The World Wide Agriculture Conference will come to Columbia in July in honor of Professor William A. Albrecht. Albrecht was an emeritus professor of soils at the University of Missouri and was the foremost authority on the relationship between soil fertility and human health. Normally held in New Zealand, this is the first time that the WWA Conference will take…
Bond Life Sciences Center ⋅ Page 1
Joining Elite Company
Plant scientist Walter Gassmann latest CAFNR researcher to earn AAAS Fellow honors
As Walter Gassmann tells it, he is a biologist who happens to have a growing appreciation for plants as his career has progressed. “I really appreciate the puzzle aspect of science and working to find how the pieces fit together and the approach that science takes to answering those kind of questions,” Gassmann said. “Sometimes I think I could almost…
A Man for All Seasons
Tom Payne reflects on his time as vice chancellor and dean, the relationships he built along the way
Everyone knows about the smiley face. It is part of the brand of Vice Chancellor and Dean Tom Payne. Looking at all of the related memorabilia in his office, one can see how the symbol has become synonymous with his infectious optimism and enthusiasm he has used over the past 18 years to help guide the College of Agriculture, Food and…
Learning on Different Levels
New outreach program teaches CAFNR students to make plant science knowledge accessible to a younger audience
Although abundant light was shining through the windows, it was the quiet before the storm. Andrew Ludwig, a University of Missouri sophomore majoring in plant sciences, surveyed the small tables and chairs spread out before him in the laboratory of the Benton STEM Elementary School on a recent Monday afternoon. He sifted through his notes. He was ready, even though…
Taking Root
New grass finding may reduce nitrogen amounts needed for farming
As farmers spend billions of dollars spreading nitrogen on their fields this spring, researchers at the University of Missouri are working toward less reliance on the fertilizer. Less dependence on nitrogen could start with a simple type of grass, Setaria viridis, and its relationship with bacteria. The plant promises to lay groundwork for scientists exploring the relationship between crops and…
Filling in the Gaps of HIV
Biochemist helps discover major protein in deadly virus
Seeing the whole picture can mean a lot when it comes to figuring out HIV. Researchers at the University of Missouri Bond Life Sciences Center are gaining a clearer idea of what a key protein in HIV looks like, which will help explain the flexible protein’s vital role in the virus life cycle. The protein the researchers imaged is a building…