Emma Flemmig, a 2005 graduate of Glidden-Ralston High School, was awarded the Roberta Ahmanson Intern Award during the 2006 World Food Prize Laureate Ceremony on October 19 at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.
Flemmig, now a sophomore at Iowa State University majoring in Genetics and Agriculture, was recognized for her outstanding work as a 2005 World Food Prize Borlaug-Ruan International Intern. She completed her internship at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in El Batan, Mexico. Her work there dealt with Thaumatin-like protein transgenic wheat varieties and evaluating their resistance to Tan Spot. She completed these studies in the lab and screenhouses under the supervision of cell biologist Dr. Alejandro Pellegrineschi.
Flemmig was selected as a Borlaug-Ruan International Intern after completing the World Food Prize Youth Institute in October of 2004. The Youth Institute, a prerequisite for International Internship eligibility, exposes young Iowans to opportunities associated with careers in food, agriculture and natural resource disciplines. Youth Institute participants interact with World Food Prize Laureates and Nobel Prize Laureate Dr. Norman Borlaug to discuss issues of food security throughout the world.
The Ahmanson Intern Award was created in 2001 and is named in honor of former teacher and journalist Roberta Green Ahmanson, for her generous endowment of the World Food Prize International Internship Program and Youth Institute.
Flemmig received her award prior to the awarding of the 2006 World Food Prize to Edson Lobato and Alysson Paolinelli of Brazil and A. Colin McClung of the United States. The event was televised live on Iowa Public Television beginning at 7:00 p.m. on October 19. The three 2006 World Food Prize Laureates worked to take the Cerrado region of Brazil from one of the most infertile to one of the most agriculturally productive in the world.
VIEW MS. FLEMMIG'S PAPER
Borlaug-Ruan Internship