Alan Schulman, Group Leader at the Institute of Biotechnology in the University of Helsinki, and Professor at Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), has been elected as President of European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO). He will begin his 3-year term on 1 December 2018.
EPSO is an independent organisation that represents more than 220 research institutes, departments and universities from 31 countries in Europe and beyond. It is governed by a president and two vice presidents serving on a board of ten, elected by the member organisations from among their representatives at large.
Member organisations in Finland include Luke, VTT, and a university cluster comprised of the Universities of Helsinki, Turku, Eastern Finland, and Oulu.
EPSO's mission is to improve the impact and visibility of plant science in Europe. EPSO's top priorities are to facilitate the understanding of plant science, to boost funding for plant research and to coordinate research activities at national, European, and global levels.
EPSO interacts with the European Commission, Members of the European Parliament, and national politicians, providing recommendations on European and global science policy. EPSO co-founded one of the first European Technology Platforms, 'Plants for the Future', where it today works alongside the European Seed Association and individual companies from industry, and Copa-Cogeca, representing the European farmers.