Given the outcome of the US presidential election, some of our members have asked us if they should fear an erosion of federal support for research funding. Others have asked more pointed questions, such as: What is the GSA doing to defend the interests of geneticists? Young scientists, they’ve told us, are now even more worried about their future in science. What will happen when the upcoming administration appoints a new NIH Director, White House science adviser, and leaders of other scientific agencies? How secure are international postdocs who want to stay in the United States?
As GSA’s Executive Director, I have heard your concerns and, indeed, share many of them. But in this time of uncertainty, know that you’re not alone.
GSA is about more than our 5700 members. We work to promote the value of science, in the US and throughout the world. We bring together scientists and ideas, and we advocate for discoveries fueled by curiosity. We advance model organism research and its powerful contributions to knowledge. And we embrace our responsibility to help ensure the fiscal and intellectual sustainability of research in genetics and genomics. We’re in science for the long-term – our view spans not just months or years, but decades and beyond.
It is more urgent than ever for GSA to advocate for you and to provide a forum that brings together our communities to articulate the interests and priorities of geneticists. We find strength working with other groups, and actively participate in advocacy coalitions that include the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), the Coalition of Life Sciences (CLS), and Research!America. These coalitions represent hundreds of thousands of scientists.
We empower our members to engage in direct advocacy by coordinating events such as Capitol Hill Days, when they can share with Congress the importance of their work. Sonia Hall, GSA’s newly-appointed Program Director for Early-Career Scientist engagement, recently met with Congressional representatives and staffers in Washington, D.C. She talked about the trainee experience and the future scientific workforce. She also touched on the significant investment taxpayers made into her career and reminded lawmakers that failing to fund biological research makes it difficult for highly-trained talent to stay in research intensive positions.
Having a strong voice is especially important to our student and postdoc members. We’re working to bring together these vital contributors to our community, recruiting them to important roles on GSA committees that help shape our vision. This past summer, trainee advisory representatives made insightful, energetic contributions to our society’s big experiment, The Allied Genetics Conference, which brought seven separate research community meetings under one roof and attracted over 3000 attendees from 46 countries.
In 2017, GSA plans to form a new committee composed of graduate students and postdocs focused on issues like scientific policy, communications, and outreach. This committee will be another way for GSA to engage with its younger members and for these members to effect real change.
How can you help? Send us your ideas and ask questions. Contribute to our trainee advisory board, write a post for our Genes to Genomes blog, complete our surveys so we can better understand and represent you. Propose a workshop at a GSA-sponsored meeting. Become a GSA member and help us amplify all our voices by encouraging others in your lab to check us out. Contact me directly if you want to talk or if you’re struggling with a situation I might be able to ameliorate.
Take the time to call your elected officials or visit their staff, whether locally or in Washington, D.C. Better yet, contact GSA beforehand, so one of us or another scientist can accompany you on your visit. Engage with friends and family — and show them why science matters.
Over the coming months and years, we must be relentless in our support for science and its values of curiosity, respect for evidence, collaboration, an open mind, integrity, and dogged persistence, among others.
As good scientific citizens, let’s find our commonalities and discuss our differences. Let’s never stop exploring, asking questions, having fun, and collaborating with one another. Let’s continue to speak — especially with those who may not agree — about why science and evidence are so important. Let’s continue to be inclusive.
Let’s face the uncertainty. Together.
Tracey DePellegrin is Executive Director of the Genetics Society of America and Executive Editor of GENETICS and G3. Follow her on Twitter @editor_traceyd.
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Thank you, GSA community!
Thank you for being a member of the Genetics Society of America! As GSA’s current president, I am writing to tell you about Society projects and initiatives that we hope you will find useful in advancing your science and your career. Scientific research is a collaborative and exciting endeavor. Scientific societies like GSA exist to…
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Where are they now? Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award recipients share updates on their research
Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award applications are open–make sure you submit your application or nomination of a colleague by September 30, 2024.
