Research Accomplishment Reports 2011

International Education and Training for Food, Fiber, and Energy Production

S.R. Workman, R.S. Gates, J. Roccanova, T.S. Stombaugh
Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

 

Non-Technical Summary

The University of Kentucky (UK) is currently engaged in an intense institutional process of internationalization. The key is to identify and overcome institutional barriers to internationalization (language, sustainability, institutional culture). This project will address several of these barriers. Project goals include facilitating intensive bi-directional research experiences for faculty and students in the US and Brazil, increasing agribusiness collaborations and professional development opportunities through sustained interactions with producers and processors in both countries, and developing an institutional model for expanding international partnerships from the departmental level to the university.

2011 Project Description

The primary role of the ISE grant is the promotion of linkages between the University of Kentucky and Brazilian institutions such as the Federal University of Vicosa (UFV).

In March 2011, Dr. Suman Surendranath from Animal and Food Science visited the Food Science department and the Animal Science department at Vicosa. It was an excellent visit and they invited him to Brazil to give a keynote address at the Brazilian Meat Congress held in October.

Dr. James Harwood from Entomology visited UFV in August. He was able to establish some formal research collaboration with two colleagues in entomology, discuss student exchanges and identify a couple of funding opportunities. He is considering offering a tropical agroecology graduate class in the future.

Dr. Carmen Agouridis from Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering visited colleagues at UFV in November. During the visit in November, Dr. Workman met with Vladimir di Lori (Director of International Affairs), Sergio Brommonschenkel (Dean of Agricultural Sciences), Eduardo Mizubuti (Vice President of Graduate Studies) and Nilda Soares (University President) to discuss the Sciences without Borders program just announced in Brazil.

Dr. Lisa Vaillancourt and Dr. Michael Goodin contacted the PI about traveling to UFV in April/May of 2012.

Dr. Joe Taraba requested funds to travel in June to complete a sandwich program with his student at UFV.

2011 Impact

Additional educational materials have been purchased for the language training lab in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering. These materials have been utilized by 4 students traveling to Brazil in January 2012 to begin a semester exchange program. We have been working with the University of Kentucky Associate Provost Susan Carvalho on international exchange potential with Brazil. The efforts increased significantly when the new Science without Borders program was announced in Brazil. Since Brazil uses a world university ranking system to select potential exchange universities, Kentucky was not included. Linkages between the University of Kentucky and UFV through the ISE grant were brought to the attention of the Secretary of Education in Brazil and modifications were accepted for the inclusion of Kentucky.

Two applicants have been processed by the University of Kentucky for the Sciences without Borders program. Faculty in Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Animal Sciences have developed strong working relationships with colleagues in Brazil, which should be long lasting.