November 2015

Nov 19, 2015

Study: More evidence shows Irish potato famine-causing pathogen originated in South America

Research from North Carolina State University provides further evidence that the pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine in the 1840s likely originated in the Andes region of South America. 

Nov 18, 2015

Bonanno appointed extension director

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service at NC State University will have a new director on Feb. 1. Dr. A. Richard Bonanno of Methuen, Mass., was appointed to the position of extension director and associate dean for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences this week. 

Nov 18, 2015

Agricultural-focused startups are blossoming in the Triangle (News & Observer)

North Carolina, and the Triangle in particular, has quietly blossomed into a hotbed of startups that are applying cutting-edge technology to agriculture, according to a recent article in the Raleigh News & Observer. 

Nov 18, 2015

CALS profs named NC State Innovators of the Year

Two College of Agriculture and Life Sciences professors have won NC State University's 2015 Innovator of the Year Award. Drs. Sylvia Blankenship and Todd Klaenhammer were recognized by university Chancellor Randy Woodson during the Office of Technology Transfer's 26th Celebration of Innovation and Entrepreneurship earlier this month. 

Nov 18, 2015

First NC State Phytotron director passes away

Dr. Robert “Jack” Downs — who helped design NC State University’s Southeastern Plant Environmental Laboratory, or Phytotron, and served as its director for many years — has died. 

Nov 16, 2015

Crystal clear

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences research related to water spans the basic to the applied. Here, Dr. Flora Meilleur of the Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry discusses her fundamental research using crystallography to better understand the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in enzymes and what that could mean for water conservation. 

Nov 16, 2015

Gas prices and home prices

One of the things that makes economics interesting is that surprising connections can be found. A recent study, for example, identified a link between gas prices and home prices. NC State University economist Mike Walden explains. 

Nov 9, 2015

Amazing grazing

Grasslands cover a large area of the world's surface, and overgrazing can contribute to runoff. But with new technology, cattle farmers use fences to improve water management on their farms and water quality in nearby streams. Hear what College of Agriculture and Life Sciences animal scientist Dr. Matt Poore had to say on the topic at the college's recent Stewards of the Future: Water for a Growing World conference. 

Nov 9, 2015

The gig economy

One of the latest terms being used to describe economics and business is the "gig" economy. Is that anything like booking bands for performances? NC State University economist Mike Walden answers. 

Nov 6, 2015

You Decide: Can Efficiency Save Our Natural Resources?

Mike Walden considers how we could go about meeting the water and fuel needs of our future larger population – and the value of resource efficiency improvements in stretching what we have to accommodate more people.