GSA Bulletin - Welcome to Alabama A&M University
GSA Bulletin - Welcome to Alabama A&M University GSA Bulletin - Welcome to Alabama A&M University
Page 2 “Words of Encouragement from the Chair” Volume 3, Number 1 Greetings to Graduate Students: Welcome to the Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences (NRES). It is my privilege to offer words of encouragement and inspiration to you as you work towards attaining your graduate degree. It is my hope that your matriculation here at Alabama A&M University is a rewarding, challenging, and educational experience. As faculty, we are here to serve as intellectual and professional mentors and advisors. Our objective is to assist you in developing good writing, oral, quantitative, and other professional skills, and prepare you towards a professional career in area required of scientists working in the Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. I encourage you to maintain a good academic record and to remain focused and committed to your graduate program. In addition, I challenge you to develop good quality research that is conducted in a timely and ethical manner. Take advantage of all of the opportunities offered to you and never fail to follow your dreams. We invite you to strive for academic excellence and become a part of the legacy that this department has created. Lastly, always remember that the success of this department depends on the professional and academic relationship that exists among our faculty and you. Good Luck. Teferi Tsegaye Chair of NRES Highlights of Events 2007-2008 1) Addition of 700 level Scientific Writing and Graduate Seminar courses offered in all semesters 2) Secured access to parking lots for grad students Above: Grad students at STEM day 2008 presentation Left: Grad students with Chairman at ASA meetings 3) Participated and presented research papers at AAMU’s Agricultural and Environmental Week, April 21-26, 2007 4) Raised funds and food for needy children of Huntsville 5) Increase in stipend for Graduate Assistants Presentations Gagan Kaur, U. R. Bishnoi and E. Cebert. 2007. Polymer seed coating effect winter canola seedling establishment. Presented poster at ASA-SSSA-CSSA Annual International Meetings , New Orleans, LA. Nov. 4-8. (2nd prize) Gurudev Mayalagu, S. R. Mentreddy and J. Kloepper. 2007. Organic no-till vegetable production system: Weed management with cover crops. Poster presented at ASA-SSSA-CSSA Annual International Meeting, New Orleans, LA. Nov. 4-8. Maheteme Gebremedhin, T. Tsegaye, M. Wagaw, M. Silitonga, O. Mbuya and A. Johnson. 2007. Measuring carbon and energy exchange over a no-till agriculture using the eddy covariance technique. Poster presented at ASA-SSSA-CSSA Annual International Meetings, New Orleans, LA. Nov. 4-8. Lekhanath Paudel and U. R. Bishnoi. 2008. Effect of herbicides and intercultivation on weed biomass and canola yield. Poster presented at ASA CSSA SSSA Annual Meetings, Houston, TX, Oct. 5-9. Paul Okweye, T. D. Tsegaye, and K. Golson-Garner 2007. Distribution of heavy metals in surface water of the Wheeler Lake Basin in Northern Alabama. Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Restoration 3: 91-100. USEPA, ATSDR & CDC Poster Award Honorarium. Publications Bishnoi, U. R., G. Kaur, and M.H. Khan. 2007. Calcium, phosphorus, and harvest stages effects on soybean seed production and seed quality. J. Plant Nutrition 30: 2119-2127. Brouillette, L.C., M. Gebremedhin, D. M. Rosenthal and L. A. Donovan. 2006. Testing hypothesized evolutionary shifts toward stress tolerance in hybrid Helianthus species. Western North American Naturalist 66 (4 ): 409–419. Golson-Garner,K., T.D. Tsegaye, P. Okweye, W. Tadesse and S. Dennis. 2007. Spatial and temporal distribution of heavy metals in the Indian Creek Watershed. J. Environ. Monit. Rest. 3:101-115. Awards Congrats! Gagan Kaur Chahal, a recipient of 2008 Gerald O. Mott Meritorious Graduate Student Award in Crop Science Society of America.
