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The World Food Prize announced today that Acting Chief Scientist and Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, will give the keynote address at the 2018 Iowa Youth Institute. The event will take place at Iowa State University on Monday April 30, 2018.
“The World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute in partnership with Iowa State University, is one of the most unique programs in our state encouraging high school students to pursue education and careers in science and technology here in Iowa. We are incredibly fortunate to have a scientist as distinguished as Dr. Jacobs-Young to address and inspire young Iowans as part of our program,” said Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundation.
Dr. Jacobs-Young provides national leadership, vision, guidance, and direction as the Administrator for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) within the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). ARS is one of the world’s premier agricultural scientific organizations with 1,800 scientists at 90 laboratories throughout the United States. Research and technology programs, carried out by internationally recognized scientists, deliver solutions too many of the nation’s highest priority challenges in human nutrition, environmental sustainability, animal health and crop protection.
The World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute has engaged over 1,000 students from more than 225 schools across the state and has served as a national model for 17 other state youth institutes across the country, working to spark students’ interests for STEM and career paths in agriculture. Since 2011 54% of Iowa schools have participated in the Iowa Youth Institute.
This one-day event is offered at no cost to teachers or students. The deadline to register for the Iowa Youth Institute is March 26, 2018. Registration and further details can be found at www.worldfoodprize.org/iowayouth.
The World Food Prize also works in partnership with Dr. Jacobs-Young and the ARS to offer exceptional college students the opportunity to collaborate with world-renowned scientists and policymakers through paid fellowships at leading USDA research centers and offices across the United States.
ABOUT THE WORLD FOOD PRIZE: The World Food Prize is the foremost international award recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. The Prize was founded in 1986 by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, recipient of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize. Since then, the World Food Prize has honored 46 outstanding individuals who have made vital contributions throughout the world. The World Food Prize annually hosts the Borlaug Dialogue international symposium and a variety of youth education programs to help further the discussion on cutting-edge global food security issues and inspire the next generation to end hunger.
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