The Intercollege Graduate Program in Plant Physiology of Pennsylvania State University sponsors an Annual Penn State Symposium in Plant Physiology on timely topics in plant physiology. Penn State is centrally located along the Eastern US seaboard and is a relatively short trip for students and scientists in the eastern US. With the institution of the Penn State symposium in 1986, annual symposia in plant physiology are now held in the West (Riverside, CA), Midwest (U. MO) and East (Penn State). %%% The aims are to foster in-depth discussion and dialogue among researchers, to assess and integrate current knowledge and models of light energy transduction from the various photosynthetic organisms, and to identify areas in critical need for further research. Light energy transduction is of keen interest to a diverse set of scientists who study photosynthesis using molecular, genetic, physical, chemical, cellular, ecological and agricultural approaches and who would likely benefit from a cross-fertilization of information, techniques, and approaches. In addition to its scientific importance understanding the mechanism of light energy transduction is central to practical efforts to manipulate photosynthetic productivity and plant yield - a goal of great interest in agriculture and horticulture.
