Maarten J. ChrispeelsMaarten J. Chrispeels, Professor of Biology, University of California, San DiegoMaarten Chrispeels is Professor of Biology at the University of California, San Diego and the Director of the San Diego Center for Molecular Agriculture. His scientific rsearch is in the area of plant cell and molecular biology. He has made major contributions to our understanding of intracellular protein transport and discovered the proteins that permit water to pass through plant cell membranes. His laboratory has published more than 200 research papers and 50 reviews and book chapters.A native of Belgium, he came to the US in 1960 and obtained a doctoral degree in Agronomy from the University of Illinois. His professional service includes numerous government and industry advisory panels and former Editor in Chief of Plant Physiology from 1992 to 2000. In 1996, he received the Stephen Hales Award from the American Society of Plant Physiologists and was elected to the US National Academy of Sciences. He has extensive contacts in Latin America and presently serves on advisory panels in Chile and Mexico.In the area of crop biotechnology, Chrispeels collaborates with Dr. TJ Higgins from Australia. They used gene transfer technologies to produce the first insect resistant seeds by transferring a gene from the common bean to the garden pea. As director of the Center for Molecular Agriculture, he has become a spokesperson/educator for crop biotechnology and genetically modified crops. Read More Read Less