Sustainable Agriculture: Greening the Global Food Supply

8:45 a.m.

Opening Remarks

May R. Berenbaum, 2009 AIBS President May Berenbaum, Swanlund Professor and Head of the Department of Entomology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is interested in chemical interactions between insects and plants. Concerned with practical application of ecological and evolutionary principles, she has examined impacts of genetic engineering, global climate change, and invasive species on natural and agricultural ecosystems. May is now serving as the 2009 AIBS president and chair of the AIBS annual meeting. She is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences and serves on the editorial boards of several journals. In addition to research, she is devoted to fostering scientific literacy and has authored, for the general public, numerous magazine articles and four books about insects. May R. Berenbaum, 2009 AIBS President Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

9:00 a.m.

Keynote Speaker

Bruce Alberts Bruce Alberts, a prominent biochemist with a strong commitment to the improvement of science education, began service as editor-in-chief of Science on March 1, 2008. Alberts is also a professor in the department of biochemistry and biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco, a position he returned to in 2005 after serving two, six-year terms as the president of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in Washington, D.C. During his tenure at the NAS, Alberts was instrumental in developing the landmark National Science Education standards that have been implemented in school systems nationwide. Alberts is also noted as one of the original authors of The Molecular Biology of the Cell, a pre-eminent textbook in the field now in its fifth edition. For the period 2000 to 2009, he serves as the co-chair of the InterAcademy Council, a new organization in Amsterdam governed by the presidents of 15 national academies of sciences and established to provide scientific advice to the world. Widely recognized for his work in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology, Alberts has earned many honors and awards, including 15 honorary degrees. He currently serves on the advisory boards of more than 25 non-profit institutions, including the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Bruce Alberts Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California - San Francisco; Science editor-in-chief "Why Redefining Science Education is the Key to Enhancing the Public Understanding of Science"

9:45 a.m.

Plenary Speaker

Louise E. Jackson Louise Jackson is Professor and Cooperative Extension Specialist at the University of California, Davis. She holds the Orr Chair in Environmental Plant Science and is a co-Chair of the DIVERSITAS network on agrobiodiversity. Her research is focused on utilizing biodiversity to increase ecosystem services in intensive agricultural systems, and on developing participatory processes for public involvement in biodiversity issues in agricultural landscapes, especially as relevant to climate change. She is a frequent contributor to regional, national, and international organizations on topics related to plant and soil ecology, agricultural sustainability, utilization of biodiversity, and land use change Louise E. Jackson Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, University of California, Davis "Biodiversity-friendly Agriculture: Why Scale Matters"

10:45 a.m.

Coffee break, exhibits, and posters

11:15 a.m.

Plenary Speaker

Fred Gould Fred Gould was born in New York City and grew up in New York and Rhode Island. He graduated from Queens College in New York City with a BA in Biology. He received his PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. His thesis examined the genetics of spider mite adaptation to novel host plants. After a short postdoc that followed up his thesis work, he was hired by North Carolina State University as a soil insect ecologist and later had his responsibilities broadened to insect ecology and genetics. Dr. Gould's research has examined evolutionary approaches for dealing with agricultural problems. Since 1986 he has conducted theoretical and empirical research aimed at increasing the evolutionary sustainability of transgenic insecticidal crops. He has also conducted more basic research aimed at understanding the ecological and genetic factors that shape herbivore host range, and that enable the evolution of complex traits such as sexual communication systems. Recently, Dr. Gould has begun using evolutionary theory in designing strategies for effective use of transgenic insects for control of insect-vectored human diseases. Fred Gould Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University "From Transgenic Crops to Transgenic Pests: How Can AgBiotech Be Green?"

12:15 - 2:45

Lunch on your own, exhibits, posters, mid-day awards, guest speaker, book signings (see below)

12:15 p.m.

AIBS Awards Luncheon (ticketed event; tickets available for purchase with online meeting registration or onsite)

1:00 p.m.

AIBS Awards Presentation (open to all meeting attendees)

in Luncheon Room

Distinguished Scientist Award: Joseph Felsenstein, Department of Genome Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington
Education Award: Bruce Alberts, University of California - San Francisco; Science editor-in-chief
Outstanding Service Award: Robert Pennock, Michigan State University
President's Citation Award (video-recorded acceptance) Michael Pollan, Author and John S. and James L. Knight Professor of Journalism, UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism
Immediate Past-President's Award: Rita Colwell, Canon US Life Sciences, Inc. and University of Maryland College Park and Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
Media Award: Chip Rowe, Senior Editor, Playboy Magazine, "The Hard Facts"

1:45 p.m.

