUL MICROALGAE AND THEIR METABOLITES – DIVERSITY AND BIOACTIVITY, FROM AN ANTHROPOCENTRIC TO AN ECOLOGICAL VIEWPOINT AND BACK AGAIN

Dr. Philipp Hess has trained as an analytical chemist with a BSc from Saarbrücken University (1990, DE) and a Master's degree from Strasbourg School of Polymers & Chemistry (1993, ECPM, FR). After his Ph.D. on planar aromatic and halogenated pollutants in the Marine Environment at Marine Scotland (1998, Aberdeen, UK), he specialized in microalgal toxins and their effects on marine and coastal socio-ecosystems, risk assessment, and management. He worked from 2001 – 2008 at the Marine Institute in Ireland to introduce chemical testing for azaspiracids and other lipophilic toxins. Since 2008, he has continued his research at the French Research Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea (Ifremer), where he currently leads a research unit on the physiology and toxins of harmful microalgae (30 permanent staff and 10 contractors and students). He also teaches a master's course on algal toxins at Nantes University and has supervised well over 30 undergraduate and 12 graduate students over the last 20 years. He has made over 450 scientific contributions of which 136 are papers in peer-reviewed journals. He is a member of the governing council of the International Society for the Study of Harmful Algae and chairs the FAO/IOC-UNESCO Intergovernmental Panel for Harmful Algal Blooms.

Presentation Title: SEAWEED MARICULTURE RESEARCH IN ALASKA

Dr. Michael Stekoll is an Emeritus Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Alaska Southeast and the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He received a BS in chemistry from Stanford and a PhD in biochemistry from UCLA. He has spent the last 40+ years in Alaska teaching university classes in chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, aquatic pollution, and phycology. His research interests have focused on two major areas: aquatic pollution effects on fish, invertebrates, and marine algae (seaweeds) and research on the mariculture of seaweeds. His lab has worked out the procedures for the successful mariculture of the kelps Macrocystis. Alaria, and Saccharina in Alaska. He and colleagues have researched the physiological ecology of several species of Alaskan Pyropia/Porphyra as it relates to future commercial production. Current focus is on applied research on kelp mariculture. The latest projects are investigating the mariculture of Saccharina latissima (sugar kelp), especially with respect to this species’ use in large-scale production for biofuels and the mariculture of Nereocystis luetkeana (bull kelp). He lives in Juneau with his wife Deborah Hansen. They have four, now adult, offspring: Justin, Skye, Spencer, and Kokii, and have accumulated seven grandchildren.

Presentation Title: THE ORIGIN AND EARLY EVOLUTION OF EUKARYOTES

Dr. Laura Eme’s primary research interests are in evolutionary microbiology. She has a strong background in bioinformatics and phylogenetics, and she has examined fundamental problems related to the origin, evolution, and genome biology of eukaryotes. She pursued my doctorate at Aix-Marseille University (France) under the supervision of Céline Brochier-Armanet, which she defended in 2011. She was then a postdoctoral fellow in Andrew Roger's lab (Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada) until 2016. In January 2017, she joined the group of Thijs Ettema (Microbial Diversity and Evolution group, Uppsala University, Sweden) as a Marie Curie Fellow for two years. Finally, since 2019, she has been a principal investigator in the DEEM team (Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Microbes; Ecology, Systematics, and Evolution Unit) at the Paris-Saclay University. Her broad interests in evolutionary biology are reflected in the diversity of topics she has addressed, including: (i) the archaeal ancestry of eukaryotes, (ii) the origin and evolution of mitochondria, (iii) the origin and evolution of key eukaryotic cellular systems (e.g. involved in cell division, membrane trafficking), (iv) the role of symbiosis and horizontal gene transfer in eukaryotic evolution, and (v) the age of major eukaryotic evolutionary transitions. She aims to answer these questions through a combination of top-down (from the eukaryotic perspective) and bottom-up (from the prokaryotic perspective) approaches. From a methodological perspective, she mainly combines classical approaches (protist isolation, culturing) with state-the-art sequencing, molecular evolution (ancestral sequence reconstruction, species tree/gene tree reconciliation, sophisticated phylogenomics), and structural bioinformatics (AlphFold, FoldSeek).

Presentation Title: STEALING AND DEALING: HOW EUKARYOTES LIVE WITHOUT OXYGEN

Dr. Courtney Stairs is an Associate Senior University Lecturer and Wallenberg Academy Fellow at the Biology Department at Lund University in Sweden since October 2020. After completing her PhD at Dalhousie University (Canada) in 2015 with Prof. Andrew Roger, Courtney took up a four-year post-doctoral research fellowship at Uppsala University with supervisor Prof. Thijs Ettema. Throughout her academic career, Dr. Stairs has studied how different marine and freshwater microorganisms have evolved to live without oxygen through a biochemical and evolutionary lens. This includes work on deep sea chlamydia (‘Anoxychlamydiales’) and archaea (‘Asgard archaea’) as well as pathogenic and free-living protists. Now, her team at Lund - ‘the lab upstairs’ - is investigating the metabolic and cellular adaptations of anaerobic eukaryotes using genomics and cell biology.

WORKSHOPS & FIELDTRIPS

Fieldtrip – Boat trip to Vendovi Island (plankton tows, intertidal exploration, and short hike on the island)

Hosts: Robin Kodner, Western Washington University, Tom Mumford, University of Washington

Time: 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday, July 27

Introduction to FlowCam: Flow Imaging Microscopy for Algal Research & Monitoring

Lecturer: Savannah Judge, FlowCam Yokogawa Fluid Imaging Technologies, Inc.

Time: 3 pm to 5 pm, Saturday, July 27

Incorporating Anticolonial Approaches to Science in Biology Courses

Lecturer: Bridgette Clarkston, University of British Columbia

Time: Sunday, 2 pm to 4 pm, July 28

EVOLVEing around PhycoCosm

Lecturers: Robin Kodner, Western Washington University, Alan Kuo, Joint Genome Institute (JGI), Jodi Young, University of Washington

Time: 9 am to 4 pm, Sunday, July 28

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Meet & Greet Breakfast

Monday, July 29th, 2024, 7:30 am to 8:45 am, TBD

Career Lunch Panel

Tuesday, July 30th, 2024, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, HUB 340

Game Night Social Event

Wednesday, July 31st, 2024, 7:00 pm to 10 pm, UW Fisheries Building Lawn

Please reach out to our Representatives, with any questions!

