SSR Trainee Research Award Winners

Please help us congratulate the winners of the 2013 SSR Trainee Research Awards!

SSR Trainee Research Awards: Poster
First Place: Linah Al-Alem (University of Kentucky)
Second Place: Erica Ungewitter (NIEHS)
Third Place: Elon Roti Roti (University of Wisconsin–Madison)

SSR Trainee Research Awards: Platform
First Place: Chang Liu (NIEHS)
Second Place: Genna Stodden (Southern Illinois University)
Third Place: Kalyne Bertolin (University of Montreal)

T-Shirts, Award Presentations, Business Meeting, BBQ and Dance

T-Shirts Available

People are loving this year's commemorative t-shirts! Get yours in Room 522a for just $15, with proceeds benefiting the LEMTTF.

Awards Presentations

At 5:05 p.m., please join us in Room 517d to recognize the recipients of the International Scholar Award (Kakhyun Ka, Ph.D.), Regional Abstract Awards, and the finalists and winners of the Trainee Research Poster and Platform Awards.

Business Meeting

Immediately following the Award Presentations, keep your seat to bid farewell to outgoing President Susan Suarez, preview SSR 2014 in Grand Rapids, welcome incoming President Jock Findlay, and generally be an active, informed, and responsible member of your Society.

Barbecue and Dance

Remember, you don't need a ticket to the barbecue in order to attend the dance. Feel free to drop by Room 710 anytime after 9 p.m. to enjoy the cash bar and raucous medleys of Atomic The Band.

Fun Run Results, BOR Drawing Winner, Platform Correction

Fun Run Results

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the SSR 2013 Fun Run/Walk! We've heard that the course was absolutely beautiful.

Top Male Finishers

1. Angus D. Macaulay        20:06
2. Brendan Maher              21:08
3. Marcelo F. Martinez       22:58
4. Pedro Trejo                    24:50

Top Female Finishers
1. Lacey Gibson                   20:44
2. Victoria Cabrera-Sharp    25:22
3. Caterina Clementi            25:26
4. Jane C. Fenelon               27:00
5. Nicole A. Edwards            27:31

BOR Drawing Winner

Congratulations to Malini Laloraya, who has won the final drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card at the Biology of Reproduction exhibit booth! Thank you to everyone for stopping by and remember to submit your best work to BOR.

Reminder: Platform Correction

In the Program Book, Abstract 175, "LINE-1 (L1) Retrotransposon Activity and Fetal Oocyte Attrition," by Safia Malki and Alex Bortvin, is incorrectly listed under Platform 19. Instead, it is the first presentation in Platform 20, Oocyte Biology (1:00–2:30 p.m., Room 518).

BOR Drawing Winner

Congratulations to Laura Clamon Schulz, who won yesterday's drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card from the Biology of Reproduction exhibit booth! There will be one more drawing, so please stop by the BOR booth this afternoon to complete today's survey.

Presenter Update

In Reproductive Tracts Session IV, Patricia A. Martin-DeLeon, Ph.D., replaces Amal AlDossary as presenter of Abstract 158, "Oviductal Exosomes (Oviductosomes) Are Involved in the Transfer of Plasma Membrane Ca2+-ATPase 4a (PMCA4a) to Murine Sperm During Capacitation."

On-Site Newsletter, Volunteer Announcement, Program Updates

On-Site Newsletter

Thanks to the Local Arrangements Committee, this year's on-site Newsletter has been translated into both French and Spanish. Pick up your copy in Foyer 517.

Trainee Volunteer Announcement

Any trainees who were unable to attend the Volunteers Meeting should visit the Trainee Volunteer Room (Room 521a) to pick up their SSR t-shirt and check the volunteer schedule.

Program Correction

Abstract 175 will be presented as part of Platform 20, Oocyte Biology (Thursday, 25 July, 1:00–2:30 p.m., Room 518), and not Platform 19.

