The American Phytopathological Society: A Century Plus Ten Years Young
R. James Cook: Washington State University
<div><span>The decision to form what became the American Phytopathological Society (APS) was made by six members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) that met during a meeting of AAAS held in December 1908 in Baltimore. In a summary of their deliberations, the ad hoc committee concluded that such a society “may be an “invaluable aid in promoting the future development of this important and rapidly growing subject in America,” and envisioned that “its influence may be made of international importance.” Today, one third of the 4,500 members of APS live outside the U.S. Phytopathology began in 1911 as a bimonthly journal and became a monthly journal in 1918. In 2017, APS added Phytobiomes as its fifth monthly and first open access journal. The publication of five journals would not be possible without construction of a headquarters building in 1972, shared with the American Association of Cereal Chemists and later expanded. This building with its paid professional staff also made possible the formation of APS Press in 1984, which assumed responsibility for the compendium series, books and other non-journal publications and resources. Another milestone was the establishment in 1994 of a six-member National Plant Pathology Board for the purpose of meeting with members of the executive and legislative branches of the federal government on matters of policy and funding. This board has since become the Public Policy Board with a paid professional consultant, providing APS with possibly the most respected and effective presence in Washington DC of any scientific society representing the agricultural and plant sciences.</span></div>
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