● Gabbie Kuba, Nicole Coots, Sabrina Heiser, Mickey Rogersrs@pnnl.gov, Marissa Mehlrose, Sarah Tanja, Anjali Krishna, David Wiener, Isabelle Ewers

OPENING MIXER
Center for Urban Horticulture | University of Washington Botanic Gardens (uw.edu)

PSA AWARDS AND COMPETITION
Hoshaw Travel Award — Phycological Society of America (psaalgae.org)
Bold Award — Phycological Society of America (psaalgae.org)
Lewin Poster Award — Phycological Society of America (psaalgae.org)
Please find other awards at Phycological Society of America (psaalgae.org)

JOINT SOCIETIES
Home - International Society of Protistologists

ISOP Symposium

Cells in the 3D perspective – Volume Electron and Super Resolution Microscopies
Organizer: Noriko Okamoto (University of British Columbia, Canada)
Luca Cirino (Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Portugal)
Sam Livingston (University of British Columbia, Canada)
Daria Tashyreva (Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Parasitology, Czechia)
Katrina B Velle (University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, USA)

On a Final Piece of Chalk: A Tribute John J. Lee on the Biology of Foraminifera
Organizer: Sam Bowser (Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY USA)
Joan M. Bernhard (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, USA)
Eleanor Goetz (Yale University, USA)
Susan T. Goldstein (University of Georgia, USA)
Jan Pawlowski (University of Geneva, Switzerland, Polish Academy of Sciences)

International Society for Evolutionary Protistology (isep-protists.com)

Presidential Speech

Lopez-Garcia, P., Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS & Université Paris-Saclay, France; puri.lopez@universite-paris-saclay.fr

DECIPHERING EARLY ECO-EVOLUTIONARY DIVERSIFICATIONS IN EUKARYOTES

Eukaryotes radiated from their last common ancestor, diversifying into several supergroups with unresolved deep evolutionary connections. While complex multicellularity evolved in certain clades such as animals and fungi within Opisthokonta, most eukaryotic diversity comprises microbial lineages, with heterotrophic flagellates occupying basal positions in the eukaryotic tree. However, many of them remain undersampled and lack a robust phylogenetic placement, as exemplified by Opimoda, one of the largest eukaryotic supergroups (Amoebozoa, Ancyromonadida, Apusomonadida, Breviatea, CRuMs, Malawimonadida and Opisthokonta). Here, we will provide examples from our work with, among others, aphelids, sanchytrids, apusomonads and ancyromonads of how expanding the phylogenomic information for poorly studied, deeply branching protist lineages can help resolving the eukaryotic tree of life. By mapping complex phenotypic traits onto improved phylogenetic frameworks, we can infer ancestral states and key innovations crucial for the evolution of new lifestyles, organizational levels and adaptations to original ecological niches.

Tom Cavalier-Smith Prize Speech

Eglit, Y.

Discovering heterotrophic protists using low throughput and last generation methods

Of the multitude of major lineages characterised over the past 20 years, the vast majority were discovered using classical cultivation approaches (Burki et al. 2019) -- despite advances in high-throughput technologies, such as metagenomics and cell sorting. My research relies on light microscopic identification of both incertae sedis taxa and morphologically uncharacterised organisms to cultivate heterotrophs from a variety of environments, especially those with low oxygen and/or high salinity and/or high pH, with particular focus on eukaryotrophs. Determining the ribosomal small subunit RNA (SSU rRNA, "18S") gene sequences for these organisms and inferring their phylogenetic positions resulted in the discovery of over two dozen distinct lineages to date. Furthermore, several taxa whose placement could not be resolved with 18S phylogenies were evaluated using multi-gene phylogenomic inference; as a result, we found a major super-group-level eukaryotic clade comprised of Hemimastigophora, Meteora, and "Protist X" (in prep.). I will explore some highlights of this approach, in some cases deviating away from a focus on phylogenetic novelty and instead exploring unusual and unexpected cell biology features and behaviours observed through microscopy. Lastly, I will present a couple examples of continuation of this work in my current postdoc, including the first cultivated member of another hemimastigophoran lineage. I would like to make a plea for reviving attention to the power of observation in protistology, and underscore the wealth of hypotheses and further directions that arise from discovery-based science: sometimes by simply watching organisms through a microscope.

LOGO DESIGN ARTISTS

─── Anna M. G. Novák Vanclová

─── Naomi Vliet

OTHER ENTERTAINMENTS

Some things to do in and around Seattle (washington.edu)

Best wishes,
Wade Huang, Program Director

Join us in the heart of downtown Providence for your next phycological adventure! The PSA2023 meeting will convene – in-person – at the Graduate Providence, formerly the Biltmore, located within walking distance to numerous restaurants and local entertainment. Please plan to arrive on Sunday, June 25th for the Welcoming Mixer at 6 PM and depart Friday, June 30th - we have a week of phycological excitement that you will not want to miss!!

REGISTER NOW!!

Still need a room for the meeting? Let the Graduate-Providence help!

If you have not booked your room, or booked elsewhere because you missed the deadline, please reserve your room at the Graduate today!! Please contact Kristina Fisher directly for your reservation. There are still rooms available and she will honor the discounted rate of $175/night!!

Scientific Program – download the final detailed program here.

The theme of this year’s meeting is Phycology in a Changing Climate: Diversity, Blooms, and Beyond. The program will consist of daily plenary talks from leading scientists in the field of algal monitoring and conservation. We will also have the Bold Award Competition, IDEA Symposium, Student Symposium, Lang Lecture, poster sessions (including the Lewin Award Competition), lightning talks, contributed sessions, and the engaging annual PSA auction. We will conclude the meeting on Thursday evening with the PSA Awards Banquet in the Biltmore Ballroom.

This year, we are sponsoring an Early Career Breakfast, IDEA Lunch and Discussion, and tantalizing your tastebuds for the PSA Business Meeting. Please be sure to check "attending" on your registration form so we may get an accurate headcount for these events.

Also, there are several exciting weekend workshops on seaweed collection and identification, producing publication-quality scientific figures, inclusivity in teaching, as well as an aquaculture tour and oyster social at Roger Williams University. These spots will be reserved on a first-come basis. Secure your seats today!

Please note you must purchase tickets for workshops and weekend events separately.

Instructions for PSA 2023 Presenters

Oral Presentations

Please upload your PowerPoint no later than 8:45 AM on the day of your talk in the PSA Tech HQ located (L'Apogee A, 17th floor). Add your file to the folder with the appropriate room (Biltmore vs Narragansett) and name your file accordingly: TIME_DAY_LASTNAME, e.g., 1400_TUE_Huang.

DO NOT YOUR LOAD YOUR PRESENTATION AT THE PODIUM – this takes away time from your presentation and is a distraction for others. 

Poster Presentations

Please have your posters up and displayed in L'Apogee B (17th floor) at your numbered location before 5 PM on Monday, June 26th, 2023. Take down your posters no later than noon on Thursday, June 29th, 2023 so the poster boards can be disassembled and returned to the rental company.

We have an amazing line-up for the week! The program at-a-glance can be found below and the draft program can be found HERE (link to final pdf)!