Program Change

Brian P. Hermann, Ph.D., replaces Austin J. Cooney, Ph.D., as the chair of Platform Session 14, Stem Cell Characterization and Regulation.

Trainee Forum Sign-Up

The 2013 Trainee Forum will take place on Friday, 26 July 2013, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Palais des congrès, Room 518 (Schedule of Events).

The Forum is open to all meeting attendees; however, you must be registered to attend. If you still need to register, you may do so on a first-come, first-served basis by sending an e-mail to trainees@ssr.org before 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 23 July.

The Trainee Affairs Committee has assembled two panels of outstanding SSR members who have served or currently serve on search committees in academia, government, and the private sector to help attendees learn about the job options available to reproductive biologists, how to prepare a job application package and give an outstanding interview, and what to do after receiving a job offer.

The roster of extraordinary mentors includes Dr. Sarah Robertson (University of Adelaide), Dr. Bruce Murphy (University of Montréal), Dr. Fuller Bazer (Texas A&M University), Dr. Humphrey Yao (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences), Dr. Tom Curry (University of Kentucky), Dr. Mary Ann Handel (The Jackson Laboratory), and Dr. Charlotte Schubert (freelance science writer).

Online Meeting Supplement, App

Online Meeting Supplement Now Available

For the first time, browse an interactive version of the SSR Annual Meeting Supplement online before, during, or after the Meeting. You may also download the PDF version to your laptop or mobile device to read offline, although you will lose some of the interactive features:

• Turn the page by clicking a corner.
• Navigate using the Table of Contents (click on the section) or the  icon in the upper right-hand corner.

• Jump to full SSR abstracts from the Schedule of Events (click on the abstract number) or the Poster Key (click on a topic category).

• Plan your route through the first and fifth floors of the Palais or the poster display area using the maps on pages 22 and 23.

• Use the icons in the upper right-hand corner to engage with social media, save the Supplement to your desktop in PDF format, print, or "access more functionality and features" (e.g., search the text, add flags or notes, or switch views).

Free Meeting App

Also for the first time, you can view meeting information through the Guidebook app, which is freely available for both Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. Although the SSR 2013 app will not be available until the meeting, you can download Guidebook now:

• Go to the app store you prefer for your device (iTunes, GooglePlay, Amazon Appstore).
• Search for "Guidebook".
• Download the application.

Information on how to download the SSR 2013 Guidebook will be available on-site.

Board and Committee Meetings

Unless otherwise noted: 1) meetings are closed (i.e., only members of that board or committee may attend), and 2) room numbers apply to the Palais des congrès.

Saturday, 20 July 2013

  3:00 pm–5:00 pm: Finance Committee (InterContinental Montréal Hotel).

  7:00 pm–10:00 pm: Board of Directors (InterContinental Montréal Hotel).

Sunday, 21 July 2013

  8:00 am–5:00 pm: Board of Directors (InterContinental Montréal Hotel).

Monday, 22 July 2013

  7:30 am–12:00 pm: BOR Editorial Retreat (Room 514ab).

  12:15 pm–12:45 pm: Volunteers (Room 518).

  1:00 pm–1:45 pm: Session Chairs (Room 518).

  1:50 pm–3:00 pm: Program Committee (Room 518).

Tuesday, 23 July 2013

  11:35 am–1:00 pm: Development Committee (Room 524a).

                                   Membership Committee (Room 524b).

                                   Public Affairs Committee (Room 524c).

  6:45 pm–7:30 pm: Trainee Affairs Committee (Room 525ab).

Wednesday, 24 July 2013

  11:30 am–1:00 pm: Awards Committee (Room 524a).

                                   Publications Committee (Room 524c).

Thursday, 25 July 2013

  7:00 am–8:30 am: Future Meetings Committee (Room 525ab).

  11:35 am–1:00 pm: Minority Affairs Committee (Room 524a).

                                   Nominating Committee (Room 524b).