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University of Minnesota researchers map genome of the last living wild horse species
The study, published in G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics, is part of larger conservation efforts to save Przewalski’s horse.
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Congratulations to the Spring 2024 DeLill Nasser Awardees!
GSA is pleased to announce the recipients of the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics for Spring 2024! Given twice a year to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, DeLill Nasser Awards support attendance at meetings and laboratory courses. The award is named in honor of DeLill Nasser, a long-time GSA supporter and National Science Foundation…
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Carolyn Damilola: an NFS Rising Scientist on a lifelong quest to learn more
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What does a good microgrant proposal look like?
Members of the Microgrant Review Committee share their tips for a successful proposal.
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The first piece of the facial recognition puzzle
New research in GENETICS gives a first peek at the molecular pathway involved in recognizing faces.
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New Senior Editor Amy MacQueen joins GENETICS
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Block party on the zebrafish sex chromosome
Research in G3 identifies a gene regulatory block of the zebrafish genome responsible for overseeing the maternal-to-zygotic-transition.
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Unraveling the mysteries of duckweed: epigenetic insights from Spirodela polyrhiza
Research published in G3 offers insight into the impact of DNA methylation on clonal propagation in asexually reproducing plants.
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A microbiologist’s quest to understand CRISPR in bacterial self-defense
2024 Genetics Society of America Medal recipient Luciano Marraffini determined how CRISPR-Cas systems destroy genetic targets with precision, paving the way for gene editing technology development.
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Unlocking mysteries of trait and disease heritability in dogs
2024 Edward Novitski Prize recipient Elaine Ostrander, a pioneer of the domestic dog model, discovered numerous genes affecting dog size, morphology, behavior, and disease susceptibility—many of which have relevance in humans.
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GSA and collaborators Personal Genetics Education & Dialogue and Reclaiming STEM Institute launch NSF-funded BIO-LEAPS project to support culture change in genetics
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Daman Saluja: Navigating Science and Policy in India
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A fly geneticist’s journey into discovering rules of organ development
2024 George W. Beadle Award recipient Deborah Andrew discovered new genes and pathways in Drosophila salivary gland organogenesis. Now, her work can help optimize cell secretion in therapeutic applications and fight malaria.
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Małgorzata Gazda: How receiving the DeLill Nasser Award helped her land her dream job
Have you ever experienced an event that changes the course of your life, or in this case, your career? Małgorzata (Gosia) Gazda is Assistant Professor at the University of Montreal and in 2022, she received the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics, which she used to attend and present at the 2022 Population,…
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Hongyu Zhao joins GENETICS as new Senior Editor
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GSA Member Julio Molina Pineda Receives DeLill Nasser Award, Shines at TAGC 2024
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In Memoriam: Ellsworth Herman Grell (1932–2023), a pioneer of Drosophila genome engineering and annotation
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Congratulations to the #Fungal24 Poster Award winners!
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Poster presentation tips for TAGC 2024
You’ve been selected to present a poster at The Allied Genetics Conference 2024 in March—you’ve celebrated, made plans to attend, now what? This is an exciting opportunity to showcase your research and engage with fellow members of the genetics community, so you want to make sure you’re prepared. We wanted to offer you some tips…
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Maximize your TAGC 2024 experience
A guide to all that National Harbor & DC have to offer Are you joining us for The Allied Genetics Conference 2024 in March? Make the most of your #TAGC24 experience in National Harbor! We know the science will keep you busy, but you deserve to unwind and have some fun, so we’ve curated a…
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Early Career Leadership Spotlight: Sarah Petrosky
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TAGC 2024 Early Career Award Winners
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Preeminent geneticists recognized with revamped GSA Awards
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Fly Board funds outreach programs to spread the word about Drosophila research
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New members of the GSA Board of Directors: 2025–2027
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Meet embGAN, a revolution for cell lineage studies
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