Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The audience included academic, industry, and publishing professionals and trainees from around the world. In terms of disciplinary focus, our target audience included individuals of diverse professional status with interest in applications of nanotechnology in materials science, big data, food safety, environmental toxicology, agriculture, and diagnostics. The audience included professors, associate professors, assistant professors, graduate students and postdocs from around the world. Academic participants (102) were professors, associate professors, assistant professors, graduate students and postdocs. Industry participants (12) were research fellows, vice presidents, startup company entrepreneurs, research and scientists/engineers. Participants also included an editor from a high impact peer reviewed journal (1), and those who identified as "other" in professional status, at least two of which were from federal agencies (5). In total, 120 attendees participated (176 registered but many had to cancel last minute due to COVID related travel or illness issues). We had excellent gender diversity as well, with 43% attendees identifying as female, and 58% identifying as male. Of the 120 attendees, at least 61 were emerging scholars in the field, scholars of graduate student (38), postdoc (13), or assistant professor (10) professional status. This distribution of professional status by seniority is critical for long-term success of the community and conference, and further demonstrates the training and professional development opportunities provided by our conference. Our attendees were from around the world, representing North America (108), Europe/UK (9), South America (1), and Asia/Pacifica (2). The original schedule and registration demographics had even greater geographical diversity, something we look forward to returning to in 2024 when pandemic mediated travel restrictions are lessened. Changes/Problems:Despite significant impacts to our conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we retained high registration/attendance, with a diverse group of individuals with speaking and discussion leader roles. Indeed, our conference was originally scheduled for 2020, but cancelled, and instead held in 2022. We are proud of the success of 2022's GRC conference despite the challenges (challenges with getting visas, travel restrictions, isolation requirements due to illness) and enthusiastic for an even more successful 2024 Nanoscale Science and Engineering for Agriculture and Food Systems Gordon Research Conference. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In addition to the scientific program, there was ample time for discussion and networking during the poster sessions, meals and free afternoons. To encourage cohort building among our community of emerging scholars (students and postdocs), a corresponding Gordon Research Seminar was held the weekend prior to the GRC, open only to students and postdocs, and coordinated and managed by two emerging scholars. The success of our conference in this regard is validated by our survey results, in which 55 of participants agreed that "there were ample opportunities for networking between junior and senior scientists, creating a welcoming environment". Through this grant we were able to provide partial funding to every student and postdoc participant of our GRC, as well as honoraria to support their GRS participation based on participation in a poster competition and also awards for best speakers. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The final program has been posted on the GRC website. Because the speakers presented largely unpublished data, we expect most of the 20 speakers to further disseminate knowledge through additional presentations at other conferences, as well as in publication of peer-reviewed journal articles. In addition to the GRC, we held a "GRC Connects" online symposium featuring short talks and a panel discussion, to maintain community strength during the 4 year gap between conferences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We expect to continue the success of our GRC community in 2024, with a GRC chaired by Dr. Melanie Kah (Auckland University), and Dr. Carmen Gomes (Iowa State University), and GRS chaired by Beza Tuga and Elizabet Moreno Reyes.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Nano-enabled systems offer new potential technologies toward improving the safety, quality, and sustainability of our agriculture and food systems. In 2022, this 3rd GRC on Nanotechnology for Agriculture and Food Systems focused on the convergence of nanotechnology with food and agriculture. A community of scientists from around the globe, representing academia, industry, government, and NGOs assembled to present and discuss cutting edge, unpublished research with other experts in the field. In appreciation of the multi-disciplinary nature of this growing field, the program included a comprehensive vision of critical and emerging research areas. This conference encompassed nanotechnology research advances across the field of agricultural science, inclusive of food science, plants / soil, animal science, human health and disease, and addressed safe deployment of nanotechnology in these areas with a view to public perception and policy. Twenty presentations were given, with a strong focus on unpublished data, along with two Town Hall discussions engaging speakers and participants in active discussion on the future of our field, and important discussion remarks from the discussion leaders. A very well attended Power Hour (46 of the 120 total attendees) focused on how best to be an Ally to underrepresented scholars in our field. This high level of participation in the Power Hour underscores our community's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Twenty research intensive presentations were provided, along with 80+ posters (full bibliographic detail of research talks are available on the GRC program website here: https://www.grc.org/nanoscale-science-and-engineering-for-agriculture-and-food-systems-conference/2022/). Two town hall discussions and 9 discussion sessions ensured consistent attendee participation throughout the conference. .
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