Here’s a snapshot of the invited speakers and special symposia: 

Monday, June 26th, 2023 

Fabien Burki is an Associate Professor in the program of Systematic Biology at Uppsala University (Sweden). He moved to Sweden in 2016 to start his lab, after undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Geneva and a postdoc at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. He is also a platform scientific director at the microbial single-cell genomic facility at SciLifeLab, and an Associate Editor in the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. Fabien’s work in phylogenomics has contributed to obtaining a modern understanding of the tree of eukaryotes, which he uses to frame essential diversification processes during eukaryote evolution such as endosymbiosis. Currently, his lab’s main interest is the study of plastid origin, for which he is supported by an ERC Consolidator grant. Website: https://www.burki-lab.net/ Fabien will present his talk, entitled, GENOMIC FOOTPRINT OF PLASTID ENDOSYMBIOSIS: HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? during the Presidential Symposium. 

Ester Serrao is a Professor at the University of Algarve (Portugal), Pew Marine Fellow. Ester studies biogeography, evolutionary ecology and conservation, with a special focus on marine forests of macroalgae, temperate corals, seagrasses.  With collaborators from all oceans, she studies evolutionary processes driving hotspots of rich and unique genetic variability of marine forests globally. She has a large experience in academic training and her global research on marine conservation and restoration is also applied to local challenges involving and training citizens and stakeholders in practical actions for conservation of marine forests. She published > 300 international peer-reviewed research papers, that have been widely cited (Scopus H-index 55). Ester will present her talk, CLIMATE-DRIVEN EVOLUTION AT RANGE MARGINS OF MARINE FORESTS, during the Student Symposium. 

Tuesday, June 27th, 2023 

Don Anderson is a Senior Scientist in the Biology Department of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. He earned three degrees from MIT – a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1970, and a MS (1975) and PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering in 1977.  He joined the scientific staff at WHOI in 1978.  Anderson is the former director of WHOI’s Coastal Ocean Institute (COI), and presently serves as Director of the Cooperative Institute for North Atlantic Research (CINAR). Anderson also serves as Director of the U.S. National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms.  Anderson is the author, co-author, or editor of over 330 scientific papers and 14 books. Don will present his talk, BLOOM DYNAMICS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ECOLOGY OF THE HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM (HAB) SPECIES ALEXANDRIUM CATENELLA IN TEMPERATE AND ARCTIC WATERS, at the Tuesday morning Special Symposium. 

Ligia Collado-Vides obtained her PhD at the National Autonomous University of México. She is a marine botanist with main research emphasis on subtropical and tropical marine macroalgae, including ecological and floristic approaches. Her laboratory and team address local, regional, and global ecological questions and issues, from quantifying and comparing carbon contribution of calcareous algae in South Florida and Yucatan, to Atlantic wide macroalgal blooms. She has more than 55 peer-review publications plus chapters in books and many scientific reports. Her group is a combination of graduate and undergraduate students from different cultures, origins and living in different countries. She is a Full Teaching professor and the Associate Chair of the Department of Biology at Florida International University. Ligia will present her talk, LARGE SCALE MACROALGAL BLOOMS ARE A SYMPTOM OF GLOBAL CHANGE POSING LARGE SCALE CHALLENGES THAT REQUIRES RESOURCE MANAGERS, THINKERS, AND SCIENTISTS WITH A GLOBAL, DIVERSE, EQUANIMOUS, AND INCLUSIVE PERSPECTIVE, during the IDEA Symposium. 

Wednesday, June 29th, 2023 

Kate Hubbard leads the harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring and research program for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWC-FWRI). She also directs the FWC Center for Red Tide Research and for the past decade has been a Guest Investigator at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She works with a broad network of partners to sustain and advance comprehensive and interdisciplinary HAB observations. She is involved with projects in polar to subtropical systems, focused on using these observations to better predict blooms and mitigate their impacts. She received her B.A. in Biology from New College of Florida and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biological Oceanography from the University of Washington. Kate will present her talk, EXPLORING LATITUDINAL CONSTRAINTS (OR LACK THEREOF?) ON HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS, at the Wednesday morning Special Symposium.

Cayne Layton is a Research Fellow and Lecturer at the University of Tasmania in Australia, where he focusses on the ecology of kelp forests and temperate reef systems, and also kelp aquaculture. Cayne combines field and lab experiments to examine ecosystem function and ecophysiology, especially in response to increasing anthropogenic stressors. Overall, he seeks to address fundamental ecological questions while ensuring his research has practical applications for habitat conservation, restoration, and management. Cayne also has a keen interest in scientific diving, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and the engagement of science with education and policy. Cayne will present his talk, KELP FORESTS AND RESTORATION ON AUSTRALIA’S GREAT SOUTHERN REEF, in the Wednesday afternoon Special Symposium. 

Thursday, June 30, 2023 

Raphael (Raphe) Kudela is a Distinguished Professor of Ocean Sciences at University of California Santa Cruz. Dr. Kudela has conducted research on aquatic ecology (emphasis on marine systems, but also including land/sea interface and freshwater systems) for more than two decades. His research focuses on the factors and processes linking phytoplankton productivity to higher trophic levels, including the ecology, mitigation, and prediction of harmful algal bloom events, changes in global productivity and fisheries, and linkages to human use of aquatic systems. Kudela previously served as Chair of the Global Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms program (IOC/SCOR) and as Vice Chair of GlobalHAB, and is an ex-officio member (former co-Chair) of the US National HAB Committee.  Within the Ocean Observing framework he serves on the Executive Committee for the Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System (CeNCOOS). Raphael will present his talk, EMERGING HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM ISSUES IN THE CALIFORNIA CURRENT: SHIFTING PATTERNS AND NEW ISSUES DRIVEN BY CLIMATE?, at the Thursday morning Special Symposium.                     

Trevor Bringloe is currently a research scientist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and a former McKenzie fellow with the University of Melbourne. His research focuses on the application of whole genome sequencing for phylogenomic, population genomic and metagenomic analysis. His recent work, funded in part by the Phycological Society of America's Norma J. Lang Fellowship, explores global diversity in the kelp genus Alaria and the insights gained when moving from DNA barcoding to sequencing whole genomes. Trevor will present the Lang Lecture on Thursday afternoon, USHERING IN AN ERA OF HIGH-RESOLUTION GENETICS IN EVOLUTIONARY PHYCOLOGY. 

Maggi Brisbin completed her Ph.D. at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology in Japan and is currently a Simons Foundation Marine Microbial Ecology Postdoctoral Fellow at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute working with Harriet Alexander and Mak Saito. Maggi is joining the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science as an Assistant Professor this fall. The MICO lab at USF will study Microbial Interactions in a Changing Ocean with a focus on how interactions between marine microbes contribute to biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem function, how these interactions might respond to climate change, and how changes in the dynamics of these relationships will feedback on climate change impacts. Maggi is particularly enamored with radiolarians and the haptophyte Phaeocystis for their many interesting symbiotic relationships. Maggi will present her talk, THE MANY-FACETED SYMBIOSES OF COSMOPOLITAN PHAEOCYSTIS ALGAE, at the Moore Foundation Symposium. 

