UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and its international agriculture and development dual-title graduate program (INTAD) is inviting members of the Penn State community to explore their “ag love language” at this year’s Global Gallery symposium. The event will occur from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, in 223 HUB-Robeson Center on the University Park campus.
This annual gathering showcases the agriculture-focused research of Penn State faculty and graduate students, celebrating the interdisciplinary connections that foster innovation and sustainability in global agriculture. Organizers encourage students, faculty and staff interested in the global food system to attend.
Auja Bywater, president of the INTAD Graduate Student Association, shared her enthusiasm for the event’s theme and purpose.
“Understanding Your ‘Ag Love Language’ is about identifying how agriculture connects us to the world and one another,” Bywater said. “This event showcases the incredible research students and professors are conducting globally and demonstrates the meaningful impact of those efforts here at home and around the world.”
Bywater emphasized that international partnerships enable students to make lasting contributions to society.
“Our global research not only expands academic knowledge but also builds bridges that lead to innovative solutions for complex challenges like food insecurity, poverty and environmental sustainability that affect us all,” she said.
The event will feature various activities, including student poster presentations spotlighting research to solve global challenges, a panel discussion centered on the theme, a facilitated networking session to build transdisciplinary collaborations, and lightning presentations by students and professors highlighting their international projects and collaborations.
Additionally, the event will feature a live and silent auction to raise proceeds to benefit the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative. Maya Nehme, an alumna of the college, leads the organization.
“Maya originally came up with the idea to start INTAD,” said Deanna Behring, assistant dean and director of Ag Sciences Global. “As we support her initiative, we also want to recognize and honor her contributions to our program.”
The INTAD dual-title degree enables students to integrate international perspectives into their primary graduate studies. Participating programs include rural sociology, agricultural and extension education, agricultural and biological engineering, biorenewable systems, ecology, plant pathology, soil science, entomology, horticulture, agricultural and environmental plant science, food science, nutrition, and forest resources.
Interested individuals can register for the Global Gallery here or by scanning the QR code in the image above. Questions about the event can be directed to Bywater at akb6471@psu.edu.