Special Guest Speaker

Chris Mooney Chris Mooney is a contributing editor to Science Progress, senior correspondent for The American Prospect magazine and author of two books, including the New York Times bestselling The Republican War on Science--dubbed "a landmark in contemporary political reporting" by Salon.com and a "well-researched, closely argued and amply referenced indictment of the right wing's assault on science and scientists" by Scientific American--and Storm World: Hurricanes, Politics, and the Battle Over Global Warming--dubbed "riveting" by the Boston Globe and selected as a 2007 best book of the year in the science category by Publisher's Weekly. He also writes "The Intersection" blog with Sheril Kirshenbaum. Chris Mooney Center for Collaborative History, Princeton University Speaking about his new book, Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future

2:15 p.m.

Book signings by Bruce Alberts, Chris Mooney, and Robert T. Pennock

Exhibits and posters continue until 2:45 p.m.

2:45 p.m.

Plenary Speaker

Robert Tauxe Dr. Robert Tauxe is Deputy Director of the Division that is charged with prevention and control of intestinal bacterial, zoonotic and fungal infections at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Division monitors the frequency of these infections in the United States, investigates outbreaks, and develops strategies to reduce the disease, disability and deaths that they cause. Dr. Tauxe graduated from Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut cum laude in 1975, and received his medical degree from Vanderbilt Medical School in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition, he holds a Masters in Public Health degree from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Dr. Tauxe completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Washington, and is certified in internal medicine. He then trained at CDC in the Epidemic Intelligence Service for two years, and joined the CDC staff in 1985. Dr, Tauxe=s interests include bacterial enteric diseases, epidemiology and pathogenesis of infectious diseases, epidemiologic and clinical consequences of bacterial genetic exchange, antimicrobial use and resistance to antimicrobial agents, and teaching epidemiologic methods. Dr. Tauxe=s memberships include the American Epidemiology Society, the American College of Physicians, and the American Society for Microbiology, and the American Academy of Microbiology; he is a Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and member of the National Advisory Committee on Microbial Criteria for Foods.. Dr. Tauxe has served internationally in Belgium, Mali, Rwanda, Peru and Guatemala and has supervised numerous overseas epidemiologic investigations. Dr. Tauxe=s faculty appointments include the School of Public Health, Department of International Health, and the Department of Biology, both at Emory University. Dr. Tauxe has authored/co-authored 242 journal articles, letters and book chapters. Robert Tauxe National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-borne, and Enteric Diseases; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "Foodborne Diseases: The Continuing Public Health Challenge of Finding Problems and Finding Solutions"

3:45 p.m.

Coffee break, exhibits, posters

4:15 p.m.

Breakout Discussion Groups A (concurrent sessions)

1. Group 1. "What Does the Public Learn from the Media about Sustainable Agriculture?"
   
   This hour-long session will review what is known about the media's impact on public understanding of and attitude towards sustainable agriculture and will provide an opportunity for discussion. Few studies have examined public understanding of agriculture (including sustainable practices), although there is a sense that the public is disconnected from farming issues. Given this, we will discuss learning from the media in general, factors that influence news media coverage of agricultural issues, and framing of these issues. In our discussion, we will consider what the public has learned and can learn about sustainable agriculture from the news media and ponder how news media, and communication in general, can improve public understanding and discourse.

   • Cathlyn Stylinski, Senior Agent, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

   • Martin Storksdieck, Director of Project Development, Institute for Learning Innovation

2. Group 2. "The Science and Technology of Biofuels"
   
   Introduction
   • Elizabeth Kirchner, the American Institute of Biological Sciences
     
     
   Biofuels: Fact vs. Fiction
   • Alan Hecht, Director for Sustainable Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
     
     
   The Technology Challenges of Converting Feedstocks to Biofuels
   • John Regalbuto, National Science Foundation
     
     
   Sustainable Biofuel Production: Addressing Environmental and Health Issues
   • Donna Perla, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
     
     
   Science and Modeling Challenges to Assess Land-Use Changes and Reductions in Greenhouse Gas Emissions
   • Robert Larson, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
     
     
3. Group 3. "The ABCs of Agriculture, Biodiversity and Climate Change"
   
   The rapidly changing climate makes the conservation of biodiversity even more important as a course of resilience and adaptability. Genetic diversity is essential to the continued production of food and fiber. Agricultural landscapes are important reservoirs of biological diversity and agricultural practices can have significant positive and negative impacts on natural biodiversity. Yet, there is little interchange among the agricultural, biodiversity and climate change communities of scientists or policymakers.This session will explore issues of science and policy at the intersection of these issues. We will look both from a genetic and landscape perspective, domestically and internationally.
   
