Issuu

ENVISION College of Agriculture

Spring 2021

In this issue:

A Good Teacher Can Change Everything A New Crop of Indiana Farmers Diversifies the Field Fortifying Lake Michigan The Winding Path of COVID-19 Research

the view ahead Throughout the past year, I have encouraged

the College of Agriculture community to join in responding to the difficult circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic with compassion, patience and resilience. We have faced extremely difficult circumstances, but we have come together to Protect Purdue, to enable students to return to campus to pursue their education and to help communities throughout the state. I was equally impressed that much of the research in the College of Agriculture remained active throughout the pandemic. I am proud and grateful for the commitment of our faculty, staff and students to the work they pursue to make an impact on the future. Recognizing our college’s ongoing commitment to discovery and innovation, we are proud to announce that the Board of Trustees voted in April to invest in Purdue’s Next Moves projects in our college. They are Plant Sciences 2.0 and the Digital Innovation in Agrifood Systems Lab (DIAL), a component of the new Purdue Applied Research Institute. You can also read more about the college projects at ag.purdue.edu and in the fall issue of Envision. For now, what I want to emphasize is how incredibly inspired I am by our college and the alumni, donors and stakeholders who support its mission. Purdue Agriculture is positioned to be a leader in addressing the greatest global challenges of today and the future because of your compassion, patience, resilience and, yes, Boilermaker determination.

Karen Plaut Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture

a on the cover

John Cavaletto, teaching laboratories coordinator for the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, adjusts a microscope with greenhouse lab coordinator Krista Johnson (BS ’20, botany and plant pathology). See page 6 to read more about the College of Agriculture’s commitment to excellence in teaching. Photo by Tom Campbell

news and features 04

A Good Teacher Can Change Everything

In Focus

Fortifying Lake Michigan

A New Crop of Indiana Farmers Diversifies the Field

Idea

The Gift of Friends The Big

The Winding Path of COVID-19 Research

alumni 38 34

Bechdol Takes Her Talents from IN to the UN

Alumni Spotlights

Then and Now AG.PURDUE.EDU/ENVISION

in focus

Measuring our attitudes in the COVID-19 era Nicole Widmar, professor of agricultural economics, and Courtney Bir, assistant professor of agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University, surveyed nearly 1,000 households across the country in January to understand respondents’ attitudes toward the actions medical professionals suggest will keep people safe from the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. They published preliminary data on Consumer Corner, a blog Widmar launched to discuss consumer research. Widmar and Bir rated respondents’ likelihood to participate in a practice on a scale of one (extremely unlikely) to five (extremely likely). While people expressed willingness to wear masks, socially distance and participate in other behaviors to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, vaccines may require more buy-in. “The major concern from these data is that about one-quarter of the population is opposed to getting a vaccine,” Widmar says. “That becomes a problem for reaching herd immunity.” Herd immunity occurs when enough of a population is immune to a disease, often because it is vaccinated,

Protecting rural waterways Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have long been used to make products like stain-resistant carpets and clothing, waterproof textiles, and nonstick pots and pans. But the frequent use of PFAS also means they accumulate in our bodies. Research has linked some PFAS to increased levels of cholesterol, low infant birth weight, thyroid and immune system problems, and cancer.

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and the disease cannot spread. The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota suggests COVID-19 may take up to 70 percent for the population to gain herd immunity. While 76 percent of respondents indicated they were likely to get a vaccine, Widmar cautions that her sample includes only those 18 or older. “Achieving herd immunity without a vaccine for children would mean that a far larger percentage of adults would need to be vaccinated,” Widmar says.

With wastewater treatment plants as conduits of our waste, PFAS can be found in treated sludges used as fertilizers on farms as well as treated wastewater used in irrigation. Linda Lee, professor of agronomy, received a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to understand the ways in which these agricultural applications may affect surface water and groundwater that feed rural drinking wells in Indiana, Pennsylvania and Virginia. With other partners, including Virginia’s Hampton Roads Sanitation District, Lee’s team will receive more than $2.3 million for the research. “Plants grow better when you apply biosolids, but they also contain PFAS,” Lee says. “Right now, there’s a knowledge gap there. We don’t know if these PFAS are getting into rural water supplies and, if so, at what levels and what might be the primary transport pathways.” Lee’s study will evaluate the levels of PFAS in landapplied biosolids; the fate, transport and crop uptake of PFAS; the levels of PFAS in local rural water supplies; and the ways in which climate, landscape and hydrology affect PFAS movement and distribution.

Bringing products to life with Purdue expertise LeafSpec, a portable hyperspectral leaf imaging device developed in the lab of Jian Jin, assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, recently won a 2021 Davidson Prize. This award from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers recognizes the year’s top three innovative products in agriculture. LeafSpec uses hyperspectral imaging, which is more precise than a regular camera, to scan a leaf in the field or greenhouse and determine leaf moisture, chlorophyll content, nutrient levels, and indicators of disease or insect damage. The information is then relayed in a user-friendly interface on a scientist’s or farmer’s smartphone, thanks to a processing algorithm and software developed by Jin and Carol Song, senior research scientist in the Information Technology at Purdue research computing division. That interface can help guide when a farmer should water, fertilize a field, or address specific diseases or other plant stressors. If the smartphone is connected to the internet, a GIS interface will also provide location, time and weather for

Using farmland for solar electricity production Drivers passing by Purdue’s Agronomy Center for Research and Education for the next few summers will see something new rising out of the field: 56 solar panels being used in a project researching how to simultaneously use crop fields for solar electricity and food production. Rakesh Agrawal, the Winthrop E. Stone Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering, is partnering with Mitch Tuinstra, the Wickersham Chair of Excellence in Agricultural Research and professor of plant breeding and genetics in the Department of Agronomy, on the Sustainable Food, Energy and Water Systems research project.

each leaf scanned. The combined data from such scans has the potential to predict regional crop health and yield. The idea was originally funded from a proposal by Jin and Gerald Shively, associate dean and director of International Programs in Agriculture and professor of agricultural economics, at a College of Agriculture Ideas Lab for interdisciplinary projects. It’s also had support from the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Purdue’s Office of Technology Commercialization. “Purdue is probably the only place in the world that has the plant scientists, sensor engineers, data scientists and social scientists collaborating together to introduce a technology like this,” Jin says.

The multidisciplinary project also includes Purdue faculty in agronomy, agricultural and biological engineering, agricultural economics, entrepreneurship and innovation, and computer and electrical engineering, as well as faculty from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. It has received $5.5 million in funding from the National Science Foundation since 2017. Nearly twice the height of a tractor, the solar photovoltaic panels are intended to generate electricity without inhibiting crop yield. Researchers will examine manipulating the solar photovoltaic panels’ shadows to identify an appropriate installation geometry and operating mode to optimize electricity production without compromising agricultural output. Because plants use only a portion of the solar light spectrum for growth, the team will also work to design special solar photovoltaics that allow the necessary light to pass through to the growing plants underneath. The electricity the photovoltaic modules produce is expected to be used for local energy needs such as water management on the farm. In the long run, the trials could help eliminate competition for land between food and energy. AG.PURDUE.EDU/ENVISION

A GOOD TEACHER CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING BY NANCY ALEXANDER Liz Flaherty

Liz Flaherty, associate professor of wildlife ecology

and habitat management, was at a farmers market in West Lafayette a few years ago, buying the last quart of blueberries from a farm stand. She doesn’t recall exactly how she and the high school student who sold it to her got on the topic, but Flaherty mentioned picking her own blueberries while in Alaska for fieldwork. The student, Rachel Brummet, asked Flaherty what she did. “And when I told her I was a wildlife biologist, she said, ‘That was the field I was considering,’” Flaherty recalls. The professor gave Brummet her card and invited her to sit in on a lecture and lab. The student seized the opportunity and liked Flaherty’s hands-on approach to teaching. Thanks, in part, to blueberries, Brummet is now a senior majoring in wildlife and forestry at Purdue, one among thousands of students whose lives have been shaped by the lecturers, mentors, researchers and Extension specialists who comprise the College of Agriculture faculty — in various roles, its teachers. 6

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DIFFERENT ROADS TO SCHOLARSHIP The College of Agriculture equips its graduates to tackle 21st century challenges. At the heart of that effort is good teaching — the well-planned, intentional and pragmatic interaction between faculty and students that occurs in and out of classrooms and labs every day. “The College of Ag has always had a balanced approach to teaching,” says John Lumkes, assistant dean in the Office of Academic Programs. “Agriculture tends to have a holistic approach to what it means to be a faculty member,” he says, crediting the college’s focus on outreach since its inception as a landgrant university. “We understand there are different ways to show scholarship. Historically — and it continues to be our strength — we value multiple ways to have impact. Working with students is one of the big ones.” Agriculture faculty members tap professional organizations and networks around the world as well as a wealth of teaching resources on campus. In addition to college-specific training,

and director of academic programs for Purdue Agriculture. “That commitment was evident to me as a young faculty member in agricultural economics early in my career. And it’s certainly a major reason I was drawn to return to Purdue in my current role.” The faculty members who share their thoughts here have won enough prestigious Purdue and national teaching and mentoring awards to fill these pages without any accompanying narrative, but they all agree: it’s not about the awards. It’s about preparing graduates for a workforce that needs their knowledge, skills and cultural competence to impact the future.

