As NC State University develops an agricultural formulations program aimed at preparing workforce-ready scientists able to develop the next generation of pesticides, fertilizers, growth regulators and biological products, it’s seeking insights from industry on their needs.
On April 30, the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will host an industry feedback session to help shape the future of a proposed three-year certificate program for undergraduate, graduate and non-degree students.
Terri Billeisen, a faculty member in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, says the program’s goal is to address the need for practical training in formulation science, product development and delivery technologies used in crop protection and agricultural inputs.
“Last fall, we successfully launched NC State’s first agricultural formulations course after hearing from the agricultural technology industry about their need for scientists and other professionals with interdisciplinary training that doesn’t yet exist in the United States,” says Billeisen, who co-taught that introductory course.
Our goal with the … feedback session is to give industry professionals the chance to provide input that will help us refine the scope and priorities of the introductory course and the overall certificate program.
Syngenta, BASF, Coastal AgroBusiness and Novonesis have generously supported the program’s development. Faculty members from NC State’s departments of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Crop and Soil Sciences and Horticultural Sciences, as well as the Toxicology Program and the Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center, or BTEC, have also been engaged.
Billeisen says that the university team developing the program is eager to build on that momentum.
“Our goal with the industry feedback session is to give industry professionals the chance to provide input that will help us refine the scope and priorities of the introductory course and the overall certificate program,” she said.
The feedback session takes place from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at NC State’s Plant Sciences Building (840 Oval Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606). A one-hour reception follows the meeting.
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The feedback session will follow another event at NC State that’s designed to spark industry engagement: The University-Industry Consortium, composed of leaders in the agricultural industry and from top U.S. agricultural universities, will host a two-minute pitch competition and networking event from 1 to 3 p.m. at the StateView Hotel on NC State’s Centennial Campus.
The UIC event is open to industry representatives and others interested in hearing and networking from student innovators from across the country.
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