PSA has adopted a code of conduct to ensure that our meetings are welcoming and productive for all in attendance. We invite all attendees to learn more about this code here: www.psaalgae.org/psa-code-of-conduct

PSA 2023 Organizers:
Schonna Manning, Florida International University (PSA Program Director)
Wade Huang, FDA (PSA Deputy Program Director)

On behalf of the International Seaweed Association (ISA) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC), we would like to inform you that we have made the difficult decision to postpone the 24th ISS for one year.  The new dates are: 19 – 24 February 2023.

Due to the ongoing Covid Pandemic, the Australian borders look unlikely to open to international visitors (except New Zealand) until the middle of 2022. The ISA and LOC consider that this postponement will give us the best chance to create a vibrant event for international networking, global seaweed industry development, sharing knowledge on all aspects of fundamental and applied seaweed research, and to showcase the Australian and New Zealand seaweed industries, research and development to the world.

We plan to retain a hybrid structure, but hope the majority of delegates and invited speakers will travel to Hobart. The ISS themes and sessions will remain the same and the invited speakers have been retained for 2023.

We very much look forward to seeing you in Hobart in 2023.

On behalf of the LOC,
Prof. Catriona Hurd and Prof. Michael A. Borowitzka
24th International Seaweed Symposium Co-Chairs

For further information, please visit: www.iss2023.net

The 76th annual PSA meeting - The second Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting (JASM) with the Consortium of Aquatic Scientific Societies (CASS) will be held in Grand Rapids, MI, 16-20 May 2022: American Fisheries Society (AFS), Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF), Society for Freshwater Science (SFS), Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS), and PSA. Abstracts are due January 10, 2022 and can be submitted via the JASM website here.

Also, you will need to choose a session or symposium for your contribution.  While these are not the only options by any means, the following Symposia are PSA-Associated:

SY001 Bold Award Session
SY002 PSA Presidential Symposium
SY015 Springs: Unique aquatic habitats in steady decline
SY026 Two decades of applying DNA techniques to aquatic sciences
SY028 Deciphering past aquatic ecosystem dynamics using sedimentary ancient DNA
SY033 Importance of food webs for trophic transfer across aquatic ecosystems
SY037 Harmful and nuisance algal bloom proliferation impacts on the environment
SY076 How applied is your research? Engaging communities for enhanced relevance
SY111 Lang Symposium: Evolutionary ecology of cryptic species
SY112 Extreme solutions to extreme problems: evolution of Cyanidiophyceae red algae
SY116 How professional science societies can promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice

We’d like to invite you to join us at the 1st Annual International Congress on Euglenoids 2021, where we aim to explore the world of Euglenoids through the lens of symbiogenesis. The meeting will be virtual.

This meeting aims to be of interest if you’re fascinated about the evolution of eukaryotes, evolution of parasitism, acquisition of plastids, mitochondria, and endosymbiosis, robotics engineering, game engineering and innovations, ecology and environment, and One Health. Click here for a list of conference sub-themes.

Time: 15:00 GMT each day
Venue: Virtual
Register to attend here.
Additional details can be found here.

***password protected until April 20 for PSA members only – members check your email for the password!

We look forward to welcoming you to the 75th annual PSA meeting this July, 2021! Given the ongoing pandemic, we will be meeting virtually again this summer, but with a program that includes many of the highlights we all look forward to at an in-person meeting! In an effort to avoid online/zoom fatigue, the meeting will be spread out over two weeks, with sessions held on Tuesdays and Thursdays in mid-July: July 13, 15, 20, and 22. Each day will start at 11 am EST and run for approximately 5 hours.

Scientific Program
PSA Presidential Session: Cyanobacteria in the 21st Century
To many, the cyanobacteria represent tiny, annoying filaments that contaminate our cultures and seem to bloom at inopportune times in our freshwaters.  Yet recent research has opened up exciting new vistas into the nature of cyanobacteria.  Far from merely being nuisances, cyanobacteria are integral to numerous ecosystems.  The PSA Presidential Symposium shall illuminate such intriguing questions as what constitutes a cyanobacterial “species” in dryland soils (Nicole Pietrasiak), how do we best articulate the biodiversity of this ancient lineage (Jeff Johansen), what insights have new genomic techniques shed (Jan Mares), and lastly an intriguing case of potentially new, deleterious forms to worry about (Susan Wilde). 

The Presidential session will start with a plenary talk by Lynn Rothschild from the NASA Ames Research Laboratory.

The 2nd annual Lang Lecture
Started in 2017, the Norma J. Lang Fellowship supports early career phycologists for three years. At the end of their third year of support, fellows are invited to give an extended talk on their work at our annual meeting. This year we are pleased to have our second fellow, Stacy Kruger-Hadfield, give the Lang Lecture!

Schedule at a glance
Please download the schedule at a glance here.

Scientific Program
The scientific program is available for download here.

Whova event page
Login to view meeting content: https://whova.com/portal/webapp/evhf_202101/sign_in/

Registration
Registration and abstract submission will open March 15 for PSA members only – act by April 19 to ensure your spot! Registration and abstract submission will open to nonmembers April 20. The final deadline for abstract submission is May 1. 

***password protected until April 20 for PSA members only – members check your email for the password!

Registration is FREE! Because of this, we anticipate record numbers of registrants - early registration is highly encouraged to secure your virtual spot!

The link for our virtual meeting registration is coming soon!

Abstract Submission
Please follow the abstract preparation guidelines (download here). These guidelines and procedures must be followed exactly, or your abstract will not be accepted. Please submit your abstract to the PSA2021 registration website (link coming soon!). The final deadline for abstracts is 23:59 Eastern Standard Time on 1 May 2021.

Selection of session topic is designed to facilitate assignment of your abstract to members of the Scientific Program Committee for review. Please note that meeting sessions may not match exactly this list of topics; we will make every attempt to group your presentation with those of similar topic. Priority is given to the overall scientific program and, therefore, final placement is solely at the discretion of the organizing committee. Please select your session topic code from the list of contributed session below. 

Contributed Sessions
C01: Phylogeny and Systematics
C02: Cell Biology
C03: Ecology
C04: Harmful Algal Blooms
C05: Genomics
C06: Metabarcoding
C07: Molecular Biology
C08: Applied Phycology
C09: Climate Change
C10: Phycological Education and Outreach
C11: Bold Award Participant (Students who want to be eligible for the Bold Award for the best oral presentation.)
C12: Lewin Award Participant (Students who want to be eligible for the Lewin Award for the best poster presentation.)
S01: Invited speakers

PSA has adopted a code of conduct to ensure that our meetings are welcoming and productive for all in attendance. We invite all attendees to learn more about this code here: www.psaalgae.org/psa-code-of-conduct.