CONNECTED AND CARING

John Lumkes

IMPACT (Instruction Matters: Purdue Academic Course Transformation) helps instructors redesign their courses to create student-centered teaching and learning environments. Lumkes completed the IMPACT program in fall 2019. “I’m never too old to learn,” says the professor of agricultural and biological engineering, a 23-year teacher (the last 16 at Purdue) and past recipient of the Murphy Award, Purdue’s highest undergraduate teaching honor. He leads college-level programs to improve teaching effectiveness, encourage innovation and collaboration, and coordinate awards for teaching excellence. “It’s important to recognize good teaching and promote good teachers, and to let our faculty members know there is a path forward to be good teachers,” Lumkes says. The college’s faculty awards program, he adds, “helps the visibility of people doing great work.” “Having someone with John’s experience, talent and commitment in the assistant dean role is a major demonstration of the college’s commitment to excellence in teaching,” says Christine Wilson, the new associate dean

Excellence in teaching isn’t just skillful dissemination of knowledge. It’s the human connection that fosters excellent academic growth. The best motivation is the knowledge that the teacher cares about the student on both an academic and personal level. — Elizabeth (Liz) Karcher, associate professor of animal sciences

When Liz Karcher teaches Introduction to Animal Agriculture in the fall semester, her goal is to increase awareness and interest among her audience of 180. Most are first-year students, and three-quarters are animal sciences majors. “It’s the first course many of them will take in animal sciences, and I want to make them excited about animal production,” Karcher says. Purdue reduced in-person class size and increased its use of online meeting technologies in fall 2020 in response to COVID-19, but Karcher’s challenge remains the same: “I use strategies to build community and engage my students,” she says. She routinely divides students into small collaborative groups for team-building exercises, case studies, discussions and laboratory stations. Supplemental weekly labs are hands-on and encourage students to explore the relevancy of the week’s topic. New activities and assignments or changes to the classroom

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environment are carefully assessed for their impact on student learning. “I try to find a way to make sure students know that I care about their success in the course and that I want to help them reach their goals,” Karcher says. “Building relationships allows students to explore new concepts and assignments with me throughout the course.” One-on-one interaction through undergraduate research offers another way to connect with her students, and Karcher often encourages them to attend scientific conferences. She also created and leads two study abroad programs — in Italy and Vietnam — that challenge Purdue students to think about agriculture on a global scale. For Karcher, these opportunities create relationships that last beyond graduation. “When you get updates from former students and see their successes and journeys, you feel like you’ve made a difference for the student,” she says. Karcher recalls receiving a year-end note from a quieter member of a student organization she advised: “One of the things the student said was, ‘I love watching how you balance your career with your large family.’ I never realized the impact this has had on numerous students.” Karcher recently led a three-year review of the animal sciences curriculum, which she says is key to making improvements that benefit students. “Our college is already known for having excellent instructors,” she says. “The college is willing and able to be a leader among colleges of agriculture in the realm of teaching.”

HIGH EXPECTATIONS “My expectations of excellence apply to everyone, and every student understands the level at which I want them to prepare. But I also try to meet individual needs.” — Levon Esters, professor of agricultural sciences education and communication Levon Esters says he was a product of others’ high expectations as an undergraduate and master’s student at two historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). “HBCUs are known for attending to the needs of students of color,” he says, citing smaller classes and “a spirit of understanding of where the students come from.” Esters’ emphasis on individual expectations also taps his experience in coaching youth sports. “I don’t think you 8

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would coach all athletes the same,” he explains. “You need to know what techniques work best with each athlete that will help motivate and build them for success. I would never want it said that I treat everyone the same.” Esters, who joined the Purdue faculty in 2009, now teaches graduate-level courses of five to 12 students. He believes it’s important to challenge them with content that’s ahead of current trends in higher education. In weekly meetings with his students, Esters lets down his professorial guard. “I’m just myself,” he says. “I do what I can to show them that they can master what they’re learning. I listen and try to understand where they are if they don’t understand the subject matter. We talk things through. They feel comfortable, but they also understand that I’m not going to compromise my expectations. “A lot of what I do is mentoring. Mentoring is a form of teaching.” Esters and his Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication colleague Neil Knobloch co-founded Mentoring@Purdue (M@P) in 2012. The program has grown to welcome students from other colleges at Purdue and has garnered national attention. Designed to strengthen graduate education for women and underrepresented graduate students in the College of Agriculture, M@P fosters mentoring relationships among graduate students and faculty or staff members in the agricultural and life sciences. In addition to its academic and networking benefits, M@P builds community and provides a space that imparts a sense of belonging that students need to be academically successful. Esters and Knobloch are now part of a grant project to expand the M@P model to other institutions. “It’s clear that good teaching is part of the College of Agriculture’s brand identity,” Esters says. “Because our college is known for good teaching, advising and mentoring, undergraduates want to be here, and instructors will help them master the material and be ready for the workforce.”

STUDENT-CENTERED “No matter what challenge I present to students, as long as I provide support, they’re able to do anything.” — Elizabeth (Liz) Flaherty, associate professor of wildlife ecology and habitat management, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Seven years into teaching at Purdue, Liz Flaherty still changes up her courses every year. “Everything I teach,

I’m tweaking to improve for the next semester,” she says. She does so because the professional fields she is preparing her students to enter are dynamic. Flaherty focuses on the skills her students will need for future success and teaches to meet what she sees as important objectives that are informed by her own research. “A lot of my research is related to how wildlife responds to changes in habitat,” she explains. “So when I’m teaching the habitat management course, I’m not talking about something in an abstract way; I can share stories from my personal experience doing research or working with agencies. “I also teach them how to do a management plan, which is transferable to a wide variety of careers.” Flaherty says the College of Agriculture’s emphasis on application and outreach reinforces her work in the classroom and lab. “There are resources to help us be excellent teachers,” she says. “One that I think is fantastic is a grant program for undergraduate research.” Several of her students have published papers as a result. Flaherty’s favorite course to teach is her “super fun, hands-on” wildlife techniques class in the spring semester. “I have a chance to spend a lot of time with the students,” she says, as they live-trap Eastern cottontail rabbits, conduct habitat surveys, learn to analyze data and write a research manuscript. “It gives them a chance to see on a small scale what a general wildlife biology experience is like,” Flaherty says. “I place a lot of importance on, and put a lot of time into, teaching them how to communicate,” she adds. Flaherty is motivated by where her students may take these skills.

Elizabeth (Liz) Karcher

Levon Esters

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“We’re training the next generations of professionals in the fields of agriculture and natural resource sciences. That is a daunting task — to know we have that much responsibility. Good teaching means we’re producing future professionals who will be able to be successful and have a huge impact in their careers.”

ENTHUSIASTIC “My lecture style is naturally loud and colorful and enthusiastic beyond anything they’ve ever expected.” — Larry DeBoer, professor emeritus and Extension specialist in agricultural economics Larry DeBoer joined the agricultural economics faculty in 1984, but he still carries into the classroom lessons learned in his own undergraduate experience at a small liberal arts school. “We were very much figuring things out through the process of writing and talking,” he says. “I believe in that kind of education.” But DeBoer, who retired at the end of 2020, regularly taught to a Purdue lecture hall of 400 non-majors enrolled in economics — a combination of large enrollment and a required course. He’s continued to teach that course

this spring, and he’s adapted some of his techniques to “create a small-class result in a big class.” “The show you put on up there has to be big,” he says. DeBoer then supplements his energetic presentation with opportunities for each student to participate. He uses Hotseat, an interactive tool developed at Purdue, which allows students to think and talk about poll questions, see the poll summary, or submit their own questions from a phone, tablet or laptop. Students also work in small groups within the larger class, in group projects (outside of the pandemic semesters) or peer reviewing short essays by their classmates using Circuit, another Purdue tool. This approach may account for his sometimes-reluctant students beginning their semester-end evaluations with such phrases as “I’m really not interested in economics, but ...” or “I thought it would be boring, but ...” before acknowledging that they did, indeed, absorb the material. “You don’t have to cover everything,” DeBoer adds. “That’s what the textbook is for.” (He wrote the textbook.) “I want them to be able to take the macroeconomic model that we build in the class and their knowledge of the data, and their experience in applying this to historic examples, and take it out and analyze contemporary events. “This ‘learning to do’ is the core of what I would consider my teaching philosophy,” he adds. “It’s my task to

Larry DeBoer

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help students learn to interpret the economic events that will come at them for the rest of their lives.” DeBoer’s classes benefit from his extensive research and Extension work in state and local government public policy. “We have a core of folks in the College of Agriculture whose job it is to talk to real folks with real concerns, and to give them real answers. That keeps us down to earth. I think we take that into the classroom.”

FLEXIBLE “Good teaching is about creating an environment that is conducive to learning — and recognizing that this means different things for different people.” — Orla Hart, clinical assistant professor of biochemistry For her last lecture before spring break in 2020, Orla Hart discussed how SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19 to show her 150 or so students in 300-level biochemistry “they can use what they’re learning in the classroom to help them decipher what’s going on out in the world.” “A few students decided during that lecture not to go on spring break,” she adds. “I consider that a win.”

