2013 brought many reasons to celebrate for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources! Here are just 13 of the highlights from a busy and successful year:
Hamza Research Recognized:
Iqbal Hamza from the Department of Animal & Avian Sciences leads a team of researchers to discover a protein that enables safe recycling of iron from old red blood cells. The findings, published in the journal Cell Metabolism in February, could lead to new treatments for parasitic worm infections and iron deficiency disorders such as anemia, the most common nutritional deficiency in the world affecting up to two million people. Read more about Hamza’s work here.
Sustainability Studies Minor Grows in Popularity:
The relatively new sustainability studies minor – jointly supported by the College of AGNR and the School of Public Policy – became the largest minor on campus in 2013. The all-campus minor has become increasingly popular with students from all disciplines since it was first introduced at the university in 2012.
Foals Return to Campus Farm:
The Campus Farm welcomed the birth of two thoroughbred foals this spring – a chestnut brown colt arrived in March and a dark bay filly followed in April. It marks the first time in roughly 30 years foals have been born on campus and the youngsters enjoyed rock star status during their stay. Students were involved with the entire process of preparing the mares to give birth all the way through training the foals to be sold at auction as racing prospects. Read more here.
Nourishmat Creators Win Cupid’s Cup:
Environmental Science & Technology alumnus John-Randall Gorby ’11 and his business partner, Philip-Michael Weiner, won the 2013 Cupid’s Cup for a product they developed called the Nourishmat. The duo won the $50,000 grand prize in the competition created by the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the UMD Robert H. Smith School of Business.
Soil Judging Team Wins National Championship:
UMD’s soil judging team beat out 20 other colleges and universities from around the country to take home the top prize in the National Collegiate Soil Judging Contest at the University of Wisconsin Platteville in April. It marked the first time in 29 years the Terps have won this prestigious national competition.
Iagers Make Major Gift to Campus Farm Revitalization:
Charlie and Judy Iager of Fulton, Md. made the first major gift to support the College Of AGNR’s plan to revitalize the Campus Farm. The couple’s six-figure gift kicked off a multi-million dollar fundraising effort for the farm’s first major renovation in 50 years. For more information on the Campus Farm Revitalization, visit http://agnr.umd.edu/campusfarm.
AREC Alumnus Wins Prestigious Fulbright Grant:
Alex Gittelson, a 2009 graduate from the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, was awarded a competitive Fulbright grant for the 2013-2014 academic year to pursue his lifelong goal of helping to make a difference in his parents’ home country of Russia. He plans to use the grant to study alternatives to agricultural burning in the country. Read more here.
New Course Encourages Students to Eat With Eyes Wide Open:
This fall, animal science lecturer Charlie Apter introduced a new course called "Eating with Eyes Wide Open," where students tackle food challenges such as eliminating sugar or meat from their diets, eating only fast food or subsisting only on food they make from scratch. They keep a food diary about their successes or struggles and attend weekly demonstrations of cheesemaking, canning and more. Click here for more.
AGNR Shines at MD State Fair:
From birthing calves, piglets and chicks in front of a crowd of onlookers to educating the public about where their food comes from, students and faculty from the College of AGNR were working around the clock during the 11 days of the MD State Fair this summer. A group of interns manned the popular birthing center inside the Cow Palace while another group of students introduced fairgoers to the University of Maryland’s very own dairy herd.
Extension Helps Consumers Make Smart Choice About Health Insurance:
A team of experts from University of Maryland Extension is leading a national charge to empower consumers with Smart Choice – a comprehensive, research-based, unbiased curriculum designed to equip people with the tools they need to make the best decisions possible when choosing health insurance. Hundreds of millions of Americans have more options than ever before when it comes to health insurance thanks to sweeping health care reform legislation.
Animal Science Alum Brings New Life to an Endangered Species of Wild Horse
The June birth of a Przewalski's horse—the first in the world to be born via artificial insemination—is giving the once decimated species new hope. Leading the team of scientists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) behind this breakthrough birth is reproductive physiologist Budhan Pukazhenthi, who received his Master’s and Ph.D. from the Department of Animal and Avian Science. Przewalski's horses are rare and endangered wild horses native to Mongolia. They were declared extinct in the wild in the 1960s, but have since been reintroduced to Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan. Read more here.
AGNR Open House Draws Record Crowd:
Blue skies and unseasonably warm temperatures helped drive a steady stream of visitors to the 2013 College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) Open House on Saturday, October 5. Nearly 4,000 are estimated to have attended the event – the largest crowd ever since the College first began hosting the Open House at the Central Maryland Research and Education Center’s Clarksville Facility in 2006. Click here to see pictures from the event.
Nutrition Educators Help Citizens Manage Food Stamp Cuts:
In November, 47 million people across the country saw cuts to their benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – formerly known as food stamps. Nearly 800,000 of those affected were Maryland citizens. Since the cuts took place, nutrition educators with the Food Supplement Nutrition Education (FSNE) Program have been helping residents across the state adjust to the reduction in benefits without sacrificing healthy food choices. Educators are teaming up with other organizations to provide grocery store tours and direct residents to other forms of assistance to help stretch their food stamp dollars.
Stay tuned to see what exciting things are ahead for 2014! Happy New Year from the College of AGNR!