   Overview from Session Chair
   • David E. Blockstein, Senior Scientist, National Council for Science and the Environment
   
   Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
   • Karen Laughlin, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
   
   Ecosystem Services Provided by Agricultural Biodiversity
   • Devra Jarvis, Senior Scientist, Agricultural Biodiversity and Ecosystems Diversity for Livelihoods Programme at Bioversity International
   
   Domestic Policy Issues Related to Biodiversity and Agriculture
   • Martha L. Noble, Senior Policy Associate, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
   
   International Policy Issues Related to Biodiversity and Agriculture
   • Susan H. Bragdon, Sustainability Advisor to the Oregon Board of Higher Education and Director of the Summer Sustainability Series

5:30 p.m.

Adjourn for the day at the hotel

6:00 p.m.

Buses leave hotel for the National Academies' Koshland Science Museum and Keck Center, Washington, DC

6:30 p.m.

Tour of the Koshland Science Museum

7:00 p.m.

Reception, then Lecture at the Keck Center

Robert Pennock Robert T. Pennock is Professor at Michigan State University, in its Lyman Briggs College, Philosophy and Computer Science departments, and EEBB graduate program. Dr. Pennock's research in digital evolution focuses on the emergence of complexity and intelligent behavior. His philosophical work deals with epistemic and ethical values in science. The author of numerous articles and books, including Tower of Babel: The Evidence against the New Creationism, he was an expert witness in the historic Kitzmiller v. Dover case. A Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Dr. Pennock serves on the AAAS Committee on the Public Understanding of Science and Technology. Robert Pennock "Reason Enough for Scientific Researches: Darwin and the Scientific Virtues"

9:00 p.m.

Buses return to the hotel

9:00 a.m.

Plenary Speaker

Hans R. Herren Herren is President of the Millennium Institute (Arlington, VA). From 1994 to 2005 he directed the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Nairobi, Kenya. He holds MSc and PhD degrees from the Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich and did his postdoc at UC Berkeley. He designed and implemented the world's largest biocontrol program at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Nigeria against the cassava mealybug and green mite, saving cassava as a crop, 20 million lives and the livelihood of over 200 million people. Main distinctions: World Food Prize, Tyler Environmental Prize. He is a member of the NAS and TWAS. Hans R. Herren Millennium Institute, Arlington Virginia "Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security: The Wake-up Call for Change"

10:00 a.m.

Coffee break and exhibits

10:30 a.m.

Breakout Discussion Groups B (concurrent sessions)

1. Group 1. "Transforming Education in Agriculture and Biological Sciences: Implementing NRC's 'Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World'"
   
   This session is motivated by the 2009 National Research Council report 'Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World'. Panelists and participants will discuss the relevance of the report to the AIBS community, the need for integration of agriculture with biological sciences at the undergraduate level, the impact of the report and its messages for the university community, and the role of disciplinary societies in addressing the themes in the report. The session will provide an opportunity for stakeholders in the agriculture and biological sciences communities to suggest and refine ideas for implementing change in undergraduate education.

   • Adam P. Fagen, The National Academies Board on Life Sciences

   • Peter Bruns, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

   • Ian Maw, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities

   • John Havlin, Department of Soil Science, North Carolina State University and the Soil Science Society of America

2. Group 2. "Changing the Way We Talk about Science: Understanding Science and Year of Science 2009"

   • Sheri Potter, COPUS Network Project Manager and the American Institute of Biological Sciences

   • Jen Collins, Consortium for Ocean Leadership

   • Marie Studer, Encyclopedia of Life

3. Group 3. "Agroecology of Biofuels"
   
   As cropping systems will shift to produce biofuels, how will policy guide agricultural production, healthy environments, and viable food and farming communities? This breakout session is an opportunity to list and discuss the policies and practices affecting sustainable agricultural production systems, healthy environments, and viable food and farming communities.
   
   Introduction and Moderator
   • Elizabeth Kirchner, the American Institute of Biological Sciences
     
     
   Water Resources and Biofuels
   • Tom Simpson, Water Stewardship, Inc.
     
     
   Agricultural Economics and the Biofuels
   • Daniel De La Torre Ugarte, Agricultural Policy and Analysis Center, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
     
     
   Rural Sociology and Biofuels Production
   • Thomas W. Gray, USDA Rural Development - Cooperative Programs

11:30 a.m.

Lunch break

1:00 p.m.

