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Agricultural Research at MU Responds to Evolving Global ConcernsTo paraphrase the recent best-seller which accounts for the history of civilization in a paperback volume (Guns, Germs, and Steel), agriculture was/is a precursor to complex societal development around the globe. Even today, a time when extraordinary resources such as oil or nuclear weapons can propel a nation into global significance, we continually relearn that a society is no stronger than its ability to plan, execute, and sustain a food and natural resources system. This partly explains why agriculture has been an important component of the international research efforts here at Mizzou, as well as at most other land grant universities across the country. Global issues blossomed in the 1960's and 70's, and U.S.-led agricultural research teams took on the issues of famine and improved management of soils, plants, and animals. The United Nations Development Program, the World Bank, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the United Nations Environment Program established a network of 16 international agricultural research centers in 1971. Collectively coined CGIAR (The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research), these centers still exist today, and focus on increasing productivity, protecting the environment, saving biodiversity, improving policies, and strengthening national research around the globe. MU has regular interaction with many of these centers which includes research on corn (or maize), soybean, rice, wheat, forest species, and several kinds of livestock. The improvement of global crop productivity, now known as the “green revolution,” was largely an outcome of CGIAR and U.S. land grant university collaboration, such as here at MU. Beyond the natural sciences, MU has also been active in helping research and develop national food policy and trade relations, as well as study individual rural community development and governance. In reflecting on our international research portfolio today, one cannot help but be struck by the evolution of orientation and expectations. Last month our college took a small team to South Korea to further establish Asian connections in developing global soybean genomics research. Asia certainly represents important access to germplasm (the center of origin for this particular species), but we also found sophisticated science and colleagues. Perhaps we were the bio “prospectors” of yesterday in such global research programs, but today it's a global science and the language of intellectual property rights have replaced that of requesting permission for exporting seeds. In fact, in a project currently underway between MU and South Africa, the purpose is to co-develop indigenous species there, for use in the local practice of human health management. Another contemporary twist on international research is MU's work on GMO (genetically modified organism) policy and trade with the European Union. One of our agricultural economists delivered just last month a major address to the EU that revealed the costs, benefits, and financial motivations for regulatory policies around the world. This is all a far cry from the early days of international research topics and purposes. Another important issue requiring an international network of agricultural researchers is the globalization of plant, animal, and human health. Foot and mouth disease, mad cow disease, SARS – these are all terms in the vocabulary of a populous worldwide. The ease and prevalence of global travel has brought with it the need to develop a science and understanding of trading disease and illness as well. MU faculty are participants the emerging national network of both plant and animal disease diagnosticians. The next step is linking this national network to like networks around the globe to help track and manage global health threats. In sum, fighting famine has largely been replaced by the objectives of economic development and nation-building among international research efforts. Inspection of the U.S. Agency for International Development website today quickly reveals the focus and intent to use our science to help develop the world and create stable democracies. Any look at our current international research activity would concur. Though agriculture is only part of the total MU listing of international research efforts, it remains both historically important, and even today, the very first step in bringing on the economists, the sociologists, the philosophers, and the artisans. We in agricultural research are both pleased and humbled by this necessary role. International agriculture research on the web:
Three Faculty win Fulbrights to Russia
