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2025 Joint Meeting of the APS Pacific Division and Conference on Soilborne Plant Pathogens

​The APS Pacific Division Annual Meeting will be held in person on March 25–27, 2025, in Davis, California. This is a joint meeting between the APS Pacific Division and the Conference on Soilborne Plant Pathogens.
 

Meeting Location:
UC Davis Conference Center
550 Alumni Lane, Davis, CA 95616

Submit an Abstract​   About Meeting    Register   Awards


Meeting Highlights

Field trip (March 25, 8:30 AM–3:30 PM)

We will visit a UC Davis research facility (Foundation Plant Services) where disease-free plant propagation material is produced, tested, and distributed to California's agricultural producers. Next, attendees will visit two major agro-industrial companies (Syngenta and Bayer Crop Sciences), specialized in plant breeding and innovative disease control products, providing insights into cutting-edge agricultural research and development.  (Cost: $60, lunch provided; registration required).


UC Davis Campus Tour & Early Career Member Networking (March 25, 4:00–5:00 PM)

The UC Davis Department of Plant Pathology Students organization (DOPPS) will lead early career members on a tour of campus including the Armstrong Research Farm. This will also serve as an opportunity for APS-PD early career members to meet each other and network. (Cost: FREE; registration required)


Careers 101 Workshop: Strategic Conversations (March 25, 5:00 PM–7:00 PM)

Difficult conversations can be intimidating, but they also present an opportunity for growth and understanding. This workshop is designed to equip participants with strategies to approach and navigate challenging discussions with confidence and empathy. Through this session, participants will:

  • Explore techniques to prepare for difficult conversations.
  • Learn tactics for conflict resolution, effective negotiation, and giving and receiving constructive feedback.
  • Practice active listening and emotional regulation skills to foster productive dialogue even in tense situations.

Following the workshop, participants will engage in breakout sessions for hands-on practice. These practical exercises will allow participants to directly apply the strategies covered, gaining confidence in managing real-life scenarios. (Cost: FREE; registration required)
 

Conference on Soilborne Plant Pathogens Keynote Speaker

  • Dr. Cheryl Blomquist, Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, California Department of Food & Agriculture
  • Dr. Saad Hafez, Professor and Extension Specialist, University of Idaho Param Research and Extension Center


APS-PD Symposium: AI in Agriculture - Cultivating Innovation for a Sustainable Future

  • Dr. Brian Bailey, UC Davis: “Integrating 3D biophysical plant models and artificial intelligence to enable new predictive and analytical technologies in agricultural systems”
  • Dr. Phuong Dao, Colorado State University: “Next-generation surveillance of plant pests and pathogens: Multimodal machine learning and high-throughput plant phenotyping"
  • Dr. Xing Wei, University of Hawaii at Manoa: “Integrating sensors and AI for precision plant disease and pest control”
  • Dr. Lina Castano-Duque, USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Development of predictive models for mitigation of mycotoxin contamination in corn"

Student Presentation Competition

Special session highlighting APS-PD postdoc members


Meeting Dates to Remember

January 28, 2025

  • Officer nominations close, nominees notified to collect bio and headshot

February 3, 2025

  • Travel Award Applications due

February 4, 2025

  • Ballots sent out to chapter for vote

February 8, 2025

  • Advanced Registration Ends

February 12, 2025

  • Hotel Reservations Deadline – This is the last day to make a reservation at the group rate. Rooms at the group rate are limited, so we recommend making reservations as soon as possible.

February 21, 2025

  • Student Oral or Poster Competition applications due
  • Pacific Division Award Nominations due

March 25-27, 2025

  • Joint Meeting of APS Pacific Division and the Conference on Soilborne Plant Pathogens


Registration Information

Registration opens soon!


Registration Type
Advance Registration
​Thru February 8
​Regular Registration
Beginning February 9
​Professional
​$300 ​$350
​Early Career*
​$250​$300
​Graduate Student
​$175​$175
​Undergraduate Student
​$90​$90

*APS defines Early Career status individuals working professionally, including those in a post doctorate position, and within 5 years of graduating with a bachelors, masters or doctorate degree. 

Additional Ticket Items:

Field Trip - $60
Additional Banquet Ticket - $60



Hotel Information

Aggie Inn
245 First Street
Davis, CA, 95616
Room Rate: $159 a night
Reserve Here

University Park Inn & Suites
1111 Richards Boulevard
Davis, CA, 95616
Room Rate: $159 a night
Reserve Here

Hyatt House Davis
2750 Cowell Boulevard
Davis, CA, 95618
Room Rate: $159 a night
Reserve Here

The cutoff date for hotel reservations is February 12, 2025. Rooms at the group rate are limited, and we will be unable to add more, so we recommend making reservations as soon as possible.