PSA 2021 Organizers:
Schonna Manning, University of Texas at Austin (PSA Program Director)
Amy Carlile, University of New Haven

Note: the Providence, RI meeting, originally scheduled for 2020, has been re-scheduled for 2023.

On behalf of the organizers of the 10.5 US HAB Symposium, I am pleased to announce that the Symposium website is now live: http://ushabs.com

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the local organizing committee and the US National HAB Committee decided to postpone the 11th US Symposium on Harmful Algae in New York until Fall 2022. In the meantime, we wanted to provide an opportunity for the US HAB research and management communities to meet together and elevate the student, postdoctoral, and early career members of our community, many of whom are most impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic at a crucial time in their careers. The program for this meeting will center around presentations (oral and poster sessions) from student, postdoctoral, and early career (< 3 years post terminal degree) community members.

This virtual meeting will not replace our in person meeting, but will provide an opportunity for our community to gather together during these strange times! We still look forward to gathering in person in New York in 2022!

Key Dates:

• Abstract submission deadline: March 15

• Deadline for Registration: May 1

We look forward to seeing you all virtually!

Best regards,

10.5 US Symposium on Harmful Algae Planning Committee
Jayme Smith, Holly Bowers, Tim Davis, Quay Dortch, Rebecca Gorney, Dail Laughinghouse, Mindy Richlen, Mary Kate Rogener

10.5 US Symposium on Harmful Algae Scientific Committee
Keith Bouma-Gregson, Alan Wilson, Jayme Smith

The Euglena International Network (EIN) is a new initiative advancing research into Euglenoid protists. These fascinating organisms are very diverse and include heterotrophs, photosynthetic and predatory species. Together with the Kinetoplastea (trypanosomes and leishmanias), with which they share distinctive biological features, they constitute the Euglenozoa. Recent advances in Euglena will be discussed and we will be proposing new research directions and what the “Grand Challenges” for Euglena research are. So, whether you are interested in Euglena ecology, genomics or biotechnology, we would welcome your interest in EIN.

Meeting type: Virtual

Date: 9-10 November 2020   (day 1 and day 2)

Time: 15-18 (GMT) = 11-14 (EST)  each day

Sign up information: Contact to sign up here.

Further information: Visit the Euglena International Network website.

The Belgian Consortium of Culture Collections of Microorganisms is organizing a training on the preservation of bacteria, fungi, cyanobacteria or microalgae (focus on diatoms) from the 14th to 18th of September 2020.

More details on the programme are given on the website: http://bccm.belspo.be/content/bccm-training-2020-program

Note that this training is modular, with a main 'hands on' in depth training of 2,5 days on one type of microorganism and one optional day dedicated either to another type of microorganism (demos) or/and to a seminar on the practical management of culture collections (including Quality Management System and the legal requirements).

Dear PSA 2020 participants,

We would like to invite you to take part in the Online Poster Session on Protists (#ProtistSession) which will take place this August 10-14 on Twitter and Facebook: https://www.isep-protists.com/post/online-poster-session-on-protists

Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUlh7p5nhtvmeN8xALs9-ZF9XvNe7aIMnlOuyXUjTfQi2oxw/viewform

We believe this is a good opportunity for you to again use your presentations prepared for PSA 2020, especially if you are presenting pre-recorded audio or video concerning microbial eukaryotes or their multicellular relatives. Participation is free and you don't need to submit any abstract. Only a simple registration with a title of your presentation is required. This is an event organized by a group of early-career protistologists, which aims at creating a friendly, inclusive, easy-to-participate online conference-like environment for a broad diversity of researchers. No Zoom, no live video. Just you, your social media account, your creativity, and presentation at your pace and your terms. The basic idea is that people post their pre-made presentations in any format (poster, text, audio, video, etc.) on social media in a time slot of their choice and then stay online for discussions. If needed, the ISEP YouTube channel can be used to host your videos. The Online Poster Session on Protists is supported by the International Society for Evolutionary Protistology (ISEP) and the International Society of Protistologists (ISOP). There will be society-sponsored prizes with financial rewards, recognizing quality of the presented work as well as creativity with which you use the online environment.

Sincerely,
Lukas Novak
Co-organizer of #ProtistSession, social media manager of ISOP & ISEP

For those of you who might be interested in a virtual conference this summer where you could present a phycology paper or poster to a botanically oriented audience, consider the Botanical Society of America's virtual meeting July 27-31. Further details on registration costs, etc. can be found here. A "phycology" category has been added in the section where you check off a box for your abstract so you may be placed in a phycology section if enough abstracts in this category are submitted. Abstracts are due May 31, 2020. Also, if you cannot make this year’s virtual festivities, PSA is working on coordinating a joint meeting with our Botanical Colleagues in 2024!

Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington Dates: 14 June to 17 July 2020

Instructors: Dr. Thomas Mumford (tmumford@u.washington.edu) and Dr. D. Wilson Freshwater (freshwaterw@uncw.edu)

Review of applications begins: 1 February 2020

The theme of the course is principles, methods, and applications of marine algal biodiversity studies with a focus on the macroalgae of marine benthic environments. Students will learn classical and contemporary methods for the identification, classification, and phylogenetic analysis of marine benthic algae (seaweeds); the theories underlying the methods, and the application of biodiversity information in (for example) benthic ecology. They will gain practical experience in such tools as: specimen collection, preservation, microscopy, DNA isolation and sequencing, computational approaches to phylogeny reconstruction, DNA barcoding, and databasing. Fieldwork will be extensive, as the diverse and species-rich habitats around San Juan Island provide ideal sites for the examination of macroalgal diversity.

Students will participate in research projects using morphological, ecological and molecular data to assess the diversity of algal populations and to interpret that diversity in its ecological and biogeographic context. The class will also continue to populate the “Marine Algae of the San Juan Islands” BOLD system database project and publish a new public dataset for the project.

This is a course appropriate for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, as well as, professional marine biologists, botanists, geneticists, and oceanographers with interests in marine biodiversity, conservation biology, and coastal ecology. Course participants will leave with a toolbox of methods to assess these topics in any nearshore ecosystem in the world.

Students receive 9 (quarter system) or 6 (semester system) transfer credits for the course. For information on the Friday Harbor Labs, including how to apply, housing, and financial aid packages, visit: https://fhl.uw.edu/. Specific information on the 2020 classes will be available on the FHL webpage in October 2019 and applications may be submitted as soon as this information is posted.

