Diane Brown of Johnston, Iowa, was awarded the Ahmanson Intern Award during the World Food Prize Laureate Ceremony on October 18, 2007 at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.She received the Ahmanson Intern Award for her outstanding work as a 2006 World Food Prize Borlaug-Ruan International Intern at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in El Batan, Mexico.
Diane worked with the CIMMYT 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.
A graduate of Johnston High School, Diane attends Iowa State University and is studying chemical engineering and spanish.
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 Global Youth Institute and Borlaug-Ruan International Internship program.
Diane was selected as a Borlaug-Ruan International Intern after participating in the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute in 2005. The Global Youth Institute provides high school students the opportunity to interact with Nobel and World Food Prize Laureates, connect with other student leaders from around the world, tour cutting-edge industrial and research facilities, and discuss pressing food security and agricultural issues with global leaders in science, industry and policy.
Diane received her award prior to the awarding of the 2007 World Food Prize to Dr. Philip Nelson of the United States.