O'Brien will spend ten months investigating how households and villages in the Russian countryside are adapting to the introduction of a market economy. This project continues research he began in 1989 with a Russian colleague, Dr. Valeri Patsiorkovski, at the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute for the Socio-Economic Studies of Population. Their “Russian Village Project” involves traveling to villages in several regions to interview households regarding issues such as sources of household income, quality of life, and mental health. Also affiliated with the Russian Academy of Sciences, Anthony Lupo will examine the ability of climate models to reproduce the key dynamics needed to generate and maintain important atmospheric events. Known as “blocking events,” these are large-scale ridges in the jet stream that most often occur over the oceans. According to Lupo, if the models are successful they will serve as valuable tools for examining important issues such as climate change. Bettina Drew will depart for Russia in January to teach a course on American Slavery and Indian Removal at St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg. The application deadline for 2004-2005 Fulbright lecturing and research grants is August 1, 2003. Awards are available in some 140 countries and range from two months to an academic year or longer. More information is available at http://www.cies.org. Establishing Contacts AbroadUndertaking research abroad can seem daunting when it requires establishing contacts in a new country or region of the world. Fortunately, MU offers many resources to help prospective collaborators connect with one another – both on campus and across the globe. Your own backyard. The first point of contact for any MU faculty member with an international project in mind should be his or her own academic unit and discipline. Even if one's colleagues are not familiar with a particular country, they probably know someone, nationally, who does research there. Other potential international contacts might also be gleaned from recent programs of discipline-based professional associations. Existing MU relationships. Another rich resource for faculty is the International Center's Global Links database. Currently Global Links catalogues over 100 existing institutional affiliations that range in scope from student exchange to research collaboration. As the primary office for reviewing the university's international agreements, the International Center can put faculty in touch with other colleagues who have both historical and ongoing relationships within a particular country or institution. Even if the MU contact listed for a given agreement works in an unrelated field of study, she or he will likely be able to suggest key resources and persons to contact at the partner institution, or offer country-specific advice concerning facilities and protocol. Community of Science Expertise. If searching Global Links does not yield a suitable contact at MU on which to build a collaborative relationship, researchers can search for colleagues by making use of the “expertise” feature of the Community of Science (COS) network. Funded by MU's Office of Research, and accessible free of charge on MU's computers and modems, COS Expertise offers detailed professional information for nearly 480,000 scientists and scholars worldwide – 1,243 on the MU campus alone. Represented disciplines include not only the physical and social sciences, but the humanities and professional fields as well. Individual profiles in COS Expertise include contact information, positions held, publications, patents, funding received, and a first-person narrative describing current research activities and expertise. Searching “all fields” for references to a specific country will produce a list of scholars that possess country-specific expertise or interest, travel experience, and perhaps even relevant language skills. The personal touch. Finally, when it comes to developing meaningful and productive relationships with colleagues abroad, nothing can replace personal interaction. Where an e-mail inquiry may be ignored entirely, a face-to-face conversation could very well yield a ready offer of on-site support, an invitation for further collaboration, or even a gateway to new potential funding sources. This type of international networking can take place in a variety of settings such as encounters with visiting scholars on campus, international travel opportunities such as the Global Scholars Program, or professional conferences that draw participants from around the world. Whether contacts emerge from a database or a cup of coffee at a conference, forging collaborative relationships abroad is an essential and rewarding component of developing successful international projects. Call for nominations: 2003 Carnegie Scholars ProgramThe Chancellor and Provost invite nominations for the 2003 Carnegie Scholars Program. The purpose of the program is to provide fellowships to outstanding faculty for their research in areas related to Education, International Peace and Security, International Development, and special projects focusing on “Citizenship in the 21st Century.” The program awards up to 20 fellowships for a period of one to two years and for a maximum amount of $100,000. Scholars based in interdisciplinary centers and particularly women and minority are encouraged to apply. If you wish to make a nomination, please submit your proposal to the Office of the Vice Provost, Minority Affairs, International Programs & Faculty Development, 211 Jesse Hall, no later than end of business day, August 15, 2003. Proposals will be evaluated by the Faculty Development Advisory Committee. Only two proposal(s) will be submitted from MU to the Carnegie Corporation of New York by September 15, 2003. For additional information, or to receive a copy of the guidelines, please send an email to Merleen Leonce-Holman at holmanm@missouri.edu. If you have general questions, please visit the Carnegie website. |
MU faculty will make a strong showing in Russia next year as three faculty members carry out projects funded by the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Drs. David O'Brien (Rural Sociology); Anthony Lupo (Soil and Atmospheric Sciences), and Bettina Drew (English) have all been awarded grants from the 2003-2004 Fulbright award cycle.