  1:00 pm–2:30 pm: Heritage Committee (Room 514).

  5:05 pm–6:30 pm: SSR Business Meeting—OPEN TO ALL ATTENDEES (Room 517d).

Friday, 26 July 2013

  8:00 am–9:30 am: 2013–2014 Board of Directors (Room 521bc).

Fun Run Info, Tourisme Montréal Activities, Exhibits and Support

Fun Run Information

Fun Run Flyer

Full details are now available for the SSR Fun Run on Wednesday, 24 July 2013. If you still need to register, please do so at the Meeting for $15 (t-shirt not included).

Buses will leave the Palais des congrès (200 Viger Ave. entrance) at 5:30 a.m. to take runners and walkers to Mount Royal Park for a 4.8-km circuit through the local forest. Mount Royal is the heart of Montréal, the city’s most cherished green space. The course includes a nice mix of shallow-grade uphill and downhill stretches as well as beautiful scenery and a stunning view of Montréal.

At the finish line, refreshments will be served: Montréal’s famous handmade bagels from St-Viateur Bagel and bottles of water. Buses will leave the park at 7:30 a.m.

Please read the Fun Run Flyer for complete information.

Tourisme Montréal: Airport Welcome Booth and #MTLMOMENTS

#MTLMOMENTS Photo Frame

Meeting attendees arriving at Montréal-Trudeau Airport (YUL) are encouraged to visit the SSR 2013 Welcome Booth in the International Arrivals terminal. The booth will be staffed by members of Tourisme Montréal and the SSR Local Arrangements Committee (look for their yellow SSR 2013 t-shirts) and will be open at these times:
    Sunday............11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. EDT
    Monday............9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. EDT

At the Meeting, take a picture with your colleagues behind the large picture frame that will appear in the convention center. Courtesy of Tourisme Montréal, the frame is part of a campaign to encourage visitors to post their experiences in Montréal on social media. There will also be hand-held frames for spontaneous photo ops. Use the hashtag #MTLMOMENTS to join the conversation!

Exhibits and Support

Visit the updated Exhibits page for exhibit hours and a list of the exhibitors with links to each homepage. The Support page is now complete with each supporter's logo (click the logo to visit the homepage), contribution level, and the specific events that they supported. Please help us thank our generous contributors for helping to make SSR 2013 a reality!

Online Itinerary, CME Test Questions, Roommate Referral Deadline

Online Itinerary Is Live

Visit Precis Central to search the SSR Program by:

• Presenter Last Name, full or partial 
• Presenter Institution/Department, full or partial 
• Abstract Title, full or partial 
• Phrase/Keyword, in Abstract and Keywords 
• Topic (Submission) Category 
• Session 
• Session Type 
• Day 

It's best to start with simple searches, such as by a single day, last name, topic category, or keyword. If your search delivers zero results, then you have selected conflicting search parameters.

On the Search Results page, simply click to read full abstracts or save them to your personal itinerary (My Itinerary). When you first attempt to add a session to your itinerary, you will be asked to log in. If you've submitted an abstract to BOR in the last two years, then you already have a Precis login; the system will let you know if your e-mail address is already associated with an account.

CME Pre-Test Questions

Download the updated 2013 CME Supplement to view the pre-test questions. An online pre‐test with these questions will be e-mailed to pre-registered CME participants by ASRM prior to the meeting in order to assess pre‐training competence.

If you still need to register for CME accreditation, you may do so at the meeting; a sign-up sheet and CME Supplement packet will be available near the registration area.

Roommate Referral Deadline

Be sure to sign up for the roommate referral service if you haven't already done so. It will close at the end of the day on Tuesday, 2 July 2013.

Registration Deadline, Hotel Reservations, Trainee Forum, Schedule Changes

Registration Deadline

Be sure to register for the Meeting by the end of the day Friday, 28 June 2013. Registration forms received after 28 June will not be processed until the meeting starts in Montréal. Registration will be available on site at the meeting.