Hart joined Purdue as the first teaching-focused faculty member in the Department of Biochemistry in 2013. When faculty and students transitioned from lecture halls and labs to remote learning last spring, “I was in a slightly different situation to my peers because I had created an online section for one of my courses,” she says. “So, in terms of primary content delivery, I had that ready to go. And honestly, I can’t even imagine how much more difficult that would be if I hadn’t done that.” The transition wasn’t easy for her students, Hart adds. “Not all students are suited to online learning. For some the material is challenging, and being able to look them in the eye to see if they’re understanding it is key to their success.” She credits her teaching assistants for helping to keep multiple sections of the online lab class on track and was quick to diffuse student stress with movable deadlines and open-resource exams. Students in the course aspire to careers in biological or life sciences, medicine, nursing, veterinary medicine, animal sciences, dietetics, food science, botany, nutrition and engineering. The bottom line for Hart was that they meet their learning outcomes. “Whether you’re in plant sciences, pre-med or biological engineering, I want to see you be able to apply the material.”

Orla Hart

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She also considers students with access to high-end technology and those on the wrong side of the digital divide; students whose parents pay for the entirety of their Purdue education and others who work multiple jobs to get by. “Flexibility is more time consuming, but it’s the equitable way to do things given the massive disparity in the classroom,” she says. “Especially for students from marginalized populations, one-size-fits-all just won’t work. “We’re going to miss some superstars if we can’t be imaginative in how we engage students and allow them to demonstrate their capability.”

FORWARD-LOOKING According to its description, AGR201, Communicating Across Culture, provides students with “an opportunity to understand their place in a multicultural, multiethnic, multinational country, the United States.” The course is part of the University’s core curriculum. Pamala Morris, assistant dean and director of the Office of Multicultural Programs and professor of agricultural sciences education and communication, developed the course and has led it since spring 2007. The college was responding to industry demand not just for a more diverse pipeline of agriculture graduates, she explains, but also for college graduates who can interact with people from all walks of life in an increasingly global marketplace. While she has tweaked the mechanics of the course, its goal hasn’t changed, Morris says: to produce more interculturally competent students. The need applies to all disciplines, but in feeding the world, people in agriculture work across the widest range of borders, systems and stakeholders, she adds. For Wes Richardson, who added a master’s degree in learning design and technology in the spring of 2020 to his bachelor’s degree in agronomy, the course expanded the somewhat limited exposure to multicultural concepts he experienced growing up in Washington, Indiana. It prompted Tamara Lipsa (BS ’20, agricultural sciences education and communication) to set aside her liberal leanings and consider the opinions of her more conservative peers. Conversations in the class labs “allowed students to express a diversity of opinions in a moderated setting,” says Lipsa, whose parents emigrated from Poland to Chicago. Both Lipsa and Richardson repeated as teaching assistants for Communicating Across Culture. Lipsa took the course as a sophomore and was an undergraduate teaching assistant in her junior and senior years. 12

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Pamala Morris

Richardson served as a teaching assistant for four semesters as a graduate student. “We’re mostly working toward awareness and understanding,” he says. In lectures and labs, students explore race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, social class, disability, learning styles, and religion, and some subjects in the context of poverty, language and social justice. “One of the more interesting topics to the students is immigration, because a lot of these kids come from farms with immigrant workers,” Richardson notes. “There’s an element of mindfulness that is present in each facet of the course ... a kind of reflection that you have to do before you communicate with other class members or proceed on the semester project,” Lipsa says. “Instead of a correct and incorrect way, the course introduces a spectrum of fair and unfair. It’s nuanced, but it’s important to know going into any career.” Richardson adds that the course benefits careers in agriculture by helping students pick up on proper social cues, make appropriate professional presentations and preserve their employer’s reputation. “Our students can and will go anywhere, and they’re going to meet people who aren’t like them,” he says.

ULTIMATE OUTCOMES Teachers in agriculture sometimes have profound impact on students’ futures beyond the knowledge and skills they convey in lectures and labs. Take study abroad, for example. Roughly 40 percent of College of Agriculture students graduate having had an experience abroad, one of the highest rates of participation in the university.

the takeaway Purdue Agriculture recognizes and promotes great teachers. The college encourages faculty to tap into a wealth of teaching resources. Liz Karcher, associate professor of animal sciences, uses varied techniques to engage students and encourages them to conduct undergraduate research and study abroad. Christine Wilson

Many travel in programs designed and led by agriculture faculty members. But agriculture students don’t come to Purdue demographically more inclined to study abroad, John Lumkes notes. He credits faculty mentoring and advising. “Agriculture is a very global field, so we want our students to experience that.” Just not in 2020 and spring 2021. Coronavirus initially upended teaching in the College of Agriculture, but Lumkes sees a bright side: “The things that we’re learning to do now will impact future instruction,” he says. “Even if we went back to 100 percent normal — and I’m hopeful we will — there are things that we learned in COVID that will continue. We’re being forced to learn new online tools. Are there challenges in the learning curve? Yes, it’s forced some of us out of our comfort zones. But long term, there will be benefits.” Associate Dean Christine Wilson agrees that while the mechanics of good teaching change with innovative approaches and new technology, its influence — and importance — remain unchanged. “The College of Agriculture has established its reputation on a foundation of quality across all three pillars of the landgrant mission — teaching, research and extension,” Wilson says. “Excellent teaching stands out as crucial to the college continuing to strengthen its standing at home and around the world through the impact of our graduates.”

Setting high, but individualized, expectations is key for the students he mentors, says Levon Esters, professor of agricultural sciences education and communication (ASEC). Esters and his ASEC colleague Neil Knobloch co-founded Mentoring@Purdue to strengthen graduate education for women and underrepresented graduate students. Liz Flaherty, associate professor of forestry and natural resources, helps students obtain current skills they need to be successful in the workforce, informed by her research. “Learning to do” forms the core of Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics Larry DeBoer’s teaching philosophy. He wants his students to apply knowledge of models, data and historical analysis to contemporary events. Orla Hart, clinical assistant professor of biochemistry, teaches students pursuing a wide variety of career paths, but expects each to apply the material they’re learning. Her flexible classroom strategies support students with different strengths. Communicating Across Culture, developed by Pamala Morris, assistant dean and director of the Office of Multicultural Programs, is designed to produce more interculturally competent graduates who can work across a wide range of borders, systems and stakeholders in the global marketplace.

AG.PURDUE.EDU/ENVISION

When you imagine a typical Indiana farmer,

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) statistics indicate a 55-year-old man growing a portion of the 11 million acres of corn and soybeans produced in the state. Perhaps you see him out tilling inherited land that’s belonged to a family that for generations has helped Indiana achieve its status as an agricultural leader. However, Indiana agriculture also includes Reverend Marty Henderson surveying the Gary neighborhood he wants to feed, starting with a community garden and hoop houses and aiming for aquaponics and rooftop produce, too. Indiana agriculture includes 33-year-

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old Kathy Reynolds helping her dad transition land in their family for more than 150 years to organic production. And Indiana agriculture includes veterans like Matthew Harvey and Darin Chapman returning home from service and becoming first-generation farmers ready to tackle their new mission: improving soil health with heritage animal breeds. This group of Indiana farmers have backgrounds just as diverse as their production methods, and Purdue Extension wants to see them succeed.

Darin Chapman of Farm Delicious

Reverend Marty Henderson has glowing memories of summers spent down south on his grandparents’ farm in Louisiana. “They raised everything. Chickens, pigs, peas, beans, tomatoes, okra, watermelons, pumpkin, cotton, corn,” he remembers. “I’d go down there and gain so much weight. My grandfather had a long watermelon patch and a shed that was always stocked with watermelon. He told me to go and help myself. I did.”

RETURNING TO HIS ROOTS In Gary, Henderson’s work at Peace Baptist Church tapped back into his agricultural roots around the time of the 2008 recession. His church had purchased 6 acres to build a new worship space, but couldn’t after the economy dipped. “We were looking for ways to utilize the property, and I’ve always had a heart for working with returning citizens, the formerly incarcerated,” Henderson explains. Peace Baptist Church decided to grow vegetables with returning citizens, and eventually that blossomed into a full program using agriculture to teach entrepreneurial skills. Fast forward to 2020: Henderson and many of his family members and parishioners struggled to recover from COVID-19, the pandemic made it difficult to recruit volunteers, and a storm damaged the operation’s hoop houses. But Henderson and Peace Baptist Church remain undaunted, hoping to eventually take their food production up a notch — to the fish tank and the rooftop. Henderson serves as

a Purdue Extension – Lake County board member and through that connection, found the Purdue College of Engineering’s EPICS service-learning program. EPICS will provide five years of support to his dream to develop an aquaponics operation (using the waste from aquaculture for hydroponic veggies) and a rooftop garden on the 18,000-square-foot space of a former U.S. Army building. His goal is to provide produce to 80 families per week. “Tamara Benjamin has been invaluable for this whole process,” Henderson says. Benjamin, Purdue Extension’s assistant program leader for Diversified Farming and Food Systems, sees her job as providing support to all of Indiana’s farmers who fall outside the norm of Indiana agriculture. “The Diversified Farming and Food Systems (DFFS) program supports all farmers,” Benjamin explains. “Sometimes they can be found in places we least expect them, such as urban areas in Indianapolis or Gary. Our goal is to support farmers who might not be considered the typical farmer.” AG.PURDUE.EDU/ENVISION

