SU Ag Center Scientist Publishes in Academic Journal

Dr. Renita Marshall, DVM, assistant professor of animal science, SU Ag Center co-authored an article published in the International Journal of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering Vol. 3(6), pp. 117-125, July 2011.

The article is entitled "Rondon project: Addressing water issues in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities in Brazil." Other authors of the article are Marcio de Cassio Juliano, Faculdade Zumbi dos Palmares -Av. Santos Dumont, 843, Armênia São Paulo 01101-000 Brasil; and Clifford Louime, Florida A&M University, College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture, Tallahassee, Florida.

The northeastern region of Brazil has embattled a severe drought for centuries making it almost impossible to supply the local communities with adequate drinking water. As part of their outreach program the university of Zumbi dos Palmares was contracted by the Ministry of Defense to provide the necessary technical expertise to build a water cistern in the town of Maranhao. One of the project requirements was that the cistern has to be built with minimal inputs to allow duplication in limited resource communities throughout the country.

The aim of this paper was to describe the socio-economic aspect of this construction project. The project was conceived around the framework of sustainability, which includes not only the methods and procedures used, but also economic responsibilities and guidelines for the cistern's long-term care and maintenance. The "projeto Rondon" has proven to be a viable alternative in sync with the built-in environment.

The article is available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/ijwree

SU Ag Center Researcher Recognized

SU Ag Center scientist, Dr. Yadong Qi, professor of urban forestry recently received an award for her presentation entitled "Monitoring the Long-term Effect of Paclobutrazol Tree Growth Regulator on Three Urban Tree Species" at the 2011 International Society of Arboriculture Annual Conference and Trade Show held in Sydney, Australia, July 23-27. The organization selected Dr. Qi's presentation as part of an educational program and provided one unit of continuing education credit to the certified arborists and ISA members.

Qi took along her advisee, Ms. Vanessa Ferchaud, Ph.D. candidate in Urban Forestry, who presented a talk entitled "Localization and Identification of UV-B Absorbing Compounds in Selected Southern Broadleaf Tree Species."

Dr. Qi received a stipend/honorarium of $1000 from the conference, while Ms. Ferchaud received $500 in travel grant from ISA Arboriculture Research and Education Academy and $375 as a conference speaker. These monetary awards covered part of their travel cost to the conference.

SU Ag Center Scientist Elected to International Board

SU Ag Center scientist serves on international board. Dr. Zhu Hua Ning, Professor of Urban Forestry at the SU Ag Center was recently elected to serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). The Board of Directors is responsible for strategic direction for ISA and makes decisions that are in the best interest of ISA. Through research, technology, and education, the ISA promotes the professional practices of arboriculture and fosters a greater worldwide awareness of the benefits of trees.

Dr. Ning has been a very productive member of the ISA for 16 years. She currently serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Arboriculture and Urban Forestry as an Associate Editor. Ning has served the ISA as Vice president, President-elect and President of the Arboriculture Research and Education Academy. She also served on the ISA Conference Program Committee, Student Activity Committee, and Science and Research Committee.

SU Ag Center Agent Elected Vice President of Association

SU Ag Center's agent serves as Vice President of Association. The Louisiana County Agricultural Agents Association elected Terrence Marshall, County Agent (1890) as Vice- President of the association at the annual meeting held in June.

Marshall is a 34-year employee of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, working for both the Southern University and LSU Agricultural Centers. He began his career in Ascension Parish in 1977, and transferred to East Baton Rouge Parish in 1979. He has been a member of the association since 1992. He has served three terms on the Board of Directors of the group.

Dr. Malekian Receives Elizabeth Fleming Stier Award

Fatemeh Malekian, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center and adjunct faculty at Louisiana State University, received the 2011 Elizabeth Fleming Stier Award for pursuit of humanitarian ideals and unselfish dedication resulting in significant contributions to the well-being of the food industry, academia, students, and the public.

Malekian received $3,000 honorarium from the New York Section and a plaque from the Institute of Food Technologists.

The story was printed in the May 2011 Phi Tau Sigma Newsletter, Member News section. To read the full story, please visit http://www.ift.org/community/phi-tau-sigma/newsletter/0511phitausigma.aspx.
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SU Ag Center Agent Receives Certificate of Appreciation

SU Ag Center's Sharon Wilder received a Certificate of Appreciation from the United States Department of Agriculture's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion for her continuing support as a Community Partner within the Nutrition Communicators Networks. She received a package for her efforts in reaching the community and audiences with the 2010 Dietary Guidelines and MyPlate. MyPlate is the new version of the dietary guideline developed by the USDA.

Included in her package is the Communications Message Calendar, which will aid in dissemination of messages and programs to consumers in a coordinated, targeted and powerful way. Wilder is SU Ag Center's nutrition assistant for FF-News in East and West Carroll Parishes.

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