Diane Brown, a 2006 graduate of Johnston High School, was awarded the Roberta Ahmanson Intern Award during the 2007 World Food Prize Laureate Ceremony on October 18 at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.
Brown, who now studies chemical engineering and Spanish at Iowa State University, was recognized for her outstanding work as a 2006 World Food Prize Borlaug-Ruan International Intern. She completed her internship at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in El Batan, Mexico. There she worked with the Diversity Group in the
biotechnology labs, observing and assisting with a variety of lab techniques including DNA extraction
and quantification, polymerase chain reactions (PCR), and agarose gels
Brown was selected as a Borlaug-Ruan International Intern after completing the World Food Prize Youth Institute in October of 2005. 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.
Brown received his award prior to the awarding of the 2007 World Food Prize to Dr. Philip Nelson of Purdue University. The event was televised live throughout the state of Iowa on Iowa Public Television..
VIEW MS. BROWN'S PAPER
Borlaug-Ruan Internship