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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Forwarding from Dr. Wing –<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Thanks <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">-JKB<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">From: </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">"Wing, Rod A - (rwing)" <rwing@ag.arizona.edu><br>
<b>Date: </b>Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 1:30 AM<br>
<b>To: </b>"Brown, Judith K - (jkbrown)" <JBrown@ag.arizona.edu><br>
<b>Subject: </b>International Symposium on Rice Functional Genomics 2024 Invitation<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Judy,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Can you please have this meeting circulated to everyone in SPS?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks in advance,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rod<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><img width="712" height="168" style="width:7.4166in;height:1.75in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DA85AE.5DAC2F20"></span><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Dear Colleagues,</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">On behalf of the Organizing Committee, we invite you to join us in <b>celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Rice Genome</b>! The 2024 International Symposium on Rice Functional Genomics will be held in <b>Little
Rock & Stuttgart, Arkansas on September 9-11, 2024</b>.</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">As you know, rice is the most important food crop in the world – feeding ½ the planet. As the world’s population approaches 10 billion by 2050, we must do all we can to develop new varieties that are more nutritious,
climate resilient, and require fewer inputs (e.g., fertilizers, pesticides, water).</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">To help meet this future demand, rice scientists around the globe united in a $200M USD project to sequence the rice genome – the International Rice Genome Sequencing Project (IRGSP) – which was completed in November
of 2004 – and was the first reference genome for any crop plant. Over the past 20-years this landmark accomplishment has led to thousands of novel discoveries and insights that have positively impacted the rice farmer’s ability to grow rice sustainably and
bring a premium market price.</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">To celebrate this 20-year milestone and its impact on basic and applied agricultural research, we are pleased to announce the 2024 International Symposium on Rice Functional Genomics (2024 ISRFG) to be held in LittleRock/Stuttgart
Arkansas from September 9-11, 2024. The ISRFG has been held annually since 2003, with two in the USA in 2004 and 2014. The 2024 meeting will host keynote speakers, concurrent sessions, and workshops in relevant areas that are focused on this key question – <b>“How
can we feed our world without destroying our planet?”</b></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Arkansas was selected for the 2024 ISRFG because it is the leading rice-growing state in the USA with more than ½ of its 75 counties producing rice, and the State’s commitment to supporting its rice farmers through
research, education,training, and extension. This meeting will offer opportunities for the world to see how rice farming is done in the USA, and to discuss US farmers’ needs with leading rice scientists.</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">The format of the meeting will be two days of lectures, workshops, and a poster session in Little Rock, followed by a final day visiting a farmer’s field, the University of Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center,
and United States Department of Agriculture - Agriculture Research Service Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center in Stuttgart, a closing Keynote lecture and banquet (Arkansas style).</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">It is with great pleasure to invite you to the 2024 International Symposium on Rice Functional Genomics. Please register using the registration link below. If you have been invited to speak at the 2024 ISRFG, would
like to apply to speak during our breakout sessions, present a poster, or apply for the Young Scientist Award, please submit your abstract through the abstract submission form below by August 2, 2024. If you apply, we request a tentative presentation title
and headshot as soon as possible so we can advertise your participation in the ISRFG.</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Registration: </span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://uada.formstack.com/forms/rice_functional_genomics" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">https://uada.formstack.com/forms/rice_functional_genomics</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Abstract Submission:</span></b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> <a href="https://www.cognitoforms.com/UniversityOfArizona11/AbstractSubmissions" target="_blank">https://www.cognitoforms.com/UniversityOfArizona11/AbstractSubmissions</a> </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">In closing, the 2024 ISRFG Arkansas meeting will be a great opportunity to showcase rice agricultural research in the state of Arkansas and the USA. This in turn will encourage more impactful research that will have
direct impacts of rice farming in the USA, as well as make meaningful connections between US scientists/industry and farmers and the broader international community. Thank you in advance for your interest in attending this meeting and we hope that you will
accept this invitation at your earliest convenience.</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Sincerest Regards, </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Vibha Srivastava Ph.D.</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">, Professor University of Arkansas </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Co-Chair ISRFG Local Org. Comm.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">E: <a href="mailto:vibhas@uark.edu" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0563C1">vibhas@uark.edu</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">V: 479-236-7592</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><img border="0" width="140" height="35" style="width:1.4583in;height:.3645in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image002.png@01DA85AE.5DAC2F20"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Yulin Jia Ph.D.</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">, Research Leader/ Center Director </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Dale
Bumpers Natl. Rice Res. Ctr. Co-Chair ISRFG Local Org. Comm.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">E: <a href="mailto:yulin.jia@usda.gov" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0563C1">yulin.jia@usda.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">V: 870-672-1078</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><img border="0" width="165" height="69" style="width:1.7187in;height:.7187in" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image003.png@01DA85AE.5DAC2F20"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Rod A. Wing Ph.D.</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">, Professor</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">King Abdullah University of Science and Technology & University of Arizona</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Chair – ISRFG Intl. Org. Comm.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">E: <a href="mailto:rwing@arizona.edu" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0563C1">rwing@arizona.edu</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><a href="mailto:rod.wing@kaust.edu.sa" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0563C1">rod.wing@kaust.edu.sa</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">V: 520-345-2654</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><img border="0" width="190" height="88" style="width:1.9791in;height:.9166in" id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image004.png@01DA85AE.5DAC2F20"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Important Links:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">ISRFG 2024 Website: </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://isrfg2024.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#0563C1">https://isrfg2024.org/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Registration Link: </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://uada.formstack.com/forms/rice_functional_genomics" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#0563C1">https://uada.formstack.com/forms/rice_functional_genomics</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Abstract Submission Link: </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://www.cognitoforms.com/UniversityOfArizona11/AbstractSubmissions" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#0563C1">https://www.cognitoforms.com/UniversityOfArizona11/AbstractSubmissions</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Recommended Hotel Reservation Link (with group discounted rates): </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1711657059339&key=GRP&app=resvlink" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#0563C1">https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1711657059339&key=GRP&app=resvlink</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">International Symposium on Rice Functional Genomics 2024</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Celebrating 20 Years of the Rice Genome</span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Little Rock<span class="gmaildefault"> & </span>Stuttgart, Arkansas </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">9-11 September, 2024</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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