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--></style></head><body lang="EN-US" link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style="word-wrap:break-word"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="goergia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"goergia",serif"> </span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Dear IIGB Colleagues,</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that we share the devastating news of the passing of our dear colleague, Meng Chen. Meng was attending a photobiology meeting in Switzerland, and while on a hike, he suddenly collapsed and passed away.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">This is truly shocking and heartbreaking news. To lose such a talented and promising scientist in the midst of his career is an enormous loss—to our department, to the plant science community, and to all of us who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Meng made an indelible contribution to the field of photobiology. Among his many scientific contributions, he coined the term “photobodies,” a concept that has become integral to our understanding of plant light signaling. His scientific legacy and the footprint he leaves in the field will endure for many years to come.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">We have lost an exceptional scientist, a valued colleague, and a friend. Our deepest condolences go to Meng’s family, friends, colleagues, students, and everyone whose life he touched.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">We mourn this tremendous loss together and will remember Meng with great respect and affection.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">With deepest sorrow,</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Katie and Ian</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"> </span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><font size="3" color="#242424" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#242424;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Katayoon (Katie) Dehesh</span></font><font color="#242424"><span style="color:#242424"></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><font size="3" color="#242424" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#242424;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Director, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, Distinguished Professor</span></font><font color="#242424"><span style="color:#242424"></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><font size="3" color="#242424" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#242424;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Ernst and Helen Leibacher Endowed Chair in Botany and Plant Sciences</span></font><font color="#242424"><span style="color:#242424"></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><font size="3" color="#242424" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#242424;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">University of California, Riverside, CA 92521</span></font><font color="#242424"><span style="color:#242424"></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><font size="3" color="#242424" face="Georgia"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#242424;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Phone: (951) 827-6370; Fax: (951) 827-5155</span></font><font color="#242424"><span style="color:#242424"></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Aptos"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span></font></p></div></body></html>