There are many Friday Harbor Labs financial aid opportunities for those students who can demonstrate financial need or academic merit, visit: https://fhl.uw.edu/courses/fellowships-scholarships/

For requirements and how to apply for a PSA Croasdale Fellowship that helps defray costs to attend a phycology course at a biological field station, visit: http://www.psaalgae.org/hannah-t-croasdale-fellowship

Eagle Hill is right on the coast of Eastern Maine, between Acadia National Park and Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge.

May 24–30 ... Marine Macroalgae: Ecology, Identification, Distribution, and Importance … Amanda Savoie

Informational flyer: 

https://www.eaglehill.us/programs/nhs/seminar-flyer-pdfs/2020%20Savoie.pdf

For general information and our full seminar calendar:

https://www.eaglehill.us/programs/nhs/nhs-calendar.shtml

office@eaglehill.us … 207-546-2821 Ext 4

The 59th Northeast Algal Symposium will be held April 17th-19th in Burlington, VT. This year's meeting will be freshwater-themed but all algae enthusiasts are welcome of course! Additional information will be available soon at the Northeast Algal Society website, http://northeastalgae.org/. For updates follow @NEAS_algae and #NEAS2020 on Twitter, or check https://www.facebook.com/northeastalgalsociety. We hope to see you in Vermont! 

With great pleasure we invite you to the EPC7 in Zagreb, one of the youngest European capitals.

The Congress includes plenary presentations, a series of symposia and workshops, contributed papers and posters that will cover a broad range of topics spanning from algal diversity, ecology, genomics, cell biology, applied phycology and many more.

The Local Organising Committee and the International Scientific Committee, with the full support of the Federation of European Phycological Societies and the Phycology section of Croatian Botanical Society, have worked in close cooperation to organise a successful and enjoyable Congress.

SAVE THE DATE!

REGISTRATION and ABSTRACT SUBMISSION IS OPEN

Visit the conference website for regular updates 

http://epcseven.biol.pmf.hr/

The 25th NADS will be held on July 31 - August 4, 2019 at University of Georgia's 4-H Center in Eatonton, Georgia. The Rock Eagle 4-H Center, the largest of the five centers operated by the University of Georgia, is located in Eatonton, Georgia, adjacent to the Oconee National Forest. With nearly 1,500 acres of forested land, a 110-acre lake, and state-of-the art cabins and conference facilities, Rock Eagle provides a unique and natural setting. International symposium participants will present their work in diatom research including biodiversity, evolution, ecology, systematics, biological assessment, paleolimnology, and nanotechnology. In addition to the scientific program, the meeting will include traditional NADS activities (the Scum Run and auction). We hope you will join us in Eatonton in late July for an exciting meeting!

For more information visit: http://www.northamericandiatomsymposium.org/

Hello Phycophiles!

On behalf of the local organizing committee, it is my pleasure to welcome you to Ft. Lauderdale, FL for the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Phycological Society of America from June 23 to June 27 in Hollywood Beach. The meeting will be held at the magnificent beachside Hollywood Beach Marriott.

Registration: https://www.sgmeet.com/psa/psa2019

For Final Program, click here

Lodging

We have a special group rate ($149.00 per night + taxes) at the Hollywood Beach Marriott. Online reservation can be done through this link or you can call the reservations team at +1 855-314-1984 and mention that you are with the Phycological Society of America Annual Meeting. When reserving online, an amenity fee will be added, but that will be removed at the property when you pay. The reservation cut-off date with this price is June 3rd, 2019. There are some rooms available for up to 3 days prior and after the conference for those that want to enjoy more days in the sun. For those of you searching for roommates, we have created a form here to help.

How to get here?

Ft. Lauderdale is located in the greater Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolitan area with a population of over 6 million. The conference will be held in Hollywood Beach, which is 6 miles (10 km) from the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and 27 miles (44 km) from Miami International Airport (MIA).

Program

We have an exciting program with excellent keynote and plenary lectures in development centered around Algae and Climate Change.

Presidential Symposium: Climate change and our fragile polar ecosystems

The plenary lecture will be given by Susan R. Eaton @SusanREaton_Geo, Geoscientist, journalist and polar explorer who founded @SednaEpic. This symposium includes seminars by Dr. Warwick Vincent (Université Laval) on cyanobacteria and the Pole to Pole Paradox; Dr. Hilary McManus (Le Moyne College) on women in STEM, Antarctica and how diversity in leadership can inform climate change policy; and our very own Maggie Amsler (PSA Membership Director, University of Alabama) on her experiences in 27 trips to the Antarctic.

Student-Organized Symposium: What goes on, on the inside? Connecting algal physiology, their distribution and climate change

This symposium will include presentations on algal physiology and their response to increased temperatures and ocean acidification in temperate and tropical systems, as well as using freshwater diatoms to assess long term changes to aquatic communities.

Speakers: Dr. Catriona Hurd (University of Tasmania), Dr. Maggie Johnson (Smithsonian Institution), Dr. Evelyn Gaiser (Florida International University)

Applied Symposium: From micro to macro: nuisance algae and their management.

This symposium will include presentations on micro- and macro- harmful and nuisance algae from freshwater to marine environments. The lectures will cover algal biology and ecology, bloom dynamics, toxin production and fate, and algal management.

Plenary Speaker: Dr. Clarissa Anderson (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego)

Speakers: Dr. Ligia Collado-Vides (Florida International University), Dr. West Bishop (SePRO Corporation), Dr. Barry Rosen (US Geological Survey), Dr. Patrick Kangas (University of Maryland)

Abstract submission

Deadline is midnight (23:59 Pacific Standard Time) on 8 May 2019. Please follow the abstract preparation guidelines here. These guidelines and procedures must be followed exactly. If not, your paper will not be accepted. Please submit your abstract through the PSA 2019 registration website: https://www.sgmeet.com/psa/psa2019. Please contact us if you need a letter of acceptance or invitation to the Conference.

Selection of session topic is designed to facilitate assignment of your abstract to members of the Scientific Program Committee for review. Meeting sessions may not match exactly this list of topics. The Scientific Program Committee will make every attempt to group your presentation with those of similar topic. Priority is given to the overall scientific program and, therefore, final placement is solely at the discretion of the organizing committee. Please select your session topic code from the list of contributed session below.

Poster dimensions are a maximum of 3ft wide x 4ft long.

Contributed Sessions

C01: Phylogeny and Systematics
C02: Cell Biology
C03: Ecology
C04: Population Biology
C05: Biodiversity
C06: Harmful Algal Blooms
C07: Genomics
C08: Evolution
C09: Molecular Biology
C10: Applied Phycology
C11: Terrestrial/Aerophytic algae
C12: Ocean Acidification/Global Change
C13: Biogeography
C14: Phycological Education and Outreach
C15: Bold Award Participant (Students who want to be eligible for the Bold Award for the best oral presentation.)
C16: Lewin Award Participant (Students who want to be eligible for the Lewin Award for the best poster presentation.)
S01: Invited speakers

Pre-meeting excursions (Saturday, June 22nd)

South Florida is home to a host of ecosystems begging rediscovery. Please join us on either of our two excursions to get a handle of the beauty and majestic creatures that inhabit our land and sea, and areas in between. However, if you are not able to attend one of the excursions, here is a list of some other local activities.