Special Session 1

Scott M. Swinton Scott M. Swinton is a professor of agricultural, food and resource economics at Michigan State University. With biologists at the Long-term Ecological Research project on agro-ecosystems, he studies ways to enhance the provision of ecosystem services from agriculture. His research focuses on how farmers decide about technologies and policies designed for sustainability. He teaches ecological and agricultural production economics. Dr. Swinton recently served on the National Academy of Sciences panel on pollinators and edited a special issue of the journal Ecological Economics entitled "Ecosystem Services and Agriculture." Scott M. Swinton Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Michigan State University Title: "Cultivating Agricultural Landscapes for Ecosystem Services" Taylor Ricketts, Co-presenter, Conservation Science Program, World Wildlife Fund-USA Title: "Pollination Services, Sustainable Agriculture, and Your Lunch" Taylor Ricketts is the Director of WWF's Conservation Science Program. Taylor leads a broad range of scientific activities at WWF, from research to technical assistance to WWF's field programs. His research currently focuses on the ecosystem services provided by forests, wetlands, and other natural areas. He served as a Convening Lead Author of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and is co-founder of the Natural Capital Project, a partnership to map and value ecosystem services for conservation. Taylor received his B.A. in Earth Sciences at Dartmouth College and his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at Stanford University. Taylor Ricketts

2:00 p.m.

Plenary Speaker

Pedro Sanchez Pedro Sanchez is the Director of the Tropical Agriculture and the Rural Environment Program, Senior Research Scholar and Director of the Millennium Villages Project at The Earth Institute at Columbia University. He also directs AfSIS, the African Soils Information Service, developing the digital soils map of the world. Sanchez is also Professor Emeritus of Soil Science and Forestry at North Carolina State University and served as Director General of ICRAF-the World Agroforestry Center from 1991 -2001. Sanchez received his BS, MS and PhD degrees in soil science from Cornell University, and honorary Doctor of Science degrees from the Catholic University of Leuven, Guelph University and Ohio State University. His professional career has been dedicated to help eliminate world hunger and absolute rural poverty while protecting and enhancing the tropical environment. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Society of Agronomy, the Soil Science Society of America and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He serves on the Board of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the National Academy of Sciences. Sanchez is the 2002 World Food Prize laureate and a 2004 MacArthur Fellow. Pedro Sanchez "The African Green Revolution Moves Forward"

3:00 p.m.

Endnote Speaker

May R. Berenbaum May Berenbaum, Swanlund Professor and Head of the Department of Entomology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is interested in chemical interactions between insects and plants. Concerned with practical application of ecological and evolutionary principles, she has examined impacts of genetic engineering, global climate change, and invasive species on natural and agricultural ecosystems. May is now serving as the 2009 AIBS president and chair of the AIBS annual meeting. She is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences and serves on the editorial boards of several journals. In addition to research, she is devoted to fostering scientific literacy and has authored, for the general public, numerous magazine articles and four books about insects. May R. Berenbaum "America's Agricultural Future: Soylent Green + 25"

3:30 p.m.

Coffee break and exhibits

4:00 p.m.

Workshops (concurrent sessions)

1. "Fuels for the Future? Helping Students Use a Systems Approach to Analyze Biofuel Production." Sponsored by the NABT and BSCS

   • In this workshop, educators will be introduced to inquiry-based activities designed to both help students learn about ethanol generation from plants and to think critically about ethanol as a fuel for society. Educators will participate in a laboratory activity that helps students apply their understanding of biomolecules, enzymes, and anaerobic cellular respiration to the challenge of efficiently converting starch into ethanol. Educators will also learn to teach students how to use a systems approach to analyze critically the practicality of ethanol as major source of fuel.
     
     Paul Beardsley, Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS)

2. "Communicating Science: A Primer for Working with the Media"

   • AIBS Public Policy Office staff provide public presentations and small-group training programs that help scientists and educators become effective advocates for science. Participants at this mini-workshop will learn of basic skills and knowledge that will help them work productively with policymakers, administrators, news reporters, or the public. A tool-kit of quick reference materials will be provided, including the AIBS publication, Communicating Science: A Primer for Working with the Media.
     
     Robert Gropp, Director of Public Policy, American Institute of Biological Sciences

3. "Professional Science Masters: Connecting to the Business Side of Science"

   • The worlds of science and business are increasingly interconnected, creating strong demand for the Professional Science Master's (PSM) degree and graduates who can combine their scientific and technical knowledge with business and communication skills. This interactive workshop will help you learn more about the national PSM movement and its potential role in sustainable agriculture.
     
     Ursula Bechert, National Professional Science Masters Association, Oregon State University
     
     Patrick Lukulay, U.S. Pharmacopeia
     
     Terry Bousquet, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc.
     
     May R. Berenbaum, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana
     
     Carol Lynch, Council of Graduate Schools
     
     Myles Boylan, National Science Foundation

4. "Updates on Funding Opportunities for Graduate Students through the National Science Foundation Division of Graduate Education Programs"

   • National Science Foundation; Division of Graduate Education's discussion of the Graduate Research Fellowship program, the K-12 program and the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program.
     
     Gisele Muller-Parker, National Science Foundation
     
     William Hahn, National Science Foundation
     
     Sonia Ortega, National Science Foundation

5:30 p.m.

END OF ANNUAL MEETING