Global Programs: News & Events
Activity Report: November - December 2006
Special Announcements
From November 5-11, a delegation led by Mr. Mohamed S. Muya, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Cooperatives of the United Republic of Tanzania visited UGA. Mr. Muya's delegation included Ms. Sophia N. Kaduma, Director National Food Security, Eng. Mbogo Futakamba, Director Irrigation and Technical Services, and Dr. Jeremiah M. Haki, Director Research and Training. The delegation was hosted by the Office of Global Programs and visited the Athens, Tifton and Griffin campuses. Special thanks to Drs. Jack Houston, Lioba Moshi, Greg Fonsah, Charles Douglas and Dick Phillips for their invaluable assistance in hosting the delegation.
Jack Houston, Mbogo Futakamba, Vicki McMaken, Mohamed Muya, Jeremiah Haki and Sophia Kaduma |
During their visit to UGA, the Tanzanian delegation had the opportunity to meet with faculty from the CAES departments of Agricultural & Applied Economics, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, Poultry Science, Food Science and Technology, Animal & Dairy Science, Crop & Soil Science, Entomology, Plant Pathology and Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communication. The group also held meetings with the faculty of the African Studies Institute and met with Public Service and Outreach representatives.
Office of Global Programs Activities
Italian Exchange Student Finishes Semester in the US
Matteo Pecoraro thawing neuron cells to evaluate |
Matteo Pecoraro, an exchange student in the program "Comparing US and EU Biotechnology, Food Safety and Regulatory Policies," sponsored jointly by the European Commission and the US Department of Education, completed his work with Dr. Steven Stice, Professor in Animal and Dairy Science, in December 2006. Matteo is a student at one of UGA's partner institutions, the University of Udine in Udine, Italy. His work during his time at UGA focused on the comparison of the US and EU policies in biotechnology. Matteo's biotechnology research project focused on providing stem cells that are more acceptable to government and granting organizations. He found a way to freeze neurons that some day might be used in cell therapy and drug discovery. Current policy in Italy prohibits research on embryonic stem cells while the US has restricted abilities on research. Matteo's studies were very successful and may be useful in the development of new, easy to use cells for neuroscience researchers around the world.
Travel Reports for Ed Kanemasu
On November 11, Dr. Ed Kanemasu, Director, attended the NASULGC meetings in Houston. He participated in the International Committee on Organization and Policy (ICOP) and the International Agriculture Coordinating Committee (IACC) meetings. The primary topic of discussion was the internationalization of Colleges and Universities and possible financial support opportunities.
On November 14, Dr. Ed Kanemasu also attended the American Association of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and the Soil Science Society of America meetings at Indianapolis. He was given a Letter of Appreciation from Kagoshima University in Japan for his commitment in their partnership which has continued for 30 years.
Travel Report for Victoria McMaken
Mt. Ararat |
From November 26 to December 7, Vicki McMaken, Assistant Director, traveled with Dr. Glenn Ames, Director of International Public Service & Outreach and Vahe Heboyan, PhD Candidate, Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics to Yerevan, Armenia. The group was in Armenia to initiate work on a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) project funded by the USDA-Foreign Agricultural Service project. The project is aimed at developing M&E capacity for USDA projects in Armenia.
During the visit, the UGA delegation met with USDA-FAS staff and USDA partners at the Ministry of Agriculture, State Agrarian University and the Center for Agribusiness and Rural Development. The group also selected seven Armenian participants for an intensive M&E training workshop to be held on the Athens campus in January 2007.
Left: Glenn Ames, Vicki McMaken and Vahe Heboyan in rural Armenia. Middle: Meeting with Vice Rector Marmaryan at the State Agrarian University of Armenia. |
Department of Animal and Dairy Science Activities
Agreement Between The University of Concepcion and UGA
Dr. Fidel Ovidio Castro and Dr. Steven Stice |
In November, Dr. Steven Stice, Professor, traveled to Chili to visit Dr. Fidel Ovidio Castro, Rector and Professor of Veterinary Medicine in the Department
of Animal Sciences at the University of Concepcion. Dr. Stice gave a lecture at the University of Concepcion and at the First Latin American Symposium on Regenerative Medicine. As a result of Dr. Stice's visit, an agreement for cooperation between UGA and the University of Concepcion was reached.
Misztal Teaches in Belgium
Participants of the course |
In December, Dr. Ignacy Misztal, Professor,
taught a short course at the University of Gembloux, Belgium. The course was attended by 21 participants from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Iceland, Poland and England. Dr. Misztal also gave a seminar and discussed collaboration with Dr. Nicolas Gengler. A visiting graduate student from the University of Gembloux will work in the lab of Dr. Misztal until the end of February.
Department of Crop and Soil Science Activities
Leclerc is Keynote Speaker in Thailand
Monique Y. Leclerc, Professor, was a keynote speaker at the International Symposium on Terrestrial Ecosystems, in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on November 28-December 1. Other guest speakers included faculty from Oxford University, Carnegie Institution, UC Berkeley, CSIRO (Australia).
Department of Food Science Activities
Huang Speaks in China
Dr. Yao-wen Huang, Professor, was invited to participate in the "Food Summit in China 2006" in Xiamen, Fujian, China from November 5 to 8. The Summit was sponsored by the Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology (CIFST) and Institute of Food Technologists (IFT-USA). Dr. Huang chaired a Plenary Session on functional food and was elected to be on the Board of Directors of the newly established "Functional Food Society of the CIFST" during the Summit.
After the Summit, Dr. Huang was invited to give a presentation on pathogen detection in food security and food defense system at the Shanghai Fisheries University (SFU). There he had a meeting with the dean and faculty to discuss the proposal regarding the joint 2 plus 2 instruction program between the SFU College of the Food Science and the UGA Department of Food Science and Technology. Under this foundation, Dr. Huang will further discuss and help to establish the International Agriculture Program with Dr. Singh, Department Head, to begin at the beginning of the spring semester. While in Shanghai, Dr. Huang was also invited to give a lecture on food security and food defense at the Shanghai Jiatong University (SJU).
International Visitors
Shanghai Fisheries University Chairman Visits UGA
|
On December 11 Professor Ye Jun, Chairman of the University Board at the Shanghai Fisheries University in China visited the UGA campus. Professor Ye was hosted by Dr. Yen-Con Hung, Professor, Food Science & Technology. While on campus, Professor Ye met with Dean Scott Angle to discuss collaboration with the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences. He also met with Vice President David Lee, Dean Maureen Grasso, and Associate Provost Judith Shaw. Dr. Jeff Dorfman, Interim Department Head, hosted a reception for Professor Ye which was attended by faculty and students of the Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics.