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Dear Colleagues,</div>
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This is the final reminder to please register for the SPLS Retreat using this <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4kKXgpnGMa6ei_EGlnN9imeOxCFHUc6ZbEFKGiffO3MG92g/viewform" target="_blank" id="OWAa9865dbf-3934-3e71-d6d0-e5e00c6e7c50" class="x_OWAAutoLink" title="Original URL: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4kKXgpnGMa6ei_EGlnN9imeOxCFHUc6ZbEFKGiffO3MG92g/viewform. Click or tap if you trust this link." rel="noopener noreferrer" originalsrc="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4kKXgpnGMa6ei_EGlnN9imeOxCFHUc6ZbEFKGiffO3MG92g/viewform" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" style="margin: 0px;">
Google Form</a>.</div>
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We kindly ask that you register as soon as possible <b>(deadline: next Monday, May 4).
</b>Having an accurate headcount is essential for the Retreat Committee to finalize the program schedule and food arrangements efficiently and promptly. Registration is FREE!</div>
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Ple</div>
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<u>Highlights of this year's retreat:</u></div>
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<div class="elementToProof" role="presentation" style="margin: 1em 0px;">Two special guest speakers who will be bringing diverse perspectives:</div>
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<div class="elementToProof" role="presentation" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><a href="https://bse.unl.edu/person/nipuna-chamara/" target="_blank" id="OWAdfecafab-6d2d-956c-7c0e-74230bb67a4a" class="x_OWAAutoLink" title="Original URL: https://bse.unl.edu/person/nipuna-chamara/. Click or tap if you trust this link." rel="noopener noreferrer" originalsrc="https://bse.unl.edu/person/nipuna-chamara/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1" style="margin: 0px;">Dr.
Nipuna Chamara</a> from the University of Nebraska, whose work focuses on applying AI to agricultural systems</div>
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<div class="elementToProof" role="presentation" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-waller-phd-473485205/" target="_blank" id="OWAab7add72-0c21-849e-7a34-123c1f242d19" class="x_OWAAutoLink" title="Original URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-waller-phd-473485205/. Click or tap if you trust this link." rel="noopener noreferrer" originalsrc="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-waller-phd-473485205/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2" style="margin: 0px;">Dr.
Rebekah Waller</a> from <a href="https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/study/division-programs#plant-science" target="_blank" id="OWA634921f8-13ee-715f-a5f0-f1fd6a3af541" class="x_OWAAutoLink" title="Original URL: https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/study/division-programs#plant-science. Click or tap if you trust this link." rel="noopener noreferrer" originalsrc="https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/study/division-programs#plant-science" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3" style="margin: 0px;">
KAUST</a>, who is the Staff Engineer-Scientist, Station Director, Wadi Qudaid Experiment Station, and Co-PI with the KAUST Center of Excellence in Sustainable Food Security</div>
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<div class="elementToProof" role="presentation" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Graduate students (including those not in SPLS but working in SPLS labs) are very welcome—please share this with them and encourage them
to register for free</span></div>
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<div class="elementToProof" role="presentation" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Undergraduate students in your labs are also encouraged to attend and participate, and they can also register for free</span></div>
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<div class="elementToProof" role="presentation" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Competitions and cash awards (feel free to present posters you have already prepared): </span></div>
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<div class="elementToProof" role="presentation" style="margin: 1em 0px;">Graduate student poster awards across multiple categories (four) and multiple levels (2-3 in each category), supported by a generous anonymous donor (~$1,000 total in awards)</div>
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<div class="elementToProof" role="presentation" style="margin: 1em 0px;">Undergraduate poster awards (totaling $150, with 2–3 prizes)</div>
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<div class="elementToProof" role="presentation" style="margin: 1em 0px;">Best Paper for graduate students and postdocs (cash awards, two each), including selected winners to give talks</div>
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<b>The registration link will allow you to submit your information for each competition. We strongly encourage you to register and share this with your lab members.</b> Your participation will help make this retreat engaging, representative, and successful.
Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you at the retreat.</div>
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SPLS 2026 retreat committee</div>
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(Dave Baltrus, Ali Mohammed, Ravi Palanivelu, Kelsey Pryze, Dave Romens, Rod Wing, Zhongguo Xiong)</div>
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<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">-- </div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">Ravishankar Palanivelu, Ph. D.</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">Professor</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">School of Plant Sciences</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">University of Arizona</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">Tucson, Arizona, 85721</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">Phone: 520-626-2229</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">Fax: 520-621-7186</div>
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Lab website: sites.arizona.edu/ravi-lab</div>
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