Nebraska Plant Science Symposium Series set for April 29

by by Lana Koepke Johnson | Agronomy and Horticulture

February 7, 2024

2024 Nebraska Plant Science Symposium Series – Innovating Plant Science: Where STEM Meets Stem

The 2024 Nebraska Plant Science Symposium Series – Innovating Plant Science: Where STEM Meets Stem – is set for Monday, April 29, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center in Lincoln.

The goal of the symposium series is to enhance agricultural scientific literacy, stimulate collaboration and help build interest in plant science careers. It is also designed to provide an opportunity for undergraduate students, graduate students and postdocs to showcase their outstanding research.

NPSS 2024 committee members include graduate students Yuvraj Chopra – chair, Lexie Foster – co-chair, Kristina Alas, Waqar Ali, Sofiya Arora, Jensina Davis, Zachary Fleming, Nikhitha Gangavarapu, Esha Kaler, Felipe Krause, Garrett Kuss, Nikee Shrestha, Sai Subhash Mahamkali Venkata Subramanyam, Natasha Hiromi Umezu, Kashish Verma and Vinicius Zuppa.

NPSS is a part of a biennial series which began in 2012. In 2015, the Symposium became an annual event. It is affiliated with the Corteva Symposium Series, a global network of student-organized and driven scientific symposia, hosted by leading academic and research institutions and facilitated by Corteva Agrisciences.

The symposium will include presentations by leading agricultural and plant science researchers including:

  • Jason Rauscher, Academic Relations Manager, Corteva Agriscience™
  • David Bertioli, Professor & GRA/GSD Distinguished Investigator, Peanut Genetics, Genomics and Evolution, University of Georgia
  • Mary Kay Hausbeck, Extension Specialist, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University
  • Christian Stephenson, Assistant Professor of Practice, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Two workshops will be offered:

  • Introduction to Entrepreneurship Workshop by NUtech Ventures with Joy Eakin, NUtech Ventures Entrepreneurship Program Manager. 
  • Switching Gears To Help Others Understand Your Work with Christine Booth, Lecturer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, and Coordinator, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Science Communication Hub.

The symposium will also include student speakers and lightning talks, poster sessions, roundtable discussions and networking opportunities.

David Hyten, Haskins Professor in Plant Genetics and associate professor of agronomy and horticulture, serves as faculty advisor.

This one-day symposium is free, open to the public. Additional information and registration available at https://agronomy.unl.edu/plant-science-symposium.