Key Largo - Snorkeling the Reefs ($90)

This excursion includes a four-hour trip through the beautiful South-Florida marine waterways including several reefs located in the Keys with knowledgeable tour guides. You will be visiting reef structures including ledges, spurs and grooves. You will have the opportunity to observe a variety of warm-water algal taxa including Dictyota, Caulerpa, Sargassum, Champia, Halimeda, Penicillus, Acanthophora, and Dasya, just to name a few! You also might see reef sharks, stingrays (Yellow and Southern), minnows, sea turtles (green, loggerhead, and hawksbill), groupers, parrotfish, brain corals, sea sponges, spiny lobsters, and many more!

Everglades - Airboat ride through the Everglades wetland ($55)

This excursion includes a cool, air-blasting, three-hour private airboat ride through the Everglades led by one of our own Everglades expert. The tour begins in the Everglades Water Conservation Area 3a (Miccosukee reservation), with detailed descriptions of the environment and identification of its wonderful species including, but not limited to periphyton mats, the American alligator, sawgrass, pond apple trees, cypress trees, snapping turtles, anhinga, wood storks, ospreys, great blue herons, and many more! You will have the opportunity to visit Hardwood Hammock areas, where you can handle baby alligators and turtles and learn about the wildlife, the history of the area, and the people who inhabit it.

Workshops (Sunday, June 23rd and Wednesday, June 26th)

Remote Sensing of Algal Communities

Date: Sunday, June 23, 2019. Time: 1-4pm Cost: $35

Description: This workshop will provide attendees a background in remote sensing of algal communities including applications like monitoring harmful algal blooms, assessing spread of invasive species, resource mapping, and more. It will cover:

• An overview of available processing and analysis software (free and pay for)

• Information on the benefits of using certain platforms (such as drones, planes and satellites) and sensors (RGB, multispectral and hyperspectral), which would be best applied to certain research questions

• Overview of technical skills and licensing needed for using survey tools (drones) and image processing.

This workshop is open to all students, early career, and Professors. Tea and coffee will be provided. Please bring a laptop for using software (freeware). There will be AV equipment and power sockets (US plug size only) available in the room.

Facilitators: Dr. Clarissa Anderson (Scripps Institution of Oceanography), Dr. Kaytee Pokrzywinski (US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center)

An Introduction to the International Code of Nomenclature (ICN) for Phycologists (**New time)

Date: Wednesday, June 26, 2019. Time: 2-4pm Cost: $25

Description: This workshop will discuss the requirements of the ICN for the effective, valid and legitimate publication of names of algae. The structure will include a presentation and plenty of time for questions and discussions. Tea and coffee will be provided.

Facilitators: Dr. Mike Guiry (AlgaeBase and Notulae Algarum, National University of Ireland, Galway), Dr. Craig Schneider (Trinity College), Dr. Mike Wynne (University of Michigan)

Registration fees

Please visit https://www.sgmeet.com/psa/psa2019 to register for PSA 2019. Included in the full fees are the opening mixer, morning and afternoon coffee breaks, lunch, banquet, drink tickets, and receptions during the poster session and auction.

Early Registration Fees (prior to May 8, 2019):
Regular (member) = $395
Retired (member) = $350
Student/Postdoc (member) = $195
Regular (non-member) = $495
Guest/Spouse (attendance at banquet and all receptions) = $110
Extra banquet ticket = $70
One day (no drink tickets, no banquet ticket) = $95

After May 8, 2019 Registration Fees:
Regular (member) = $445
Retired (member) = $400
Student/Postdoc (member) = $245
Regular (non-member) = $545
Guest/Spouse (attendance at banquet and all receptions) = $160

We look forward to seeing you in sunny South Florida!

Best regards,

Dail Laughinghouse and Amy Carlile

Local Organizing Committee

Dail Laughinghouse, University of Florida/IFAS
David Berthold, University of Florida/IFAS
Evelyn Gaiser, Florida International University
Ligia Collado-Vides, Florida International University

PSA Program Manager

Amy Carlile, University of New Haven

PSA President

Kirsten Müller, University of Waterloo

PSA Code of Conduct

Sponsors

Phycological Society of America

University of Florida / IFAS

The 2019 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Mycotoxins and Phycotoxins will provide a lively forum for academic, government and private sector scientists to exchange ideas on harnessing advances in biology, chemistry, ecology, plant pathology, epidemiology, toxicology and risk assessment to address the problems associated with the increasing occurrence of these natural toxins. This conference will bring together a wide range of outstanding senior scientists, early career scientists, and students to address the very practical task of ensuring the safety of food and water supplies. Podium presentations will include a mixture of established and junior scientists, with a view to establishing networks and ideas to understand and mitigate these complex threats. A critical component will be dedicated and guided discussions after each presentation, with discussion leaders recognized for their expertise in each particular area. Poster sessions will be organized every day for 2 hours; they will provide an opportunity for fertile cross-disciplinary interactions. The Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), immediately preceding the GRC, will be organized and conducted by graduate students and postdoctoral scientists from the many disciplines involved in advancing mycotoxin and phycotoxin research. Junior scientists will present their work in a formal, oral format and engage in discussion with their peers. The environment will be welcoming and collegial and will provide an unmatched opportunity for future researchers to interact with established scientists. Two leading students from this seminar will additionally present within the GRS.

Dear colleagues.

It is our pleasure to extend to you an invitation to attend the “11th International Conference on Toxic Cyanobacteria” (ICTC 11), which will be held in Kraków, Poland, from 5 to 10 May, 2019.

ICTCs conferences have been organized since 1995 and attracted participants from all around the world to discuss progress of their state of the art research. The theme of ICTC 11 is “Learning from the past to predict the future” and its 9 sessions will include the recent and most important findings from the hottest topics in the various thematic sessions, including: the occurrence of toxic/invasive cyanobacteria which will be discussed in the context of climate changes; ecology of cyanobacteria with special emphasis on abiotic and biotic factors which regulate their growth and/or toxin production; physiological function, environmental significance and biotechnological application of secondary cyanometabolites, physiology and molecular biology of cyanobacteria; toxicity and harmful effects; risk identification and water management. ICTC 11 will promote new tools, methods, most original findings and hypotheses as well as original ideas presented by new generation of scientists.

All scientists interested in ICTC 11 will find detailed information about the conference at http://www.ictc11.org; registration and payment can be made one year before the event. Abstracts for consideration as Oral Presentations and Poster Presentations will be evaluated by the members of the scientific committee on the basis of scientific merit and novelty as well as practical application.

