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	Letter from the president for the Year 2002

	Letter from the president	March 11, 2002 Kimiyuki Satoh JSPP President
	The Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists covers an academic field termed 'plant physiology', which has a somewhat classical sound. In addition to its long history, however, plant physiology or the 'science on the functions of plants' is a field actively developing for the future. Plant physiology includes a wide range of research fields from light absorption, energy transduction and electron transfer within a molecule to the plant's functions at molecular, cellular and individual plant levels. It also aims to study the vital and natural phenomena in the global ecosystem based on the functions of plants. Our society has been established with the objective of promoting the basic and applied studies on the physiological functions of plants. The survival of human beings basically relies on the many functions of plants, and this relationship is often discussed in terms of energy, food, resources and environment, which are the key words on the relationship between humans and plants derived from the social viewpoint. The studies on the functions of plants will be needed to solve the serious global problems encountered now and anticipated in the future. The results obtained by comprehensive analysis of the plant's functions starting from the determination of the base sequence of the plant genome are also expected to have useful applications. Thus, the development of the studies in these fields is strongly desired by the public. On the other hand, the plant sciences are also expected to contribute greatly to the field of basic biology. Our Society has over 3,000 members, about one third of whom are foreign members (including subscription members). This means that our society is not merely a Japanese academic society but is also an internationally active society. Plant and Cell Physiology published by our Society is also a highly evaluated international Journal. To respond to such a high reputation and expectations from outside, our society will further promote scientific exchange and continue sending information related to the plant sciences to the world. As an international project, we will be holding the "Pacific Rim Joint Meeting of Plant Physiologists or Plant Biologists" in Hawaii in 2003. Thank you for your attention to our society. We look forward to having you as a member of our society, and hope you will support our society either as a member or as an observer.

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