2015 Borlaug Summer Institute on Global Food Security
The 2015 Borlaug Summer Institute on Global Food Security was held June 7-19, 2015 at Purdue University's Discovery Park. Forty graduate students representing twenty-three universities across the United States participated in lectures, practicums, farm tours, field trips, and social gatherings. The two-week institute featured several guest presentations from individuals including Purdue President Mitch Daniels, Julie Borlaug (Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture), Susan Owens (USAID), Suresh Babu (IFPRI), Lisa Eakman Moon (The Chicago Council on Global Affairs), Jonathan Gressel (Weizmann Institute of Science), and Ambassador Kenneth Quinn (The World Food Prize Foundation), and concluded with a small group project competition.
2015 Schedule of Events (PDF)
2015 Speaker Bios (PDF)
Full List of Borlaug Summer Institute Participants
"I am still in awe of how much I learned at the Summer Institute, both from the speakers and experts, and also from the fellow participants. I have always hoped to work on research in international development and global food security, and the Borlaug Summer Institute has opened my eyes to the many ways to do so. I am so thankful for the network of fellow 'hunger fighters' that I’ve gained, and I would highly recommend the Borlaug Summer Institute and Fellows program to graduate students interested in global food security." - Rachel Kerns, PhD Soil Science, University of Missouri
"The Summer Institute is a unique opportunity to get a good grasp of the future of International Development, and to understand the grand challenges of a changing world, as concerned scientists and citizens. The people I've met and the knowledge I've gained, have reassured my drive to pursue a career in a direction where it contributes to alleviate poverty and hunger around the world. This experience will be carried along with me, in every step of my career." - Taisha Venort, MS Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University
"The most valuable part of the Summer Institute was the opportunity to learn from the other participants. I now have a group of cross-disciplinary colleagues in global food security to whom I feel very connected, and I look forward to working with them as academics and professionals." - Marie Spiker, PhD Human Nutrition, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
"The Summer Institute demonstrated the importance and need of multidisciplinary team work if we want to overcome the obstacles and challenges regarding global food security. It has encouraged me to apply myself more towards reducing world hunger." - Ana Claudia Sant'Anna, PhD Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University
"The lectures were good and productive, the field trips were wonderful, and the whole exposure to food security issues with a multi-disciplinary approach to problem solving was outstanding. It was a real great experience. I have obtained several ideas about food security which I am going to implement when I get back to Ghana. Thanks very much, Dr. Gebisa Ejeta and team." - Mary Adjepong, PhD Human Nutrition, Michigan State University
"The Borlaug Summer Institute provided me with a vivid picture of where this world is headed in terms of food security on a global aspect. It made me realize that despite the challenges we have, all is not in vain for mankind, for a better solution lies ahead." - Seth Abugho, MS Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas
"If I had not attended this Summer Institute, I would have missed a system perspective to understand and improve global food security. Learning theoretical foundation, followed by practicum and experimental evidences, made this Summer Institute an unprecedented learning center. SI taught me to dream about working in global food security. Participants’ diversities in scholarships and field experiences ranging from Africa to Asia and North America to Europe were very intuitive. I heartily would like to thank the Borlaug SI which enabled me academically as well as emotionally to do something in the global food security." - Krishna Poudel, PhD Agriculture and Applied Economics, University of Missouri