We look forward to welcoming you at ICTC 11, Kraków, Poland!

Best regards,

Dariusz Dziga
Iwona Jasser
Mikołaj Kokociński
Joanna Mankiewicz-Boczek
Hanna Mazur-Marzec
Barbara Pawlik-Skowrońska

Local Organizing Committee

23rd International Seaweed Symposium

April 28 (Sun) - May 3 (Fri), 2019

International Convention Center Jeju (ICC Jeju), Jeju, Korea

“Seaweeds: from Tradition to Innovation”

The 23rd International Seaweed Symposium will convene April 28 - May 3, 2019 in Jeju Island, South Korea. The Symposium will follow the traditional program, with a mix of plenary talks, symposia devoted to particular topics, sessions of contributed papers, and poster sessions. Diverse topics of symposia and sessions will include, but not limited to taxonomy, biodiversity, ecology, climate change, genomics, seaweed aquaculture, industrialization, and cutting-edge technologies for medicine, cosmetics, and biofuel developments. The chairperson of the National Organizing Committee, Prof. Jeong Ha Kim (Sungkyunkwan University) and the committee members are more than happy to help you with any questions about the symposium. Please visit the conference website, www.iss2019.org, for detailed information about the symposium

Northeast Algal Symposium 2019 will be held at Salem State University and the Hawthorne Hotel in historic Salem Massachusetts from April 26-28th, 2019. The co-conveners are Thea Popolizio (tpopolizio@salemstate.edu) and Greg Boyer (glboyer@esf.edu).

The theme for this year’s symposium is “Translating Science into Action”. We have invited two speakers to facilitate that effort. Kelly Kryc, the Director of Conservation Policy and Leadership at the New England Aquarium, is an energy and environment policy professional who formerly held positions with the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the U.S. State Department, The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the U.S. Department of the Interior. Jarrett Byrnes, a seaweed biologist at UMass Boston, works on the causes and consequences of complexity in nature including how humans alter the diversity and interconnectedness of life on earth. Both speakers will focus on how you can involve citizens in your work and translate your studies into action.

Registration materials are available online at http://northeastalgae.org/future.html. The registration and abstract deadline is March 29th, 2019.

The occurrence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in freshwater environments has steadily increased for decades due to shifting climate and eutrophication caused by anthropogenic activity. The reoccurrence of these blooms has inspired teams of scientists and regulators across multiple disciplines to systematically work together to achieve a broader understanding of the occurrence, fate, and ultimately, impacts of HABs on ecosystems used for drinking water, irrigation, fishing, and recreational purposes.

The 3rd Interdisciplinary Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms Workshop (IFHAB), hosted in Toronto, Ontario from April 24 - 26, 2019, will draw in leading experts from across North America into a synergistic forum to share their research findings and discuss innovative solutions.

Dear colleagues and guests,

On behalf of the local organizing committee and Ifremer, the hosting institution, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to Nantes, France, for the 18th International Conference on Harmful Algae. The idea to host the ICHA in Nantes again was born from within the French research network on toxic and harmful micro-algae GdR PHYCOTOX, created in 2013 as an initiative of Ifremer and CNRS. The GdR PHYCOTOX team was rapidly joined by the scientific interest group on cyanobacteria, GIS Cyano, to form a strong national scientific committee assisting the local organising committee in more scientific matters. Together, these scientific communities represent around 40 research and official laboratories working on HAB themes in France. Early on, commitment was obtained in principle from Ifremer, La Cité Nantes Events Center, the City of Nantes and the Regional Council of the Pays de la Loire Region. Twenty-five years after the last edition of this conference in Nantes both the city and our scientific community have changed much. After a long-standing history on the theme of journeys and imagination (Jules Verne’s’ novels were inspired by his early life in Nantes), the city has re-affirmed its reputation in this area with the creation of the “Machines de l’île” in 2007. Nantes was elected “European Green Capital” in 2013 and is referred to as the City of a hundred parks.

The ICHA 2018 scientific program will foster discussions and hopes to inspire participants from a wide array of themes to initiate collaborations within and across disciplines for the advancement of our field. While major culprits of public safety problems (the genera Alexandrium, Dinophysis, Pseudo-nitzschia for marine systems or Anabaena, Aphanizomenon and Microcystis for freshwater systems) still continue to thrive in our waters, many advances have been made in monitoring for these species and their toxins. Still, as the environment and anthropogenic stressors continue to change, our coastal and freshwater systems also undergo heavy changes. Therefore, our ability to detect novel or emerging organisms and their toxins become of growing importance. It also becomes clearer that the societal impacts of Harmful Algae are multiple and do not simply concern fisheries and aquaculture but increasingly so other sectors, including tourism, shipping, desalination and renewable energy supply. Therefore, we felt it important to reiterate the need to translate fundamental science into knowledge to help overcome societal challenges. We have thus placed the conference under the theme “From Ecosystems to Socio-ecosystems”.

The various thematic sessions will showcase important scientific advances and highlight impacts of harmful algae in a world of fast changes and complex interactions. We welcome all of you to attend the plenaries and oral presentations and invite you to interact with the conference participants during the early evening poster sessions, conveniently followed by our social activities. As for previous editions, the posters will be displayed throughout the whole week, allowing you multiple opportunities to have in-depth discussions on topics of your interest.

We thank the local staff, participants, session chairs, keynote and plenary speakers for helping us to build this very exciting conference program. The Local Organizing and Scientific Committees will make any possible effort to make sure that your participation will be scientifically rewarding and a pleasurable experience of our region rich in riverine and coastal activities, winemaking and history.

We are pleased to announced our meeting, AQUAFLUO II: "Chlorophyll Fluorescence in the Aquatic Sciences": www.uts.edu.au/aquafluo. This unique meeting was last held 10 years ago in the Czech Republic to bring together users and developers of instrumentation that exploits (chlorophyll) fluorescence properties of aquatic organisms, through a blend of presentations, discussion forums and practical workshops. AQUAFLUO II is a timely revisit to key topics but also consider new questions from the rapidly growing user community, that is tracking accelerated expansion of chlorophyll fluorescence sensor technology and its application to ecosystem and food security. We already have an impressive lineup of Key Note Speakers (Prof Paul Falkowski, Rutgers University; Prof Antonietta Quigg, Texas A&M University; Prof Michael Behrenfeld, Oregon State University; Prof David Kramer, Michigan State University), Contributing Speakers and Industry Exhibitors.  

Registration is now open: http://www.uts.edu.au/research-and-teaching/our-research/climate-change-cluster/climate-change-cluster-2017-colloquium-2; however, spaces are deliberately limited to 150 attendees to ensure the focused and productive nature of our meeting. Please see the website for further information and contact details.