DWFI research forum showcases student work

Students of the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, showcased research concerning water and agricultural issues at the Nebraska Innovation Campus May 3. Their research focused on DWFI’s key areas of closing water and agricultural gaps, managing agricultural drought, enhancing high-productivity agriculture and supporting freshwater and agriculture ecosystems and public health.

DWFI also hosted a panel to discuss how students can apply their knowledge once they graduate, including opportunities outside of academia. The panel included:

• George Burba, Ph.D., fellow, Science & Strategy, LI-COR Biosciences
• Naisargi Dave, Master’s, environmental scientist, EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc.
• Brandi Flyr, Ph.D., hydrologist, Central Platte Natural Resources District
• Nathan Rossman, Ph.D., hydrogeologist, HDR, Inc.

Ten new students have been approved for funding for the upcoming academic year, bringing the total to more than 40 active student support awardees on all campuses of the University of Nebraska.

Since it was initiated in 2014, DWFI’s student support program has invested over $3.14 million to support undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral research across all four University of Nebraska campuses. In 2015, the program began requiring faculty to match institute funds one-to-one. The awards provide stipends to students working on projects that contribute to the institute’s mission to have a lasting impact on achieving more food security with less pressure on scarce water resources.