2012 Borlaug Summer Institute on Global Food Security
The 2012 Borlaug Summer Institute on Global Food Security was held July 8 - 21, 2012 at Purdue University's Discovery Park. 31 graduate students representing 18 universities across the United States participated in lectures, practicums, farm tours, field trips, and social gatherings. The two-week institute began with a day of guest presentations from individuals including Julie Borlaug (Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture), Rob Bertram (USAID), and Shenggen Fan (IFPRI) and concluded with a small group project competition.
2012 Schedule of Events (PDF)
2012 Speaker Bios (PDF)
Full List of Borlaug Summer Institute Participants
"The 2012 Borlaug Summer Institute has been one of the most remarkable moments during my journey as a graduate student in the U.S. The Institute not only extended my scope about global hunger but also made me aware of all the disciplines related when attacking this issue. Some of these disciplines were very foreign to myself until the lectures we attended. Our work on the final project required us to combine our energy, economics, food science and agriculture backgrounds while working on some of the challenges that lead to food insecurity problems. Each of us provided unique insights while working as a team, with one vision. I believe that during these weeks we could all feel a different type of energy among us because we all shared the same interest." - Sofia Feng, MSc. Food Science and Nutrition, North Carolina State University
"Participation in the Borlaug Summer Institute on Global Food Security was truly an amazing experience. It was a perfect blend of people, activities and new knowledge on various aspects of food security. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Institute target students from a great variety of disciplines. This definitely helped me to see the problem of food security from a macro perspective. It also helped me to create useful cross-disciplinary contacts that are developing into further collaboration. Lastly, the youth spirit and energy which filled the program made this event memorable. I wish I could go back in time and spend a few more days with the fellow students of the Institute." - Katya Goychuk, PhD Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri
"While at the Institute, I met a great group of motivated, like-minded students and food security experts whose myriad perspectives gave me a holistic understanding of the various components that contribute to food security. The intensive schedule of multidisciplinary lectures and activities was engaging and deepened my understanding of the linkages between seemingly disparate disciplines. I can't emphasize enough how much I enjoyed getting to know the students, staff and experts! I highly recommend the Institute to students interested in deepening and expanding their understanding of food security issues." - Chantal Roberts, M.S. Environmental Science and Policy, Clark University