The Harvey family at Harvey Organic Farm

GOING ORGANIC That’s why Purdue Extension created a position to support grain farmers who want to make the transition to organic production. It was an idea bubbling for some farms around Indiana, like Steiner Family Farm in Adams County. Purdue Extension’s DFFS program wanted to help them network with others with similar goals across the state. For many farmers, their county network is the strongest point of connection, but if you have an idea like growing organic soybeans, there may not be others in your county with experience. “We have a typical family farm. My dad has always grown corn, beans, wheat and hay,” says Kathy Reynolds, half of the daughter–father combo turning Steiner Family Farm into Steiner Organic Family Farm. Their land has been in the family since the 1860s. “Dad is an out-of-the-box thinker. He was the first in his county to try no-till,” Reynolds says. That same quality led her to travel to Peru and Switzerland as an undergraduate to learn about agriculture in other cultures. Her dad, George Steiner, decided to shift toward organic for two reasons: higher profit and soil 16

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Kathy Reynolds and her dad, George Steiner, of Steiner Organic Family Farm

sustainability. “Environmentally, it’s something we’ve got to look at — we need to take better care of our ground,” Steiner says. He has always rotated hay in his fields for soil health, something recommended in the Purdue short course he took in 1979. “I kinda like seeing that grass, and I don’t have near the trouble with water filtering through the field,” he says. “We get more erosion with just corn and beans, and the soil gets lighter in color, losing the vital organic matter.” The Steiner family is eight years into their organic transition, and Purdue Extension’s former DFFS organic educator Michael O’Donnell provided crucial support for them along the way. There are more than 600 certified organic farms in Indiana, and O’Donnell brought together farmers who are transitioning to organic grain at a variety of programs like summer field days and a two-day winter conference. “The gap I tried to fill is network facilitator,” O’Donnell explains. “Along with being an information resource about organic production and certification, I helped connect them to other people like agronomists, buyers and other organic farmers.” It’s common for grain farmers to meet up at a local coffee shop to talk about their crops and equipment. When

The Reverend Marty Henderson started a community garden for his neighborhood in Gary.

Steiner decided to go organic, the DFFS program filled that gap. “The Purdue field days are kind of our replacement coffee shop,” Reynolds says. “It’s nice to chitchat with other farmers who are growing organically.”

VETERANS SERVE AGAIN BY FARMING When new farmers are getting off the ground, learning from others who have similar backgrounds can be helpful. That’s especially true for another group of first-generation farmers the DFFS program supports: military veterans. Some veterans may be from a farming background, but many who aren’t still see it as their future, explained Indiana AgrAbility’s veteran outreach coordinator Cindy Chastain. Chastain is a bridge between groups like Farmer Veteran Coalition, Indiana AgrAbility and Purdue Extension. “There’s a whole litany of reasons veterans are suited to farming,” Chastain explains. “Almost half of veterans come from rural communities. They may not have grown up on a farm, but they’re familiar.” And after their service, many veterans prefer to work outdoors with their hands and do something that continues fulfilling their call to serve. “There are a lot of veterans getting into farming,” says first-generation livestock farmer Darin Chapman,

a veteran who served in the Air Force during the first Persian Gulf War. “The rural environment helps with posttraumatic stress disorders and traumatic brain injuries. We’re used to being outside and using heavy equipment in dirty conditions. Plus, we like to serve, and this gives us a way to serve our communities from behind the scenes.” For his business Farm Delicious, Chapman raises heritage hog and chicken breeds to sell into specialty markets like charcuterie makers. For himself and his family, he also raises a wide variety of vegetables and keeps bees. Over the years, he’s fueled his interest in sustainable food production through continuing education from Purdue Extension, including a shitake mushroom workshop and a beekeeping course. Chapman raises his animals on 16 acres and plans to stay small. “I want to provide the best quality animal welfare and use restorative practices for the land,” Chapman says. Veteran farmer Matthew Harvey explains his goal another way. “I needed a new mission,” Harvey says. After growing crops in his downtime during his deployment to Afghanistan, he found that mission on a 19-acre piece of land outside Terre Haute, where he raises chickens and hay and grows vegetables to help feed his community. AG.PURDUE.EDU/ENVISION

“If food is trucked halfway around the world before it gets to you, that can’t be all that great for you or for the planet either,” he says. At Harvey Organic Farm, he enjoys providing the freshest food possible to his family and customers. Plus, he feels it’s a great place for his 5-yearold son and 3-year-old daughter to grow up. “My son’s favorite crops are pumpkins and sunflowers, so we always grow some of those,” Harvey says. “I want to keep him interested in the farm. When he helps with things, he feels happy and accomplished.” Harvey has also raised bees and planted 11 acres of beefriendly pollinator plots. He’s exploring raising the Mulefoot hog, which is on the The Livestock Conservancy’s endangered list, and would also like to raise Wagyu beef in the future.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Chastain connected both Harvey and Chapman to DFFS programs like the Beginning Farmer farm tours and workshops specifically geared toward veterans who were new to farming. She reaches more than 400 people with her Indiana veteran farmers email listserv, connecting them with others who share their understanding of post-military life and swap ideas on how to farm. That, Benjamin says, is the highest achievement of the DFFS program: bringing people together into a supportive network to help them achieve their agricultural goals. Whether urban farmers, organic farmers, veteran farmers or any other specialized group in agriculture, DFFS wants to give them a place within Purdue Extension and Indiana’s farming community to call home. “We created farm tours, weeklong out-of-state Beginning Farmer field trips, the Indiana Small Farm Conference and the Indiana Organic Grain Farmers Meeting all to push the envelope and get people interacting,” Benjamin says. DFFS programs aim to support new communities thriving around agriculture in the state. “Our biggest accomplishment is the fact that the Hoosier Young Farmers Coalition started, continued and is vibrant,” Benjamin says. Started in 2016, the coalition’s mission is to “collaborate in making our food systems more localized, sustainable and just.” The result of DFFS programs is increasingly organized and lasting forms of community around diversified agriculture in the state. The support farmers receive through those networks will help Indiana’s newest crop of farmers keep agriculture in the state growing strong.

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the takeaway USDA statistics indicate a typical Indiana farmer working the state’s 11 million acres of corn and soybeans is a 55-year-old man, whose farm may have been in the family for generations. But Indiana agriculture also includes first-generation farmers, and Purdue Extension wants to see them succeed as well. Purdue Extension’s Diversified Farming and Food Systems (DFFS) programs support the success of Indiana’s farmers in emerging crops and specialized areas. Program areas include urban and organic agriculture, small farms focused on local food and specialty crops, and beginning farmers. Indiana AgrAbility’s veteran outreach bridges military veterans interested in farming and groups like Farmer Veteran Coalition, Indiana AgrAbility and Purdue Extension. Serving as an information resource and building statewide networks for farmers in these areas are key goals of DFFS staff. Summer field days, farm tours, out-ofstate field trips, Indiana Small Farm Conference, Indiana Organic Grain Farmers Meeting and Hoosier Young Farmers Coalition all help educate and connect new farmers in the state’s thriving agricultural community.

BY EMMA EA AMBROSE

No symbol better represents the wide reach

of the Illinois–Indiana Sea Grant initiative than what the program has affectionately termed its “Two Yellow Buoys.” Positioned in Lake Michigan, four miles off the coast of Michigan City, Indiana, and Wilmette, Illinois, these two weather buoys monitor conditions on the lake in real time. The data is used by those who enjoy the lake for recreation and commerce, researchers tracking weather and climate patterns across the Great Lakes, and educators, who use the buoys’ award-winning Twitter account as an educational tool. Often considered the analog of the land-grant university, Sea Grant is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration program focused on education, research and Extension related to marine and Great Lakes ecosystems. Every state and some U.S. territories bordering an ocean or a Great Lake have a Sea Grant program. The Illinois–Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) College Program is co-administered by the University of Illinois and Purdue

University and is one of only two bi-state programs in the country. The leadership for IISG changes institutions on a recurring basis, with Purdue serving as the current lead. Tomas Höök, Purdue professor of fisheries and aquatic sciences and director of the IISG, says this kind of program is important to Great Lakes states because the lakes are the largest surface fresh water supply in the world. Effectively managing these ocean-like systems is critical for the region. The Great Lakes face numerous threats, especially Lake Michigan, which is where most IISG research takes place. Key threats include invasive species, nutrient runoff, contamination and climate change. Although the list is not exhaustive, Höök warns, these four issues have the greatest potential to derail the many communities, businesses and industries that rely on the Great Lakes. IISG’s work involves efforts to better understand and stymie all these threats and find new ways to protect and preserve Lake Michigan. AG.PURDUE.EDU/ENVISION

