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January 2021
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From the Dean
Excitement, Energy, Passion. That is the environment around campus right now. This may sound odd in the middle of a pandemic but lots of exciting things are happening on campus.
First of all, the students are back! While we had a residential experience last fall, students went home at Thanksgiving and finished the semester remotely. Due to COVID-19, classes did not start again until January 19. So, we have been without students for far too long!
This semester, we have more in-person classes and more opportunities for faculty and students to interact safely. You can already see and feel a difference. Students, all wearing masks, are walking around campus, attending class and working together. While things are not back to normal, the heart of the campus is our students and to see them back on campus is a joyful experience.
But, that is not the only reason we are celebrating. In December, our Ag and Biological Engineering (ABE) program moved into their new facilities. It is exciting to finally have the #1 undergraduate and graduate program in the country in their new building.
I have heard from faculty and staff about how nice it is to teach in the new building and the research spaces are fully occupied. During the last three years of construction, various fields within the ABE department have grown significantly. For example, our sensors lab for digital agriculture is already almost at capacity! It is great to have such success that we are already surpassing our own expectations in terms of research.
The new building has something for everyone, including a coffee bar for the south side of campus, and we look forward to celebrating this new space. Because of COVID-19, we plan to have a small ribbon cutting this spring with an open house in the fall where everyone can tour the building.
In the meantime, enjoy the video below chronicling our faculty moving from their 11 different buildings into the new ABE facility. Congratulations to faculty, staff and students for an exciting new chapter for Purdue ABE.
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After 71 years of the Fish Fry, this year we have “Gone Fishin” due to COVID-19 but you are invited to come with us. While an in-person event is not possible, the Ag Alumni Association will still hold a virtual annual meeting with important and fun activities as part of their 2021 virtual event. Alumni can join a number of mini virtual reunions, watch and cast their vote as 13 companies pitch their ideas in the competitive event aptly named the Fish Tank, and help honor the 2021 Certificate of Distinction winners. Learn more at http://purdue.ag/gonefishin. On the website, you can relive the highlights of previous Fish Fry events, hear from Purdue’s President Mitch Daniels, College of Agriculture Dean Karen Plaut and Ag Alumni Executive Director Danica Kirkpatrick, and find more “just for fun” activities.
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Finalists Named for Head of Food Science
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After conducting a national search, three finalists for the position of Department Head of Food Science will interview in February. Each candidate will give a 40-45 minute Zoom presentation followed by questions. Finalists and their presentation dates are below. All presentations may be accessed via the following link - https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/98893952482. - Dr. Mindy Brashears, United States Department of Agriculture - Monday, February 8 at 9:00 am
- Dr. Senay Simsek, North Dakota State University - Wednesday, February 10 at 9:00 am
- Dr. Nitin Nitin, University of California-Davis - Monday, February 15 at 10:00 am
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Purdue Ag People |
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Graduate Ag Research Spotlight: Becca Nixon
The Graduate Research Spotlight highlights graduate students and their work. The January spotlight is on Becca Nixon, PhD student, Forestry and Natural Resources. |
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ABE Sophomore Selected as "Emerging Leader"
Jenna Bradford, Avon, Ind., was recently selected as an Emerging Leader for the Land O'Lakes Global Food Challenge, a 12-week externship offered annually to college students between their sophomore and junior years, specifically those interested in food security and sustainability.
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Five Agricultural Students Named Academic All-Big Team
Five student-athletes for Purdue University's College of Agriculture earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition, including Emma Ellis, Animal Sciences shown here, during the fall 2020 sports season. They were among 96 Purdue student-athletes to earn the title across the university. |
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Don’t forget to track
Civil Rights and Diversity Training
All Purdue Agriculture faculty and staff members are required to receive training in civil rights (the regulations), diversity awareness or sexual harassment each year. Rather than mandate a specific training, we ask that you attend any training that fits your needs and interests and enhances your knowledge and understanding of diversity, civil rights or sexual harassment. Please use our Qualtrics survey tool to report training activities. |
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Awards and Recognitions |
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Darrell Schulze, Agronomy, was named a fellow of the Soil Science Society of America. |
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Purdue Ag in the News |
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Purdue Agriculture's 20 Most-Read Stories of 2020
Purdue's Department of Agricultural Communications wrote and published more than 180 stories in 2020. We invite you to read and relive the college's 20 most-read stories from Purdue's 151st year. |
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Purdue Ag-Celerator Invests $100,000 in DISCOVER Startup
The Purdue Ag-Cerlerator has invested a total of $100,000 in a Purdue startup for the fall round of investment. The recipient is DISCOVER (DIagnostic Sensors for Cause of bOvine Respiratory disease), a startup created by Mohit Verma, Agricultural & Biological Engineering. |
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Left Behind: How to Prepare Pets for a Post-Pandemic Life
Candace Croney, Animal Sciences, shares some tips for pet owners to prepare pets and signs of distress to watch for when they return to campuses, offices and other workplaces. |
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Purdue-Developed Sorghum Safer for Grazing Animals
Purdue University's Mitch Tuinstra, Agronomy, has developed a sorghum that contains no dhurrin, a compound that combines with plant enzymes to create hydrogen cyanide, know more commonly in the livestock industry as prussic acid. |
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Deforestation Drove Massive Amazon Rainforest Fires of 2019
The Indiana Small Farm Conference is moving online for 2021, combining live and on-demand content in a variety of topic areas. The ninth annual conference and trade show will take place March 4-6. |
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Modern Tomatoes Can't Get Same Soil Microbe Boost as Ancient Ancestors
A Purdue University-led team of scientists has evidence that tomatoes may be more sensitive to foliar diseases because they've lost the protection offered by certain soil microbes. |
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Purdue Researchers Explore How Sound Drives Mongolian Herder Cultural Practices
Bryan Pijanowski, Forestry and Natural Resources, is leading a multi-disciplinary effort to study the relationships Mongolian herders have with their landscapes through the lens of sound. |
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Study Finds Technology, Investments Key to Improving Post-Pandemic Food Supply Chain
Jayson Lusk, Agricultural Economics, co-authored a study released by AgriNovus Indiana that found aggregate losses from the global pandemic cost Indiana food producers an estimated $500 million. |
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Untrustworthy Hemp Seed Suppliers Pose Risk to Farmers
The Office of Indiana State Chemist is warning the public about predatory hemp seed vendors known to be currently active in the state. |
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Dates and Deadlines |
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January 25-29: Martin Luther King Jr. Events
May 8: Semester Ends
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University News |
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Purdue Names Thompson as 2021 Dreamer Award Recipient
Purdue alumnus Don Thompson's vision for service has made a difference in the lives of millions of customers and employees across the country throughout his career.
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Turn Off That Camera During Virtual Meetings, Environmental Study Says
A new study estimates the approximate carbon, water and land footprints associated with each hour of data spent in popular internet apps.
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Report Hate and Bias
Purdue University is a community where diversity is valued and incidents of hate and bias are not tolerated. Students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors who feel that they have been the victim of a bias related incident (or who have witnessed a bias related incident) are encouraged to report it online at www.purdue.edu/report-hate or to contact the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities at 765-494-1250. Your report can remain anonymous if you wish. Remember, if it is an emergency situation that requires immediate medical or emergency services attention, please call the Purdue University Police Department at 911 or 765-494-8221. |
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Purdue Agriculture InFocus
Editor: Megan Kuhn
Email: mmkuhn@purdue.edu |
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2053
765-494-8392
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Purdue University is an equal opportunity employer.
If you are having trouble accessing this page because of a disability, please contact the Webmaster at AgWeb@purdue.edu |
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