By Jane Payumo, Office of International Programs
PULLMAN, Wash. – WSU faculty will train the next generation of leaders in new research and laboratory techniques when the university hosts five international scientists awarded Norman Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowships.
“Hosting a Borlaug fellow is one of the best ways to help the university establish a foot in the door in developing countries,” said Chris Pannkuk, director of WSU International Research and Agricultural Development. “When we do this right, this program can facilitate strategic, long-term partnerships between WSU and international partners on agriculture and global food security.”
The Borlaug fellowship program was established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2004 in honor of the “father of the Green Revolution,” Norman Borlaug.
Beginning in late March, fellows will be at WSU for 6-12 weeks of scientific training and international research collaboration in various aspects of agriculture. They will gain exposure to the latest developments in animal health, plant science and food safety. They will also participate with their mentor/hosts in professional development and network with several other scientists and experts.
College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) assistant professors Devendra Shah and Reginaldo Bastos are excited to host Borlaug fellows for the first time. They will introduce visitors from Vietnam and Bangladesh to WSU’s veterinary capabilities in the diagnosis, screening and control of animal diseases.
WSU horticultural genomicist Amit Dhingra expects to benefit from his visiting Malaysian scholar’s knowledge and technical skills to further build WSU’s eminence in Rosaceae (tree fruit) genomics and plant biotechnology.
Fellows from Kenya and Tunisia will work with CVM professor Douglas Call and plant pathology senior faculty Hanu Pappu and Pat Okubara.
Read more about WSU’s involvement in the Borlaug program at http://ird.wsu.edu/tag/borlaug/