UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The annual Global Gallery symposium, hosted by the international agriculture and development dual-title graduate program (INTAD) in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and its student association, will feature the international research efforts of Penn State faculty and graduate students.
This year’s gathering will occur from 8:30 a.m. until noon Feb. 23 in HUB 233 AB. The program is open to all Penn State students, faculty and staff interested in issues related to international agriculture.
Ram Neupane, president of the INTAD Graduate Student Association, explained that the event is aimed at showcasing the interdisciplinary research undertaken by students and its potential impact on society.
“International research helps students expand their worldview and build connections across diverse cultures and communities,” said Neupane, who is pursuing a doctorate in plant pathology. “I have made meaningful networks during my international experiences, which I intend to harness as I advance in my career.”
Neupane added that the international work of students can have a positive social impact. For example, his research focuses on understanding the perspectives of vegetable growers and wastewater use in agriculture in Kathmandu, Nepal.
“I am confident that the insights gained from this study will contribute to informed policy decisions in Kathmandu, ultimately enhancing agricultural practices and benefiting the farming community,” he said.
The centerpiece of the Global Gallery is student poster presentations, which spotlight research designed to find long-term solutions to problems such as food insecurity, poverty, public health and human rights. Additionally, there will be a panel discussion on the theme, “Innovation in the era of sustainability,” and lightning presentations by students and professors highlighting their international work.
Keynote speaker Deanna Behring, assistant dean for international programs and director of the college’s Ag Sciences Global unit, will discuss the global advantages of being associated with a land-grant university.
The INTAD dual-title degree provides students with international perspectives and expertise to strengthen their primary graduate degree. Graduate programs participating include rural sociology, agricultural and extension education, agricultural and biological engineering, biorenewable systems, ecology, plant pathology, soil science, entomology, horticulture, agricultural and environmental plant science, food science and forest resources.
Registrations for the Global Gallery are being accepted here. Questions can be directed to Neupane at ram.neupane@psu.edu.