KEEPING INVASIVE SPECIES

Credit: Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant

If you ask fishery managers to identify the greatest threat to the Great Lakes, they often point to invasive species. Estimates indicate invasive species cause over $5 billion in economic damage to the Great Lakes each year. “As an example, the invasive alewife fish experiences huge die-off events. This can clog up water valves, which can be problematic, for instance, for nuclear power plants around the Great Lakes, because that water is used in their cooling systems. Some plants have had to shut off so they don’t overheat when this happens, which comes at high economic cost,” Höök says. Hundreds of invasive species live in Lake Michigan, from the water-valve clogging variety to the microscopic. Some of the most prevalent species include zebra and quagga mussels, sea lamprey, alewife and the spiny water flea. There is great concern that new invaders, such as the well-

Beach erosion

Alewife fish

documented Asian carp, will arrive soon. Invasive species find their way into the lake through many pathways: artificial canals, accidental or intentional introduction, and through ballast water of freight ships, which navigate through manmade canals, potentially from across the Atlantic. Invasive species present several dangers to the Great Lakes. They prey on native animals, as the sea lamprey does, or filter nutrients out of the water that other species require to survive. This creates long-term havoc in the ecosystem and alters the food web. 20

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“Suitable fish habitat is a major issue in areas like Saginaw Bay in Lake Huron, in that there often isn’t enough available,” says Mitchell Zischke, Purdue fisheries specialist and clinical assistant professor in Forestry and Natural Resources. “Invasive species have a hand in degrading these habitats, preventing native species from laying eggs or foraging for food there. In Lake Michigan, the biggest threat from invasive species is their domination of the food web and fisheries.” By documenting the impact invasive species have in Lake Michigan, scientists with IISG can use their research

to enhance educational and outreach campaigns aimed at the public and stakeholders, offering information about the damage they cause and how best to prevent their introduction and spread.

MAINTAINING HEALTHY

One of the most obvious changes to Lake Michigan and other parts of the Great Lakes over the past 150 years has been the loss of suitable fish habitat, Zischke says. The impacts of invasive species, pollution, the filling of coastal wetlands and damming rivers can all lead to habitat loss. However, a major culprit is sediment and nutrient runoff caused by erosion and aggressive land use practices. “In some areas of the Great Lakes, terrestrial sedimentation has covered much of the rocky areas where fish like to spawn,” he explains.

A change in land-use practices and increased education about terrestrial sediment has decreased some of the damage, but Zischke and colleagues continue to monitor areas impacted by sediment. “A few years ago, we wanted to see if fish were trying to spawn in areas covered by sediment,” Zischke says of a project in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron. “The decision-making of where to spawn can be passed on genetically, so some fish might be hardwired to spawn there. This project helped us understand where to focus restoration efforts and also gave us baseline data to help measure the project’s success.” While the cause of nutrient runoff is similar to that of sedimentation, the effects are different. “Runoff can carry nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from urban and agricultural areas into water bodies and impact water quality,” Eliana Brown, stormwater specialist and water quality Extension Specialist at the University of Illinois, explains. “In the Great Lakes, phosphorous loads in particular can create conditions favorable to algal blooms, some of which are harmful.” Large algal blooms can create a condition called hypoxia, a sharp drop in oxygen levels when the blooms die off, making large zones of lakes inhospitable for much aquatic life. This is common in areas like Green Bay, Saginaw Bay and Lake Erie, where a huge hypoxic area forms in the middle of the lake every summer and fall. In addition, certain algal blooms can spoil water quality by producing odors or a thick scum and can be highly toxic to humans and other animals. Such blooms in western Lake Erie have led to huge problems, including shutting down water supplies to the city of Toledo.

CLEANING UP

While sediment can act as a Trojan horse, introducing toxins to Lake Michigan, pollutants are also introduced in other ways, ranging from everyday individual actions to industrial output. “Anthropogenic contaminants, introduced by human activity, have been present in the Great Lakes for a long time,” Höök says. “People have been dumping contaminants there, intentionally and unintentionally, for many years.” Many of the contaminants come from the usual suspects: heavy metals and toxins that leach into the soil AG.PURDUE.EDU/ENVISION

Microplastic contamination

from industry, chemical and nutrient runoff from farmland that flanks large sections of Lake Michigan, and water pollution from boats and recreational activities. While regulations and conservation efforts have reduced the pollution finding its way into the Great Lakes, they have by no means eliminated contamination. New contaminants are always emerging, including pharmaceuticals and microplastics, which enter waterways from residential areas. (Microplastics measure less than five millimeters, about the size of a sesame seed; one example is the exfoliating microbeads in beauty products.) IISG works to curtail contamination using public education about the use of washing machine filters to sieve out microplastics and how to dispose of pharmaceuticals and other chemicals. (For example: don’t flush them down your toilet; instead see unwantedmeds.org.)

Climate change is an undercurrent that exacerbates many of the other risks posed to the Great Lakes, including invasive species, contamination and runoff. However, as Höök points out, unraveling the impact of climate change from other threats can be difficult and challenging to measure in absolute terms.

Rising water levels in Lake Michigan spill onto the lakefront trail.

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“There are some species that are actually going to do better in warmer water, but there are others that won’t do as well, so trying to understand the direct impact on entire ecosystems can get tricky,” he explains. Veronica Fall, climate Extension specialist with the University of Illinois and a member of the Sea Grant team, says changing and variable lake levels are two of the main threats climate change poses to Lake Michigan and other Great Lakes. Data over the past few years show record high lake levels and an unprecedented rate of increase. While the highest-ever lake level on Lake Michigan was achieved in 1986, levels in the lake continue to set monthly highs at a rate previously unseen. The severe and visible effects include erosion around the lake and its basin, as well as extensive flooding. “We are seeing erosion along the coastline in the winter months because of rising temperatures,” Fall says. “When ice covers the lake, it keeps things in place and protects the shoreline from winds and waves. With rising temperatures, there is less ice, which means the shorelines get battered.” Documenting these effects and sharing findings with communities is a key part of Fall’s job as an Extension specialist. Her role is less about convincing people climate change is real and more about preparing them for the difficult environmental and economic choices they will have to make in the coming decades as climate change extracts its toll on waterfront communities. Some of the individuals and communities that will be most impacted by climate change are those that Fall and Zischke work with every day. Charter boat operators rely

Understanding and caring for Lake Michigan requires understanding and caring for the densely populated communities that surround and rely on it. “The lakes are so important for all sorts of reasons,” Höök says. “People live and recreate on them, there’s a huge tourist industry built up around the lakes, and we take tons of water out of them for drinking, industry and agriculture — about 60 billion gallons per year. They’re a huge economic driver in the region. The sport fishing business on the lakes has been estimated around $7 billion a year and the Great Lakes are a major nexus for trade and shipping.” The ecosystems of the Great Lakes intertwine with the economies and environments of the states they border, which is positive when the lakes are thriving but alarming when they are under threat. “All of the benefits the Great Lakes provide are also all the things that are at risk,” Höök says. “By connecting decision makers with our specialists, our research and Extension efforts move quickly from theoretical to applicable. Constant communication and collaboration between scientists and stakeholders are the best chances we have in responding to climate change and other stressors facing the Great Lakes.”

the takeaway

Credit: Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant

on a healthy fish population to sustain their clientele. Small recreational businesses, from golf courses to vineyards, are at risk as flooding and volatile weather become more frequent. Communities around the lake rely heavily on the tourism supported by the abundance of accessible sandy beaches. If activity dwindles, these economies begin to erode. These are the realities Fall communicates, while also imparting practical, actionable advice to avoid worst-case scenarios. That advice could include drafting a climate action plan or passing local zoning regulations, as there is no uniform solution to climate change, Fall says, even in the microcosm of Lake Michigan. “We provide information about how communities can build resilience to climate change, which means outlining short- and long-term impacts,” Fall says.

Every state bordering a Great Lake has a Sea Grant program, which focuses on education, research and Extension about Great Lakes ecosystems. The Illinois–Indiana Sea Grant concentrates on Lake Michigan, and is currently administered by Purdue University, led by Professor Tomas Höök. Its weather buoys monitor conditions on the lake for recreation and commerce, to track weather and climate patterns, and as a teaching tool. Sea Grant–funded researchers and Extension specialists examine key threats to Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes as a whole to better protect and preserve them. Threats include: Invasive species, which can prey on native species, filter out important nutrients and clog important water intakes. Sedimentation of rocky areas that prevents fish from spawning and nutrient runoff that can create harmful algal blooms and hypoxic dead zones. Other damaging contaminants, including industrial production, farmland runoff, pharmaceuticals and microplastics. The impacts of climate change, including variable lake levels and an increase in coastline erosion during winters with less ice. Sea Grant Extension specialists use research findings to inform educational and outreach campaigns and to offer practical, actionable advice to stymie threats to the lake’s ecosystem. Their research, Extension and communication efforts are key to protecting Lake Michigan as a tourist attraction, water supply and economic driver for the communities that surround it.

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THE

WINDING PATH of COVID-19 Research

By Brian Wallheimer

In March 2003, the World Health Organization and

the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent out alerts about a novel virus that caused an illness called severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS. It seemed to spread easily and kill at a high rate. By July, the virus would be contained, but not before 774 people, about 10 percent of patients, had died. A decade later, a similar virus would cause the Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS. This much more deadly virus claimed 858 lives, more than one-third of those infected, and still shows up sporadically in more than two dozen countries. SARS and MERS are caused by coronaviruses, and while these viruses captured attention, coronaviruses themselves aren’t new to scientists and health professionals. For decades, we’ve known that other common types of coronaviruses cause runny noses, sore throats and other coldlike symptoms.

