PULLMAN, Wash.- Roger Beachy, chief scientist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and director of the new National Institute of Food and Agriculture, will present the Sam Smith Lecture beginning at 4 p.m., Monday, Oct. 11, in room T101 of the Food Science and Human Nutrition Building.
“The Role of Agricultural Research and Technology in Addressing Societal Challenges” will be the topic of Beachy’s presentation. In addition, he will be meeting with WSU students, faculty and staff on both Oct. 11 and 12.
“It is a privilege to hear from someone as pivotal to the future of agriculture in the United States and around the globe as Dr. Beachy,” said Dan Bernardo, dean of WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences.
Prior to his appointment as the first director of the newly created NIFA in October 2009 and being named chief scientist at USDA in January 2010, Beachy was a successful scientist in his own right. He is known worldwide for his break-through research and development of virus-resistant plants through the use of biotechnology. Work done under the direction of Beachy has led to more than 220 journal publications and numerous patent applications.
Beachy holds a Ph.D. in plant pathology from Michigan State University and earned a B.A. in biology from Goshen College in Goshen, Ind.
The Sam Smith Lecture at WSU is given every year in honor of former WSU President Sam Smith, a plant pathologist himself, and is hosted by WSU’s Plant Pathology Department in CAHNRS.
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