Hotel Reminders

Hotels are filling up. There is still space available at the Holiday Inn Select Montréal Centre-Ville Downtown, but the SSR block will close on Friday, 5 July 2013. Don't delay!

Trainee Forum Details

The detailed Trainee Forum schedule has been released! Entitled "Transitioning into an Independent Career," the forum will take place on Friday, July 26, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in Room 518. Although the Forum is open to all meeting attendees, you must have registered to attend.

Schedule Changes

Session chairs, room numbers, and platform session details have been added to the Schedule of Events. In addition, a lecture title has been confirmed and the second invited talk in Gametes Session IV will be given by Dr. Jean-Ju L. Chung instead of Dr. Betsy Navarro.

SSR New Investigator Lecture. Palais des congrès, Room 520abc.

• Stephanie A. Pangas, Ph.D. (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas). "Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling in Ovary Development and Disease."

Gametes Session IV. Gamete Function in Fertilization. Room 520abc. Chair: Nuch Tanphaichitr, Ph.D. (Ottawa Health Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada).

• Invited Talk. Jean-Ju L. Chung, Ph.D. (Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts). "Progress in CatSper, the Spermatozoan-Specific Calcium Channel."

Trainee-Mentor Luncheon, Special Needs, On-Site Information, Schedule Changes

Trainee-Mentor Luncheon

If you were unable to register online for the Trainee-Mentor Luncheon in the last few weeks, that's because it was sold out. But the Trainee Affairs Committee has recruited several more mentors, and registration is open again!

If you've already registered for the Meeting and want to add the Trainee-Mentor Luncheon, please complete an additional registration form with payment for the ticket ($15). Unsold tickets will also be for sale at the meeting.

Special Needs Requests

All Palais entrances are wheelchair accessible and every room is equipped with an assistive listening system for the hearing impaired (headset available upon request). 

If you require special dietary or physical accommodations, please contact the SSR Business Office as soon as possible (608-256-2777; ssr-am@ssr.org).

On-Site Information

Visit the SSR 2013 On-Site Information page for information about your stay in Montreal. It includes online weather links, recommended conference attire, internet accessibility, and identifies local copying, faxing, dining, entertainment, and medical facilities.

Schedule Changes

A title has been provided for the following scientific session:

• Concurrent Exchange Lectures. Palais des congrès, Room 520def.
            SRF New Investigator. Adam Watkins, Ph.D. (University of
            Nottingham, Leicestershire, United Kingdom). Periconceptual
            Environment and Offspring Health.

June 2013 SSR Newsletter, Announcements Page

SSR 2013 Newsletter

The June 2013 SSR Newsletter is chock full of breaking news, including the 2013 election results; SSR 2013 event updates; reports from the SSR President, Treasurer, and Committees; a letter from the incoming and outgoing BOR Editors-in-Chief; and much more!

Announcements Page

Visit the new SSR Announcements page for miscellaneous SSR 2013 information regarding tote bags (bring your own!), the 2013 t-shirt design, uncatered meals, prepping your mobile devices for international travel, and the Just for Laughs comedy festival (10% discount for SSR attendees).

SSR 2013 CME Accreditation

CME credits are available again this year to participants in SSR's Annual Meeting!

You may register for CME accreditation on the Annual Meeting registration form or at the meeting, where a sign-up sheet and CME Supplement packet will be available near the registration area.

For more information, please download SSR's 2013 CME Supplement. Updates will be posted on SSR's Continuing Medical Education (CME) Accreditation as they become available.

Messages from the Program Chairs, President, Trainee Volunteer Subcommittee, and Roommate Referral Service

Welcome from the Program Chairs and President of SSR

Welcome to the beautiful city of Montréal! We invite you to join us and fellow researchers from around the world for this extraordinary meeting. Its theme is "Reproductive Health: Nano to Global," illustrating the breadth of reproductive biology in approaches, applicability, and global impact.