PAST RESEARCH, PRESENT PURPOSE SARS and MERS made scientists around the world take note. Among them was Andrew 24

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Mesecar, professor and department head of the Department of Biochemistry and deputy director of the Purdue Center for Cancer Research. For over 15 years, he’s collaborated with Arun Ghosh, Ian P. Rothwell Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry, to create small molecules that could be used to develop drugs to fight these viruses.

They made significant progress, developing and testing hundreds of molecules that held promise as protease inhibitors, which bind to critical enzymes in viruses and disrupt their ability to replicate. “These proteases do two things: they help the virus live and replicate, and one of them also serves as a ‘cloaking device’ to hide the virus from our own immune systems,” Mesecar says. “We were trying to tear down the cloaking device, exposing the virus to our immune systems.” Their work was promising, but SARS was contained quickly and MERS only infects a few people each year. As the global threat subsided, funding and interest dried up, and Mesecar and Ghosh essentially shelved their small molecules. In early 2020, as news of a new viral illness was making headlines, Mesecar saw the similarities to SARS and MERS. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, as it was named, is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed millions of lives. “I’m like, ‘Here we go again. I wonder what this one’s going to be.’ Two or three days later they realize it’s a coronavirus,” Mesecar says. “I got word that the genome was released on a Friday night and woke up early, downloaded it and compared it against SARS and MERS. When I saw the high similarity to SARS, I knew this was going to be bad. “I was thinking bad like maybe 10,000 cases and 100 percent mortality in the first wave, and then it might go away with proper controls like quarantine,” Mesecar adds.

“But I had no idea the potential for a pandemic on this scale at the time.” Mesecar and Ghosh started pulling out the small molecules that had shown promise against SARS and MERS. Ghosh’s lab quickly pivoted to COVID-19 research and worked to synthesize a few hundred more molecules, sharing them with Mesecar for initial efficacy tests against the proteases. “People are dying. We know this virus very well. We think we can make a contribution,” Ghosh says. “We believe we are in the right place at the right time with the right know-how to make a difference.” Mesecar all but lived in his lab and office for the first three months, subsisting on cans of tuna and macaroni and ramen he would buy in bulk so he could devote more time to his work. He gathered Ghosh’s molecules, measuring the activity of the compounds and then crystallizing the molecules stuck to the proteases, a process that allows researchers to see where the drugs would bind to virus enzymes, as well as other properties of the molecule. If the molecule seemed promising from there, it was sent to other collaborators who tested the efficacy of the molecules on live virus. While the most significant global efforts to fight the virus have focused on vaccines, Mesecar and Ghosh believe there will still be a need for drugs that can kill the virus in infected patients. They have filed three provisional patents on promising molecules, and Mesecar was awarded a patent in 2018 for his broad-spectrum coronavirus inhibitors. AG.PURDUE.EDU/ENVISION

“We are marching forward on antivirals. We need the Tamiflu of coronaviruses. We need a pill form that will kill the virus,” Mesecar says. “Having that in addition to a vaccine is what’s going to keep this at bay for those who can’t or won’t get a vaccine, or others who contract new variants of the virus.” To that end, Mesecar has shifted much of his lab work — and even classroom work — to identifying new targets for antiviral drugs. When in-person classes and labs were canceled last spring, Mesecar offered an undergraduate drug discovery class some hands-on experience of a different sort. He asked students to review all the potential drug targets for coronaviruses identified in the literature and write white papers on their findings. “I was really surprised on a couple of the targets. Reading what they came up with, there are a few new targets I’m interested in understanding better,” Mesecar says. Gaby Fernandez, a senior biology major in that class, dug into NSP-13, from a class of enzymes called helicases, which unwind DNA, an essential step for virus replication. She scoured clinical trials, review papers and any other mentions of the protein. “We narrowed down what we currently know to help decide whether there is enough research to look for viable drug targets,” Fernandez says. “I loved working on this. It 26

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made me feel like I was contributing something potentially important during this global pandemic, and it gave me insights about how drug discovery and delivery play out.”

PRACTICAL TESTING As the pandemic came into focus in the early months of 2020, many Purdue scientists shuttered their labs temporarily unless they had a direct tie to COVID-19 or other essential research. Some, like Mohit Verma, assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, saw an opportunity. Verma has been developing a rapid test for bovine respiratory disease (BRD). As one of the most prevalent and costly illnesses in the beef and dairy industries, the disease causes about half of feedlot deaths in North America and costs producers as much as $900 million per year. By the time a producer suspects BRD, orders a test and waits several days for the results, it may be too late. Often, the disease spreads rapidly to other animals. The technology Verma’s lab designed is similar to a pregnancy test. Livestock producers get a nasal swab from an animal, apply it to a paper strip that is warmed to speed up chemical reactions and get a result within 60 minutes.

Even before the pandemic, Verma had considered this technology could have an application outside a farm setting. When the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency called for proposals in 2019 for rapid biosensors that could be used in a pandemic, Verma expressed interest. “I had this paper-based platform that I thought could fit well, and I was looking for partners,” Verma says. “I had started working with Raytheon BBN Technologies, which has a lot of algorithmic designs to identify DNA and RNA sequences in February, right when the pandemic started to grow.” Verma’s lab quickly became all hands on deck as he pulled every available graduate student and lab technician into the project. Needing even more researchers over the summer, he brought on Molecular Agriculture Summer Institute (MASI) students, whose program had been canceled due to the pandemic. Those students jumped in to conduct a slew of experiments to quickly improve the technology. Andres Dextre, a junior agricultural and biological engineering major, learned to test new chemical

formulations on the paper strips to decrease the time it takes to get results and weed out false positives. “After the MASI program got canceled, I was disappointed. I had made my peace that the summer was going to be a loss,” Dextre says. “It was definitely exciting to get into something like this. You can see the impact this pandemic is having on everyone, and the idea of working on something that can help people feels important.” The tests Verma’s team is developing haven’t been used to detect virus during the pandemic so far. However, as new strains arise, it’s likely that inexpensive, simple and rapid tests will be needed on a wide scale. For instance, the technology could be used to screen airline passengers before boarding planes or employees before they come to work. “We’re interested in serving companies or organizations that will need to test people often and quickly to ensure safe workplaces and other environments,” Verma said. “You need something scalable and cheap and something that gives confidence. We think we have that.”

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BOOSTING DRUG EFFICIENCY Years before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Yuan Yao, professor of food science, made a fortuitous decision. He and his collaborators had developed a nanoparticle able to solubilize drugs with tough crystalline structures, making them easier to dissolve and more efficient as a treatment. When they looked for a drug to use for proof of concept, they decided to pick a tough one: niclosamide. “This is a drug often used to treat tapeworms, and it may have potential as a cancer therapeutic,” Yao says. “We also know that niclosamide has potential to be used as a broad-spectrum antiviral drug and could be used to treat COVID-19. Fortunately, we have a drug-enabling agent that can make niclosamide much more effective than it could ever be on its own.” Yao was originally interested in niclosamide for treating cancer; good results would be evidence that his nanoparticle was highly effective. While published studies have also shown that niclosamide has potential to be more effective than chloroquine, remdesivir, and lopinavir as a COVID-19 therapeutic, niclosamide’s structure keeps the

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human body from absorbing much of it. This drug is poorly water-soluble, so when taken orally, it can’t easily be dissolved and absorbed by patients. OHPP (octenylsuccinate hydroxypropyl phytoglycogen), the highly functional nanoparticle Yao and his collaborators prepared from a carbohydrate extracted from corn, can improve niclosamide solubility by 5,000 times, substantially increase its bioavailability, and largely reduce the progression of infection in mice. “Patients need a drug that can be taken in pill form and be effective,” Yao says. “Our nanoparticle gives niclosamide the properties it needs to meet those requirements. If this virus continues to produce new variants or other viruses appear, we may need drugs like this to care for patients who contract it.” Yao and his collaborators have received funding to begin pre-clinical trials for the OHPP-formulated niclosamide. Pilot viability studies have indicated the formulation’s outstanding oral bioavailability and demonstrate a prolonged release of niclosamide that hasn’t been achieved with other technologies. “Publications by other groups showed niclosamide’s antiviral effects against SARSCoV, MERS-CoV, Zika, hepatitis C virus, influenza A and dengue. Our patented technology could be crucial to translating lab findings into practical therapeutics for patients,” Yao says. “I’m glad that OHPP, which originated from corn, is enabling a promising drug.”

the takeaway When outbreaks of the coronaviruses SARS and MERS occurred, Andrew Mesecar, professor and head of the Department of Biochemistry, and his colleague Arun Ghosh, professor in the Department of Chemistry, researched small molecules that could be used to develop drug treatments. They returned to that work after receiving the SARS-CoV-2 genome. These small molecules hold promise as protease inhibitors, which bind to enzymes in viruses and disrupt their ability to replicate.   Mesecar asked students in his undergraduate drug discovery class to review literature and submit papers on potential drug targets for coronaviruses — “hands-on” experience in a virtual class environment.

