iMOSS - international molecular moss science society Propelling Flagellated Plant Research
iMOSS - international molecular moss science society Propelling Flagellated Plant Research
The iMOSS recognizes persons who have fostered moss (in the wide sense) research. Such persons will be identified and nominated by the iMOSS members and board. The board will select the annual recipient of the Golden Spore Award. To be eligible to receive the award, the researcher has to have a track record of at least a decade of influential research on mosses. The award will be presented at the annual iMOSS meeting. Other awards, such as poster or talk awards might also be sponsored by iMOSS.
The golden spore award for 2024 was awarded to Tomomichi Fujita who has significantly advanced the field of moss research, particularly focusing on the model moss species Physcomitrium patens. His expertise in plant biology encompasses plant physiology, molecular and cell biology, evolutionary and developmental biology, and astrobiology. Through his work, Tomomichi has illuminated the molecular mechanisms governing moss development, including cell division, differentiation, and regeneration, providing crucial insights into these fundamental processes. His research extends to understanding how mosses adapt to diverse environmental conditions, including extreme environments, offering valuable perspectives on plant adaptation strategies. Moreover, his investigations into moss evolution have contributed to our understanding of early land plant evolution and the genetic similarities and differences between mosses and higher plants. His contributions also extend to astrobiology, where he explores mosses' potential for survival in space-like conditions, conducting space experiments to study their responses to microgravity and other space-related factors. Overall, Tomomichi Fujita's multidisciplinary research not only advances our knowledge of moss biology but also contributes to broader discussions on plant evolution, adaptation, and resilience in varying environments, including extreme and extraterrestrial conditions.
At the 2024 meeting in Shenzhen, best talk awards were received by Gargi Chaturvedi (top left) and Lei Xu (top right), and best poster awards were received by Yakupjan Haxim (bottom left) and Jingtong Ruan (bottom right). Junbiao Dai and Laura Moody were delighted to present the awards.
The golden spore for 2023 was awarded to Didier Schaefer. Didier pioneered stable transformation and discovered highly active homologous recombination in Physcomitrium patens, a decisive advance that opened the door to efficient gene targeting and the development of P. patens as a model for all plants. In the following years, he helped to dissect the mechanisms of DNA repair and recombination that underlie highly active homologous recombination. He also contributed to the development of a conditional heat-shock promotor system, which allows precise regulation of recombinant protein production in moss. Overall, he is recognized for his pivotal contributions to the success of P. patens as a model plant.
The golden spore for 2022 was awarded to Magdalena Bezanilla for her pioneering work in identifying the roles of cytoskeleton components in polarised growth using P. patens as a model. She is also recognised for developing powerful molecular toolkits and methods for RNAi, fluorescent protein tagging, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, novel genetic screens and microfluidics.
The golden spore for 2021 was awarded to Stefan Rensing for his contribution to developing the P. patens genome, providing genomic tools and resources, and his tremendous efforts towards community building. The ceremony took place at the online members assembly, November 18th.
The golden spore for 2020 was awarded to Ralf Reski for his role in establishing the moss community and promoting its success. The cermony took place at the online members assembly, October 9th.
The Golden Spore Award for 2019 was presented to Mitsuyasu Hasebe for his pioneering works on evo-devo and the genome of the moss Physcomitrella.
The Golden Spore Award for 2018 was presented to Ralph Quatrano for his pioneering works on cell polarity, drought tolerance, and the genome of the moss Physcomitrella.
The Golden Spore Award for 2016 was presented to David Cove "The Godfather of Moss" for his pioneering works on Physcomitrella.
Awards were received at the 1st Black Forest Workshop on Flagellated plants (September 2018) by (f.l.t.r.) Lenka Caisova, Rabea Meyberg, Jan Rathje and Elena Lesch (best posters) and Andrea Busch (best contributed talk).
Awards were received at the 2018 iMOSS meeting by Maria Teresa Boquete Seoane (best postdoc talk) and Jenna T Baughman (best poster).
Best talk awards were received at the 2017 iMOSS meeting by Laura Moody (best postdoc talk) and Kumudu Rathnayake (best PhD talk). The 2017 meeting took place June 22nd - 24th in conjunction with the ASPB meeting on Hawaii.