Our plenary speakers will discuss small RNAs in the reproductive process, bioengineering, statistical genomics, sex differences in susceptibility to disease, production of germ cells from stem cells, historical perspectives on the mechanisms of ovulation, and endocrine disruptors in the environment. Each afternoon, four themed modules consisting of invited talks and platform presentations will focus on cutting edge areas in the reproductive sciences. We have received over 800 abstract submissions, which will be presented in modules, platform sessions, and posters—there are delights for every palate.

Trainees attending the meeting are encouraged to register for the Trainee-Mentor Luncheon and to attend the Trainee Forum to get tips on how to find and win the best job.

We look forward to seeing you this summer.

—Janice L. Bailey and Janice P. Evans, Program Committee Co-Chairs

—Susan S. Suarez, SSR President

Message from the Trainee Volunteer Subcommittee

We need your help to make this meeting a huge success! Trainee volunteers are responsible for the behind the scenes action, including help with:

• Placement Service
• Posters
• Pre-Registration Desk
• Sessions and Symposia
• Signage
• Slide Preview Room
• Social Events
• Trainee-Mentor Luncheon

SSR is especially devoted to enhancing the trainee experience; therefore, if you plan to attend the meeting, we strongly urge you to take advantage of this opportunity to participate as a trainee volunteer. It’s a great way to meet peers and network with influential scientists in our field! To volunteer, please fill out the volunteer questionnaire.

See you in Montréal!

—Sadhat Walusimbi and Jane Fenelon, Trainee Volunteer Subcommittee Co-Chairs 

Trainee Volunteer Testimonials

“…this experience has prepared me to play a bigger role in SSR meetings of the upcoming years.”

—Manasi Kamat, Penn State University

“A good opportunity to make valuable contacts and exchange experiences.”

—Cynthia Dela Cruz, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

“It is an experience I look forward to every year.”

—Heather Stowe, Clemson University

Roommate Referral Service

The SSR Roommate Referral Service maintains a list of attendees who are interested in sharing the cost of a hotel room for the 2013 Annual Meeting. SSR Trainee Member Florencia Ardon will manage this service for the Montréal meeting. If you would like to be part of the Roommate Referral Service, please fill out the Roommate Referral Form.

Presentation Assignments for Accepted Abstracts

A searchable list of all currently accepted 2013 SSR Annual Meeting abstracts is now available on the SSR website at http://www.ssr.org/Documents/2013-04-30Presentations.pdf.

Abstracts are listed by presentation number; the following information is provided:

• Presentation format 
• Presentation date 
• Presentation time 
• Session name 
• Session duration 
• Abstract submission number 
• Abstract title (truncated) 
• Author names 

Presenting authors of abstracts were sent individual presentation notifications via e-mail on 19 April 2013 or 24 April 2013. If you have any questions about program assignments, please e-mail the SSR Business Office at ssr-am@ssr.org.

Late-Breaking Abstracts: 25 April–9 May 2013

Beginning on Thursday, 25 April 2013, and ending on Thursday, 9 May 2013, the SSR Program Committee will welcome late-breaking abstracts that report new basic, clinical, or translational research findings concerning reproduction. 

As with regular abstracts, authors do not need to be members of SSR and there are no restrictions on species studied; however, all accepted late-breaking abstracts will be presented as posters. 

Failure to comply with all rules for the submission and format of abstracts may be cause for rejection.

Please visit the 2013 Late-Breaking Abstracts page for details:

• SSR 2013 Abstracts
• Rules Governing Submission of Late-Breaking Abstracts
• Submission Process for Late-Breaking Meeting Abstracts
• To Submit an Abstract
• Submission Process Details

Abstract Decisions, Redesigned SSR Meetings Page, Tourisme Montréal Microsite, Schedule Change

Abstract Decisions Announced

If you submitted an abstract to SSR 2013 this winter, then a decision notification e-mail was sent to you on Thursday the 28th or Friday the 29th of March. If you did not receive a message, please contact the SSR Business Office at ssr-am@ssr.org.