PIVOTING FAST FOR THE FUTURE College of Agriculture scientists nimbly revived earlier work and adapted current work to address COVID-19, with goals to save lives and improve long-term recovery for patients and the economy. Their research offers hope in the face of a deadly pandemic that might be a harbinger for future generations.

Mohit Verma, assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, developed a rapid test for bovine respiratory disease using paper test strips to deliver results in 60 minutes. He had begun testing that paper-based platform to detect human viruses and accelerated the work during the pandemic. Rapid tests like Verma’s could potentially be used to screen airline passengers or employees. Years before the pandemic, Yuan Yao, professor of food science, and his collaborators had developed a plant-based nanoparticle, OHPP, that made it easier to dissolve drugs with tough crystalline structures. One of those drugs, niclosamide, has shown potential to be effective as a COVID-19 therapeutic. OHPP helps improve its solubility by about 5,000 times, which provides better bioavailability and efficacy. Yao and his collaborators have received funding for pre-clinical trials of OHPP-formulated niclosamide.

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the big idea 01

nanoparticles 02

Nano = one-billionth Nanometer = one-billionth of a meter Sheet of paper = ~100,000 nanometers thick Nanoparticle = between 1–100 nanometers in diameter

Nano-scale particles have unusual properties, including an increased ratio of surface area to volume. Scientists take advantage of these properties and the unique ways nanoparticles interact with other materials.

OTHER NANOTECHNOLOGY USES

more portable electronic systems, better screens

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efficient batteries and energy-conducting materials

cleaner water and oil spill cleanup

packaging that prevents spoilage and contamination

03 For example, niclosamide, a drug with potential to treat cancer and a broad spectrum of viruses, including coronavirus, has a tough, crystalline structure. This makes it difficult to dissolve, and in turn, difficult for the body to absorb.

04 OHPP, a nanoparticle derived from U.S.-grown corn, was developed by Yuan Yao, professor of food science, and his collaborators. It can form hydrogen bonds with niclosamide, making the drug up to 5,000 times more soluble.

05 advanced glass films and lightweight materials

Making niclosamide more soluble makes it more bioavailable, which would allow the drug to be released through an oral formulation like a capsule or tablet.

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legacy Friends established the Angelina Perez Bowes Food Science Scholarship in her honor. Pictured, from L to R, Angie Perez Bowes, Valorie Hahn, Kirsten Miles, Erin Gramza and Kim Combs.

THE GIFT OF FRIENDS By Maureen Manier

Angie Perez Bowes, Kim Combs, Kirsten Miles,

Erin Gramza and Valorie Hahn first met as freshmen in food science classes. But they developed their close connections through late-night coffee shop chats, drinks at Jake’s, camping trips, cosmic bowling, and, of course, more food science classes and club activities. After graduating in 2001, they fulfilled their promise to meet every year, spending weekends together drinking wine and talking through the night; attending wedding showers, weddings and baby showers; and even pushing themselves out of their comfort zones — like taking an aerial silks class at Cirque Indy. After graduation, Angie accepted a job at General Mills. She loved her job and the opportunities it gave her, which included living in several cities and returning frequently to Purdue to meet with students and speak to food science classes. Erin Gramza describes her friend: “Angie, at her core, was a connector! She loved simply getting to meet people and find common ground.” Angie reconnected with Jamie Bowes, who became her husband, when they returned to Purdue for a homecoming weekend. They later welcomed a daughter, Olivia. 32

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Amidst all their career and life changes, the last thing this group of friends anticipated was that they would soon be gathering to support and honor Angie after a cancer diagnosis. As Angie battled cancer through many years, her friends sent numerous gifts, both silly and sentimental. However, they reached a moment when they knew it was time to give their friend a lasting gift. Kim Combs explains that Angie loved gift giving. “She was the most thoughtful person, and we knew we needed to dig deeper to find a way to honor her. In fact, the day we gave her our gift, she had gifts for each of us — just because!” For her birthday in November 2017, her friends gave Angie a letter that announced their intention to give an annual $1,000 scholarship in her honor to a Purdue food science student who had demonstrated grit and resilience while maintaining a passion for contributing to the advancement of the food industry. “We need you to know that we are working to make sure your contributions will be continuing for years and years and years, perhaps just in a little different way than

you originally envisioned while walking the halls of the Purdue Food Science building,” read the letter. Her friends say their gift took Angie’s breath away, for a second, before she quickly began suggesting ideas to figure out how they could go “even bigger” with the scholarship. “She was our fun friend and immediately had all sorts of ideas about planning fundraising parties to contribute to the scholarship. We started out thinking we would fund the scholarship ourselves each year, not yet understanding the concept and benefit of an endowment,” Combs says. During the final weeks of Angie’s life, her friends rallied together, connecting with Angie’s family and focusing on the scholarship and how proud Angie was that this was going to be a permanent way to help students. What Angie’s friends soon realized, as they dealt with their grief, was that so many others were grieving, like General Mills co-workers who Angie viewed as family. “We had failed to look outside our bubble and hurting hearts to realize that Angie had left the same imprint on the hearts of others as she did for us. Through the generosity of so many of Angie’s family, friends and co-workers, along

with company matching gifts, we were able to achieve the goal of establishing the endowment much more quickly than we had ever imagined,” Combs says. Last fall, Angie’s friends gathered on a virtual phone call to meet with the first recipient of the Angelina Perez Bowes Food Science Scholarship. The love they feel for their friend made it an emotional conversation, but one they also profoundly value. They were reminded of Angie’s passion, and they were comforted knowing it will be mirrored in future scholarship recipients. No gift could have made Angie happier.

To donate to the Angelina Perez Bowes Food Science Scholarship Endowment, please make donations payable to Purdue Foundation and mail to Purdue Foundation, 403 W. Wood Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907; or donate online at connect.purdue.edu/s/foodscience. For further questions, or to learn more about giving to Purdue, contact the Agricultural Advancement Office at 765-494-8672. AG.PURDUE.EDU/ENVISION

alumni close-up Moving from her family farm

in northern Indiana to a small apartment just a short walk from the Colosseum in Rome would be a major undertaking for Beth Bechdol (MS ’96, agricultural economics) in normal times. In the global COVID-19 pandemic, the transition became surreal. Just four days into her new role as deputy director-general at the

BECHDOL TAKES HER TALENTS FROM

IN TO THE UN BY MEGAN KUHN

ENVISION • SPRING 2021

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), most of the 3,000-plus employees at the organization’s headquarters, including Bechdol, were ordered to work remotely while all of Italy locked down to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. “It’s a really unique time to be a part of a global, multilateral organization, and the work FAO does is needed now more than ever,” Bechdol says. She most recently led AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative to promote and accelerate the growth of Indiana’s agbioscience sector. The FAO leads the UN’s efforts to end global hunger and achieve food security for all. As part of her new role, Bechdol oversees FAO’s partnership and outreach work, resource mobilization efforts, and technical plant production and protection programs. Before taking the role, Bechdol considered whether it was the right place for her by learning more about what drives the organization. “I had a lot to learn about FAO when I was approached about the role,” Bechdol says. “What I discovered was that every other position and professional chapter was leading to this global platform. FAO works to eliminate hunger, improve nutrition and protect the planet. This was my opportunity to contribute on a different scale.” The desire to make an impact has motivated Bechdol to make bold decisions throughout her career; to start, she was the only member of her immediate family who didn’t earn her undergraduate degree from Purdue

Deserted streets near the Colosseum during a COVID-19 lockdown

University. Instead, Bechdol earned a degree in international relations and law at Georgetown University, and she instilled that sense of adventure in her daughter, Grace, who is currently in her second year of studies at New York University Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Upon completing her undergraduate work and after interviewing for, but not landing, several agriculture-related roles in Washington, D.C., Bechdol realized a degree from an agriculture school, despite growing up on a farm, would be important to her credentials. “My time at Purdue prepared me for every step of my career,” she says. “In Washington, political instinct is critical, but Purdue gave me an added advantage of a well-grounded analytical foundation. I learned how to evaluate and design policy and how to think critically.” Bechdol credits several agriculture faculty members, including Tom Hertel, Marshall Martin and Otto Doering, for teaching her the fundamentals in agricultural economics and policy. “Dr. Doering made us write, rewrite and rewrite again just the opening paragraph to a policy analysis paper,” she remembers. “He taught us how to articulate the problem, and devise a clear and succinct hypothesis and plan to address it. We didn’t even have to finish the paper. We just had to get the opening right. “I look back on that course now and still use the same construct and approach when it comes to problemsolving. It became a framework for my thinking and communications, and that came from Purdue.” She also approaches challenges by creating a safe, dynamic space for people to come together and work

Matt, Beth and Grace Bechdol in Umbria

toward a common mission — a practice she applied while building AgriNovus Indiana. “I’m not afraid to put people from different backgrounds and with different viewpoints in a room together even if it’s not always easy or comfortable,” she says. Through Bechdol’s efforts, AgriNovus has helped elevate Indiana’s reputation as a leader in agbiosciences. “Indiana’s strengths in innovation are solid and diverse. The state is undeniably a leader in production agriculture, but we had a harder time conveying the story of innovation, research and technology and quantifying those impacts,” she says. “That is where AgriNovus came in.” Bechdol sees developing diverse talent and enticing the upcoming generation into agbioscience careers as a next critical contribution for AgriNovus and its partners. “This could be game changing and set Indiana apart from other states,” she says. She left those efforts and a dynamic, well-established organization to those who come after her, but she’s taking what she learned to the FAO. “I feel like I helped put the foundation in place that was needed to make AgriNovus successful,” Bechdol says. “Now I get to take some of these same priorities and strategies and see if they can be replicated on a global stage. And that’s an exciting prospect.” Now more than a year into her role at the FAO, Italy is experiencing its third national COVID-19 lockdown. Bechdol is looking forward to exploring and settling in to her new surroundings when the country returns to a more normal rhythm. “Even with Rome essentially shut down, it is an incredibly beautiful and resilient city,” Bechdol says. AG.PURDUE.EDU/ENVISION

then

Father and son Scott and Ryan Jamieson both graduated from the College of

Agriculture, with different majors and 23 years between them. While much changed at Purdue during that time, at least one thing hasn’t: both felt well prepared to join the workforce in their respective fields.

