Senior Biological Engineering major Ellie Kuhn recently received an Honors College Conference/Workshop Travel Grant to attend the Triple Society International Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. At the conference, she showcased her honors thesis work on modeling leaf area index (LAI) and canopy height using a temperature-based time series of growing degree days (GDD). Here, she was able to make a multitude of connections with other students and peers involved in the agronomy industry.
Author: Ellie Kuhn | Major: Biological Engineering | Semester: Fall 2021
My name is Ellie Kuhn, and I am a senior, currently pursuing a BS in Biological Engineering with a minor in Sustainability within the University of Arkansas’s College of Engineering. For my honors thesis, I have created mathematical crop prediction models for rice fields throughout Arkansas and the different factors that influence sustainable agricultural practices. The collected data includes growing degree days (GDD), canopy height, and leaf area index (LAI). This research has introduced me to practical applications of my biological engineering course work, such as sustainable agricultural practices, data analysis, and technical reporting analysis.
From November 6-9th, I had the opportunity to attend the ASA, CSSA, and SSSA International Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, UT. The primary topic of discussion for this conference was creating a creative economy for sustainable development by bringing together the leading and emerging scientific leaders from industry, government agencies, and academic institutions working to advance agronomic, crop, soil, and other related sciences. Since other members of my research group, including my honors thesis advisor, have attended this conference in the past, they thought it would be an excellent opportunity for me to attend it and have some exposure to an official scientific conference. This conference allowed me to connect and interact with others who want to further the success of agronomy and other environmental sciences.
The conference had specific sessions for undergraduate students through the Students of Agronomy, Soil, & Environmental Sciences (SASES) program, which features sessions, contests, networking, social activities, an awards banquet, and exclusive tours. These sessions allow undergrads to experience a scientific meeting, present, compete, meet other students beyond their university, network, and meet prospective employers and graduate school representatives. I found the networking and information sessions beneficial for broadening my understanding of what a future career in agronomy or environmental science could entail.
On the first day of the conference, I presented my honors thesis research in the form of an oral presentation. Of the research symposium oral presentations, I was awarded first place in my presentation session. Once completing my presentation, I attended many other talks and discussion sessions at the conference. I also had the chance to connect with other students interested in environmental science careers within agronomy. This conference was a great way to listen to the advancements within the industry and government institutions specific to creating more sustainable food systems. I enjoyed hearing from the conference’s keynote speaker: Dr. Ismahane Elouafi. Dr. Elouafi is the current Chief Scientist at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). I found her talk very inspiring and encouraging for those who want to pursue a career within Sustainability, specifically within the food industry. There was also a career fair that allowed me to connect with employers and others involved in the country’s industry and graduate school programs.
Overall, the best advice to other students considering attending a conference is to keep an open mind and take advantage of your free time to explore a new city and meet new people. As we are putting the final touches on my written honors thesis document, I will continue to work with my thesis advisor to turn this into a paper published in a scientific journal before graduation in May 2022.