Presentation notifications are expected to be distributed in mid- to late-April 2013.

Redesigned SSR Meetings Page

Have you seen the redesigned SSR Meetings page? Tell us what you think!

Tourisme Montréal: SSR 2013 Microsite

Tourisme Montréal has developed an SSR 2013-specific website at http://ssr.alamontreal.com that includes a calendar of events and a discount coupon book (click on the "Exclusive Offers" tab). Take a look!

Schedule Changes

A title has been provided for the following scientific session:

• Gametes Session 4. Gamete Function in Fertilization.
            Invited Talk. Betsy Navarro, Ph.D. (Harvard Medical School, Boston,
            Massachusetts). Progress in CatSper, the Spermatozoan-Specific
            Calcium Channel.

LAC Welcome, Burroughs Wellcome Applications, Heritage Luncheon, Diversity Activities

Welcome from the 2013 Local Arrangements Committee

Montréal is a thoroughly international and multilingual city that celebrates the summer with festivals and activities for everyone.

This meeting will boast two tourism web sites: one by Tourisme Montréal (under development) and one by the Local Arrangements Committee (LAC; http://www.ssr2013.com). An initiative of Géraldine Delbès, the LAC site provides our personal perspectives on the multiple attractions in and about Montréal. You'll find blogs about the local terrain, points of interest, getting around town, our favorite restaurants, and, of course, tips on how to enjoy Montréal's renowned nightlife.

The meeting overlaps with Montréal's famous comedy festival, Just for Laughs, with comedy clubs, comedy shows, and street performers all near the Palais. And the weather is glorious in July; sun all day and shirt-sleeve evenings.

We promise an exciting meeting and a unique cultural experience for SSR 2013!

—Bruce Murphy and Hugh Clarke, Co-Chairs

Burroughs Wellcome Travel Fellowship Applications

Applications are now available for 2013 Burroughs Wellcome Travel Fellowships for underrepresented minority trainees and junior faculty from the U.S. or Canada. Please visit the Travel Fellowships page for eligibility details and to download an application. The deadline is 10 May 2013.

Heritage Luncheon 

The SSR Heritage Committee is hosting a luncheon and talk honoring Professor Alfred Jost, who is recognized as the father of modern fetal endocrinology and his discovery of the Müllerian inhibitor (now known as anti-Müllerian hormone [AMH] or Müllerian-inhibiting substance). The presentation will be delivered by Dr. Nathalie Josso (Institut Paris-Sud sur les Cytokines, INSERM, Clamart, France), who was a student with Dr. Jost and participated in his pioneer work. Please see the Special Events page for session rates.

Diversity Activities

The Minority Affairs/Diversity Committee organizes several events during the SSR meeting, including:

• Travel Awards and Fellowships for Underrepresented Trainees and Junior Faculty
• Lunch Symposium and Reception
• Exhibit Booth

Abstract Deadline Extended; SSR 2013 Awardees Announced

Deadline for SSR 2013 Abstracts and Trainee Awards Extended

Due to the severity of the snowstorm in the Northeastern United States and its effect on infrastucture, the abstract deadline for the 2013 annual meeting of SSR and the qualification deadline for Trainee awards have been extended to the end of the day, 24:00h US Eastern Time (GMT -5:00), on Friday, 22 February 2013.

SSR 2013 Awards Announced

Please join us in congratulating the SSR 2013 Awardees, whose awards will be presented during the SSR 2013 Annual Meeting, 22–26 July 2013. Please refer to the Schedule of Events for dates and times.

• 2013 Carl G. Hartman Award (sponsored by Cook Medical): Dr. Michael D. Griswold, Washington State University.

• 2013 SSR Research Award: Dr. Thomas E. Spencer, Washington State University.