Scott Jamieson grew up in Gary at the height

of its manufacturing boom, but it was the city’s proximity to the Indiana Dunes that gave him an affinity for wildlife and nature. Seeing Gary’s steel mills with the dunes in between, he was fascinated by the ways in which industry and nature could coexist for the best of both worlds, leading him to a degree in urban forestry. Rather than growing trees to harvest them and make new products, urban foresters cultivate and care for trees to maintain them for their benefits. “When people typically go into forestry or wildlife, the last thing they’re thinking about is urban anything. They want to get out

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Harvey Holt, professor emeritus, Forestry and Natural Resources

SCOTT JAMIESON BS FORESTRY into the woods and away from everything,” Scott says. “But I thought, ‘Hey, wait a minute, wouldn’t it be cool to take care of trees in the places where most people live and play and hang out?’” Outside of class, he lived at the “co-rec” [now the France A. Córdova Recreational Sports Center], playing pick-up basketball games with his roommate. His favorite gym memory, however, is seeing his son and fellow Purdue alumnus, Ryan, across the floor as they both recruited students at the College of Agriculture career fair for their respective companies. Scott is based in the Chicago area as vice president of Bartlett Tree Experts, an international tree care firm. He’s maintained a strong relationship with Purdue and the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources to spread the word about urban forestry. “That was one of the benefits of me coming back to teach a couple of classes, talk to students and see my professors over the years my kids were there: I could do double duty,” Scott says. He’s proud to see how Purdue has evolved into a beautiful campus landscape and credits leaders like President Mitch Daniels and Provost Jay Akridge for increasing Purdue’s national prominence.

France A. Córdova Recreational Sports Center

Just Mercy Bryan Stevenson

and now RYAN JAMIESON BS AG ECON Looking through old family photos, Ryan Jamieson

sees a lot of pictures of him wearing black and gold, thanks to his dad Scott and mom Diane (BS ’87, management) and an aunt and uncle who also attended Purdue. So Purdue was included in his college search, but Ryan was interested in an economics or trading job and primarily visited business schools. His dad suggested he check out the highly rated Department of Agricultural Economics. Ryan met with Andy Oppy, associate director of academic advising and career services, and some of the faculty members, and knew it was the place for him. “Looking back, I never would have thought when I was in high school that I’d be working for an ag company,” Ryan says. He’s now a soybean meal trader at Bunge Limited in St. Louis. He credits Freddie Barnard, professor emeritus, who served as his academic adviser, and Chris Hurt, professor emeritus, and the late Corinne Alexander, associate professor, as key influences. “I was really focused on these commodity marketing classes, and I remember in my first couple of days on the job I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, this was just taught to me in class not too long ago,’” Ryan says. “Having those great teachers helped me be prepared when I entered the workforce.” Ryan’s campus sports passion was the Purdue cycling club. Participating in a Purdue triathlon club race ignited

When Genius Failed Roger Lowenstein

France A. Córdova Recreational Sports Center

another, and he’s training for his first Ironman in September 2021. He also tried something his parents wished they had, spending a semester studying abroad in Copenhagen. “So many people inside the ag school had positive reviews on it that I felt like it was something I didn’t want to miss out on,” Ryan says. “Having a more well-rounded college experience and a new perspective on agriculture has been helpful in life after Purdue.”

The Jamiesons (clockwise from bottom left): Diane, Scott, Ryan and Kathryn (BS ’20, nursing) are all Purdue alumni.

Chris Hurt, professor emeritus, Agricultural Economics

RYAN’S FAVORITES AG.PURDUE.EDU/ENVISION

alumni spotlights In 2020, John Whittington (BS ’96, agricultural economics) converted his biodiesel fuel–manufacturing site in Morristown, Indiana, to manufacture other products — including hand sanitizer when it was in short supply due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A 20,000-gallon tank that previously stored methanol for biofuels was converted to ethanol storage, and the company now produces a few 5,400-gallon truckloads of hand sanitizer per week. He has donated some of the sanitizer to nonprofits, including schools, parks and shelters, and says giving back is rewarding.

Michelle Egger (BS ’15, food science), co-founder and CEO of BIOMILQ, was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2021, an annual compilation of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. The company developed formula breastmilk, which has a similar nutritional value to regular breastmilk, by culturing mammary cells in the lab. BIOMILQ also earned $3.5 million in funding from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Bill Gates’ investment firm.

Lama AlAbdi (PhD ’19, biochemistry), assistant professor at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was honored as one of six women scientists in the Middle East engaged in breakthrough research. AlAbdi was recognized by the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Middle East Regional Young Talents Program, an award administered in partnership with Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, UAE. She studied under Humaira Gowher, associate professor of biochemistry, researching chromatinregulation of gene expression during mammalian early development and in cancer cells.

Akinwumi A. Adesina (MS ’85, PhD ’88, agricultural economics) is president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), which Global Finance magazine recently named Best Multilateral Financial Institution worldwide for 2021. The award is global recognition for the AfDB as it transforms into a solutions bank for Africa, through a combination of its operations, knowledge services and investment positioning, which continue to help accelerate Africa’s development. It also affirms Adesina’s successful operational strategy. He was unanimously re-elected to a second five-year term last year.

ENVISION • SPRING 2021

final view What is being welded in the lab?

ENVISION VOLUME 4 NO 1

Editor: Stacey Mickelbart Art Director: Lauren Coghlan Copy Editor: Nancy Alexander College Photographer: Tom Campbell Web: Kyle Brock, Gabriella Giannini Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture: Karen Plaut Agricultural Communication Department Head: Maureen Manier Envision is published two times a year by the Purdue University Department of Agricultural Communication and is available by free subscription. Send correspondence, subscription requests and address changes to: Envision 615 W. State Street West Lafayette, IN 47907-2053 765-494-9509 E-mail: agmag@purdue.edu Visit Us Online ag.purdue.edu/envision Follow us PurdueAg purdue_ag Purdue Agriculture @PurdueAg It is the policy of Purdue University that all persons have equal opportunity and access to its educational programs, services, activities, and facilities without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, disability or status as a veteran. Purdue University is an Affirmative Action institution. This material may be available in other formats.

Clare McNicholas, a junior in Agricultural and Biological Engineering, is modifying a vehicle as part of the Purdue Utility Project (PUP) team. Adding a CVT (continuously variable transmission) allows the vehicle’s engine to operate more efficiently at a wider range of speeds. PUP utility vehicles are specially designed for manufacturing in developing countries so farmers can transport large loads over rough terrain.

AG.PURDUE.EDU/ENVISION

Agricultural Administration Building 615 W. State Street West Lafayette, IN 47907-2053

Grace Johnson MAJOR

Natural Resources and Environmental Science

HOMETOWN Guymon, OK

my Purdue view When I was applying to college, I had two distinct interests: environmental science and public policy. Once I found the Natural Resources and Environmental Science (NRES) program, I knew Purdue was the right fit. NRES perfectly combined my core interests into one degree. Many of my most impactful experiences at Purdue have been through CATE [College of Agriculture Transformational Experiences]. My internship at the U.S. Green Building Council was truly transformative. The experience continued when I returned to Purdue and started an independent study with Dr. Linda Prokopy on local-level green building and environmental education policies specific to Indiana schools. This propelled me into undergraduate research in the Natural Resources Social Science Lab, where I’m now studying the persistence of cover crop usage by Midwestern farmers.

My U.S. Senate internship showed me how to account for alternative viewpoints and taught me the foundation of consensus-building, even among those championing environmentally damaging policies. It also pushed me never to stay silent about environmental issues. Being named a Udall Scholar helps me work with others on environmental justice and public policy. Living in the Panhandle of Oklahoma and the Great Plains for most of my life, I’m aware of issues surrounding groundwater preservation, particularly in the Ogallala Aquifer. The Aquifer will be depleted in 50 years, causing Midwestern communities and one-fifth of the nation’s agricultural production to disappear along with it. By focusing my career on the development of state-level environmental policies, I hope to improve conservation and preservation of the High Plains’ remaining water resources.