Stories

A man in glasses and a long-sleeved, pale pink button-up shirt

Feb. 1, 2023

CAFNR Plant Scientist Named AAAS Fellow

In recognition of nearly two decades of work creating rice varieties resistant to certain types of bacteria, Bing Yang, professor of plant sciences, was named as a 2022 American Association for the Advancement of Science fellow. “There is so much diversity within the Society, and it is an honor to be among them,” Yang said. “The recognition of my work and my group inspires me to work harder – to do a better job.” The recognition from AAAS did not come without a long list of accomplishments, however. Fueling his work along the way was Yang’s desire to make an…
Memphis Bancroft is in the accelerated master’s program within the food science and nutrition degree program, which allows student’s to complete both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in just five years. Bancroft is a senior, which means she is close to finishing her undergraduate degree while getting a jumpstart on her master’s degree.

Jan. 30, 2023

Finding the Perfect Degree

When Memphis Bancroft made the decision to pursue a food science and nutrition degree at the University of Missouri she didn’t realize the real-world application of what she was studying would be so immediate. When Bancroft chose the degree program her mother was on a very restrictive diet due to a colon cancer diagnosis. “With the effects of surgery we had to find food that fit the bill and wouldn’t cause more issues,” Bancroft said. “Her diet was really tough – she really couldn’t have much fiber, protein or dairy. I was taking what I was learning in the classroom…
With an eye toward student health and well-being, the School of Natural Resources (SNR) and Tiger Garden teamed up last semester to create a more welcoming environment in six classrooms across the Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources (ABNR) Building. Funding for the project, which includes a variety of enhancements, was awarded through the University of Missouri Office of the Provost.

Jan. 30, 2023

Creating a Welcoming Environment

With an eye toward student health and well-being, the School of Natural Resources (SNR) and Tiger Garden teamed up last semester to create a more welcoming environment in six classrooms across the Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources (ABNR) Building. Funding for the project, which includes a variety of enhancements, was awarded through the University of Missouri Office of the Provost. A trio of SNR faculty helped make the award a possibility – Robin Rotman, assistant professor; Sonja Wilhelm Stanis, professor and associate director; and Patrick Market, director. A trio of SNR faculty helped make the classroom additions a possibility – Robin Rotman,…
Nick and his girlfriend pose for a photo. His girlfriend holds up some fish that she caught.

Jan. 19, 2023

Q&A with Nick Wesslak

Nick collects field spore trap samples. What do you do in your current role with the University of Missouri? I am an agronomy field specialist based in Marion County. I cover the eight northeast counties of Missouri. How long have you worked in this position? I have worked in this position since April 2022. Nick scouts field crops with graduate student Mellanie Carraher. What is your favorite part about the work you do? It is hard for me to pick one favorite part, so I will list a few. I thoroughly enjoy working with my Extension team. It is very…
Students in the PRST 3400 course (Sport and Recreation Marketing) helped with numerous facets of the Sophie Cunningham Classic, from early marketing strategies to helping with actual game day activities. The students also worked closely with Cunningham (pictured second from the right) and her family. Photo courtesy of Michelle Brimecombe.

Jan. 19, 2023

An Incredible Experience

In early December, high school girls basketball teams from three states took part in the inaugural Sophie Cunningham Classic, a three-day shootout in Columbia created by women athletes for young female athletes. The Classic allowed those athletes to take center stage and allowed Cunningham to give back to the community where she dominated opponents on the court as a high school player at Rock Bridge and a college athlete at the University of Missouri. The Classic also allowed students in the parks, recreation and sport degree program at the University of Missouri the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on learning experiences…
A white man with white hair and a white, neatly-trimmed beard in a dark grey button-up shirt stands in front of a sign that reads,

Dec. 19, 2022

National Academy of Inventors Names MU’s Randall Prather to 2022 Fellows Program

Prather is one of only 169 academic inventors to receive the prestigious honor this year.
Katie Ogan (Barthel) and Laura Friedrich (right) serve as academic advisors for the agriculture degree programs.

Dec. 17, 2022

CAFNR Advisor Spotlight: Katie Ogan (Barthel) and Laura Friedrich

Ogan and Friedrich serves as academic advisors for the agriculture degree program.
A capstone course within the food science and nutrition degree program, the Food Product Development (F_S 4970) class allows students to integrate the various disciplines of food science to create new food products. This semester, students were tasked with creating a Kansas City-style barbeque sauce, which is typically sweeter in nature. That food product focus wasn’t random – Sonja Derboven, licensing director at the University of Missouri, asked Andrew Clarke, an associate professor, if there would be an interest in having the students take on such a project before the semester began, with the goal of potentially taking one sauce to market in the future.

Dec. 17, 2022

A Tasty Experience

Food science and nutrition students spent the fall semester developing a variety of barbeque sauce flavors.
Isabella Bertarelli

Dec. 16, 2022

CAFNR Senior Spotlight – Q&A with Isabella Bertarelli

Bertarelli is a senior graduating in December with a degree in biochemistry.
A white woman with long, brunette hair smiles while wearing a blue lab coat. Behind her are various medical equipment in a research laboratory.

Dec. 15, 2022

Making Connections

Exercise and physiology faculty use strong collaboration at MU to learn more about body systems.