• 2013 SSR Distinguished Service Award (sponsored by EMD Serono Research Institute): Dr. Edward M. Eddy, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

• 2013 SSR New Investigator Award (sponsored by the Virendra B. Mahesh New Investigator Fund): Dr. Stephanie A. Pangas, Baylor College of Medicine.

• 2013 SSR Trainee Mentoring Award (sponsored by the SSR Training Mentoring Fund): Dr. Gordon D. Niswender, Colorado State University.

Meeting Registration Open

Registration for SSR 2013 is now available! Visit the SSR 2013 Registration page for important information regarding:

• Registration fees
• Optional events/items
• Online & printable registration forms
• On-site registration
• Confirmation and receipts
• Cancellation
• Questions about registration

Attendees are responsible for arranging their own lodging; please visit the Accommodations page for information.

Important Dates

Discounted registration ends: 31 May 2013
Preregistration ends: 28 June 2013
On-site registration begins: 22 July 2013

Contact Us

Please contact the SSR Registration office with any questions.

     E-mail: registration@ssr.org
     Phone: 608.256.2777
     Fax: 608.256.4610
     Web: http://www.ssr.org

SSR 2013 Updates: Week of 27 February 2013

Special Events

Preliminary information about SSR 2013's Special Events and Optional Items is now online. Find out what's in store for the:

• Opening Reception
• 5K Fun Run/Walk
• Trainee/Mentor Luncheon
• Heritage Luncheon
• Minority Affairs Lunch Symposium
• Barbecue & Dance
• Commemorative SSR 2013 t-shirts

Schedule Changes

Titles have been provided for the following scientific sessions:

• Hormones Session 1. Neuroendocrinology, Hypothalamus. 

  Invited Talk. Stephanie Seminara, M.D. (Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts). The Hypothalamic Control of Reproduction: A Kiss to Remember. 

• Minority Affairs/Diversity Committee Lunch Symposium.

  Tyrone Hayes, Ph.D. (University of California–Berkeley, Berkeley, California). From Silent Spring to Silent Night: A Tale of Toads and Men.

SSR 2013 Newsletter

Catch up on Society activities with the February 2013 SSR Newsletter. Past issues are also available.

Event Schedule and Scientific Program

SSR has just released its preliminary Schedule of Events and Scientific Program! SSR will continue to update these pages as additional information becomes available, so check back often or subscribe to this blog for announcements.

Here's a quick overview of the program structure by Program Committee Co-Chairs Janice L. Bailey, Ph.D., and Janice P. Evans, Ph.D.

The four modules for the 2013 meeting represent the four pillars of reproductive biology:

1. Gametes: Including germ cells, germline stem cells, meiosis, gametogenesis, fertilization, gamete maturation, early embryonic development, the oocyte-to-embryo transition.

2. Gonads: Including testis and ovary, somatic cells and germ cells (and their interactions), gametogenesis, hormone signaling.

3. Hormones: Including steroid hormones, steroidogenesis, peptide hormones, hormone signaling, neuroendocrinology.

4. Reproductive Tracts: Including male and female tracts (oviduct, uterus, epididymis, etc.), implantation, parturition, placenta, gamete/embryo maturation and transport in the male and female tracts, pathologies of the tracts.

Each of the four modules will consist of five sessions over three days, each session having a different, specific focus. Sessions will include both invited speakers and platform presentations selected from the submitted abstracts. A principal objective for the modular system is to generate more in-depth discussion; session chairs will provide a unifying introduction to each session and serve as discussion leaders.

The 2013 program has been designed to maximize the number of platform presentations. Over the course of the meeting, a whopping 170 platform presentations will be a part of the program in concurrent platform sessions in the early afternoons and in module sessions in later afternoons. The poster sessions will provide an ideal place for concentrated, face-to-face scientific exchange. All posters will remain on display for the duration of the meeting.

Be sure to read SSR's February 2013 newsletter for the Program Committee's full report. Which sessions are you most excited about?