Book Published in 2007 - Pionnering Women in Plant Pathology

Plant Pathology is a biographical book on the early women scientists who led the way for others in the field of plant pathology. These untold stories about 27 fascinating women discuss their struggles and triumphs as early women in the science.

With contributions from 37 talented writers and more than 130 figures, we are given a true picture of the challenges these women faced on their way to important discoveries. The authors do a wonderful job presenting the scientific achievements of these women in the context of their time. We also get glimpses into the character of these women that show us how their personal attributes and talents helped them achieve great things.

This will be a great read for any of the women of plant pathology today and also the men who work beside them. As a historical book, it will be appropriate for introductory or graduate level plant pathology courses that teach about the early studies of plant disease. Women’s studies, agriculture, and science history classes could also use this as a supplementary text. Historians of science will also find this an interesting look into the past.

The 27 wonderful stories in the book are enhanced by historical documentation, samples of original research and published articles, reference material, and printed historical accounts. With APS turning 100 in 2008, it is fitting that this book arrived to help commemorate plant pathology’s important contributions during the Society’s Centennial celebration year.

PP540-Tropical Plant Pathology A graduate level course in Tropical Plant Pathology offered in the spring. Lectures on the agriculture in the tropics, global ethical agricultural issues and tropical diseases on important tropical crops including cacao, banana, potato and coffee will be given.  We will also discuss trade issues that are relevant to US and Central American farmers.  Students will also learn conversational travel Spanish. We will use Dave Thurston’s book on Tropical Plant Pathology as a reference and additional papers provided by individual instructors. We will take a 9-day trip to Costa Rica during spring break for a field class in tropical Plant Pathology.

PP530 - Agriculture, Ethics, and the Environment. Taught in even years. Course stresses development of students higher level critical thinking skills by lecture, case studies and discussion of environmental issues relevant to agriculture and society including: pesticide risk assessment, sustainable agriculture, animal waste management issues, water and soil quality, organic agriculture, integrated pest management, biotechnology, pest resistance to pesticides, biological control, and environmental policy. Students use role-playing in a forum to discuss ethical issues in agriculture.

Students role play in A)case on bioprospecting versus biopiracy, fall 2002 and B) Golden rice and Antibiotics in Agriculture, fall 2004

Research Ethics Initiative: Worked with an interdisciplinary team of faculty to develop a plan for the Graduate School called" A Research Ethics Initiative for NC State University", June 1-30, 1998. Presented the plan to the Dean of the Graduate School, Administrative Board of the Graduate School and to the faculty on the campus at-large. The graduate school submitted an NSF grant that was funded to start ethics training for students. See Research Ethics Initiative at www.fis.ncsu.edu/grad/ethics programs for details.

Curriculum and graduate training in Ecology: Worked with a multidisciplinary group of faculty from botany, genetics and plant pathology to develop new courses, curricula and training grants in ecology and molecular evolution. Goal is to train students to use ecological and molecular tools to address relevant research questions in agricultural systems.

New PCR Forensic Kit for identification of the late blight pathogen: Developed a PCR kit with Carolina Biologicals that can be used to identify P. infestans in infected host tissue. Workshops have been done at Science House at NC State University, the NC Museum of Natural Sciences and The Boston Museum of Science to train high school science teachers to use PCR in microbe tracking experiments. Further information can be found at forensic DNA kit.

Museum exhibit developed: CSI Dublin: Hunt for the Irish Potato Killer: The exhibit funded through a National Science Foundation Grant will travel to museums across the country.