Recipient Organization
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
LOGAN,UT 84322
Performing Department
Agricultural Experiment Station
Non Technical Summary
In this project, Utah State University will be establishing partnerships with Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University (NWAFU), Northwest University for Nationalities, Inner Mongolia University, Shenyang Agricultural University, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Northeast Agricultural University in Harbin, as well as other institutions of higher education in the People's Republic of China. Emphasis will be on research programs in agronomic forages and turf grasses, domestic animal cloning and genomics, water resources-irrigation-climate change, and livestock production. Professorial exchanges, joint research programs, intensive short courses, graduate training, and student internships in the areas of research and extension, as well as undergraduate study abroad, are being used as mechanisms for enhancing relationships between Utah State University and Chinese institutions.
Animal Health Component
60%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
40%
Applied
60%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Forages and Turf Grasses: Dialogues with several Chinese research institutions (Inner Mongolia University, Northeast Agricultural University, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Nanjing Agricultural University, and the Heilongjiang Agricultural Science-Grass Institute) have revealed a strong interest in collaborating with scientists from Utah State University and the USDA/ARS Forage and Range Research Laboratory (FRRL), with a focus on livestock forages and turf grasses. These partnerships will be expanded through the training of Chinese graduate students at Utah State University and jointly organized workshops held in both China and Utah. Water and Climate: Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University (NWAFU) is in a semi-arid region with extensive irrigation and salinity problems. In addition, this region has several large cities, particularly Shi'an, which are consuming large amounts of water. Changing climate in the form of higher air temperature and more unevenly distributed rainfall threatens the region's agriculture and urban water supplies. Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University and Utah State University will collaboratively study adapting water supplies for irrigated agriculture under climate change scenarios. These studies with mesh complementary USU and NWAFU research expertise in the Joint Sino-U.S. Climate Change, Water, and Agricultural Research Center for Rural Livelihoods. This center will have the critical mass and expertise for securing outside funding that can support research partnerships between USU and NWAFU. USU has several other academic collaborations with NWAFU that are broadened through student exchanges. Animal Biotechnology: At fertilization, sperm bind to the egg via receptors that trigger a series of intracellular events that lead to cellular development. A hallmark of these interactions is calcium oscillation, which is pivotal to oocyte activation and development. The mechanisms of fertilization are not well understood but to improve food animal production, studies on these components are of critical importance. Research conducted in this area will focus on defining the binding events between the sperm and egg that result in fertilization. Understanding these events will ultimately lead to increasing the success rate of embryo production via pregnancy or cloning. Animals important in China and the US will be the focus of these efforts. Gene expression arrays and proteomic tools will be used to determine the genetic events in both the sperm and egg during binding and subsequent activation.
Project Methods
In order to stimulate and enhance USU/China relationships, the focus of this project will be on: Faculty exchanges: Connecting faculty with potential partners in the People's Republic of China is a critical first step of the initiative. These connections will expand as more and more faculty develop international activities. In addition, visits by College of Agriculture faculty and administrators to China show our commitment to the partnerships while gaining cultural understanding and respect, insights into potential opportunities, and friendships with our foreign colleagues. These visits can also include recruitment of USU alumni to form advisory boards that will assist the College of Agriculture through cultural advice and contacts. Graduate student research: Attracting top-quality graduate students into U.S. research programs is becoming more difficult each year. China is a source of outstanding students who want to work hard and gain knowledge in areas that are beneficial to their country, including many of the programs offered by the USU College of Agriculture. A coordinated program identifying and placing Chinese graduate students with USU faculty is a viable mechanism for extending connections to scientists in China. Undergraduate students: USU undergraduate students will spend a semester in China conducting agricultural research with a Chinese scientist while contributing to the English speaking and listening skills of graduate students at their Chinese host institution. Students will be enriched by learning about Chinese culture and agriculture practices. Research investment: Joint research programs in several areas are currently underway because of student and faculty exchange programs. Expansion of collaborative research areas will benefit both countries. Training workshops: Training programs offered by USU are a conduit for establishing and strengthening partnerships with Chinese research institutions. These training programs will be used as an entree into additional research collaborations. As a side benefit, Chinese faculty will have extended exposure to scientific English during the workshops and through interactions with the workshop presenters.