Page 3 Volume 3, Number 1 PLESJOC (Plant and Soil Science Journal Club) Graduate students are encouraged to participate and give presentation on their research. Thanks to the late Dr. Allan Zipf who first organized it. Please contact the current GSA president, (Seloame Tatu Nyaku) to arrange your presentation. GSA Presidents’ Message Graduate Student Association (GSA) of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES) experienced an amazing year of success in the year 2006-’07. It was of great privilege and honor to have had an opportunity to work closely with students, faculty, and campus administrators to make GSA more appreciated, vigilant, and relevant for students’ academic as well as social enrichment. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all fellow graduate students, GSA officers, advisors, faculty, and staff for their support to GSA for accomplishing many activities and goals in 2006-’07. It was the collaborative effort of the Executive Officers and dedicated members who focused their efforts in collecting opinions/suggestions on issues and concerns of fellow students related to logistics, courses, tuition, assistantship rates, etc. to create a more relaxed and productive environment that fosters efficiency and organization. In the past few months the NRES department has begun to experience the repercussions of many campus wide restructuring efforts. There are many changes that will positively impact the future of research for many graduate students, such as graduate assistantship and tuition waiver, and GSA has become more vocal in dealing with implementing these changes for graduate students in NRES, as well as those in other departments at Alabama A&M University. The newly elected GSA executive committee, under the direction of Mr. Cedric A. Sims, has already begun to work on courses, out-of-state waiver, and assistantship issues. GSA will become successful through the support of fellow members as well as faculty and staff in NRES. I sincerely ask all students and faculty for their continuous support and cooperation to the GSA to make the year 2007-’08 more effective and productive, and achieve a successful and socially stimulating future for all graduate students. ~ Reginald Randolph, GSA President (2006-’07) It is such a prestigious honor to know that the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Graduate Students here at Alabama A&M University has elected me to be their 2007-2008 President. I would like to thank each and every one of you who gave me the vote of confidence. I would also like to thank the faculty, staff, and previous Graduate Student Association (GSA) members who came before us for their diligent contributions in making the GSA what it is today. I would like to extend a special thanks to “The Mother of GSA”, Dr. Rufina Ward, for her sincere dedication, hard work, and commitment as the GSA advisor. I take great pleasure in meeting the challenges we face no matter how unachievable they may seem. I believe that with dedicated members of this great Executive Board and all NRES graduate students, collectively, there is nothing we cannot overcome and accomplish. Through the years, we have embarked upon a variety of tasks and activities led by previous GSA Presidents. These include recruitment of new students, improvement of labs and office facilities, and creation of jovial relationships among students, faculty, and staff. As President of the GSA, I commit myself to these tasks and dedicate my service to the GSA and its members. With your unyielding support, I truly believe we will accomplish our goals. Finally, I would like to say that we are only as strong as our weakest link; don’t be that weak link, and remember, keep your fellowman (fellow graduate student) in mind in whatever you choose to do. Also, don’t forget that I am here to address whatever concerns or complaints you have. I am not a mind reader, but together, we can all become mind changers. I am looking forward to serving you as your President while striving towards a productive future in a more friendly and festive environment. ~ Cedric A. Sims, GSA President (2007-’08)
Page 2 “Words of Encouragement from the Chair”<br />
Volume 3, Number 1<br />
Greetings <strong>to</strong> Graduate Students:<br />
<strong>Welcome</strong> <strong>to</strong> the Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences (NRES). It is my privilege <strong>to</strong> offer words of encouragement<br />
and inspiration <strong>to</strong> you as you work <strong>to</strong>wards attaining your graduate degree. It is my hope that your matriculation here at<br />
<strong>Alabama</strong> A&M <strong>University</strong> is a rewarding, challenging, and educational experience. As faculty, we are here <strong>to</strong> serve as intellectual and<br />
professional men<strong>to</strong>rs and advisors. Our objective is <strong>to</strong> assist you in developing good writing, oral, quantitative, and other professional<br />
skills, and prepare you <strong>to</strong>wards a professional career in area required of scientists working in the Natural Resources and Environmental<br />
Sciences.<br />
I encourage you <strong>to</strong> maintain a good academic record and <strong>to</strong> remain focused and committed <strong>to</strong> your graduate program. In addition,<br />
I challenge you <strong>to</strong> develop good quality research that is conducted in a timely and ethical manner. Take advantage of all of the opportunities<br />
offered <strong>to</strong> you and never fail <strong>to</strong> follow your dreams. We invite you <strong>to</strong> strive for academic excellence and become a part of<br />
the legacy that this department has created. Lastly, always remember that the success of this department depends on the professional<br />
and academic relationship that exists among our faculty and you.<br />
Good Luck.<br />
Teferi Tsegaye<br />
Chair of NRES<br />
Highlights of Events 2007-2008<br />
1) Addition of 700 level Scientific Writing and Graduate Seminar<br />
courses offered in all semesters<br />
2) Secured access <strong>to</strong> parking lots for grad students<br />
Above: Grad students at<br />
STEM day 2008 presentation<br />
Left: Grad students with<br />
Chairman at ASA meetings<br />
3) Participated and presented research papers at AAMU’s Agricultural<br />
and Environmental Week, April 21-26, 2007<br />
4) Raised funds and food for needy children of Huntsville<br />
5) Increase in stipend for Graduate Assistants<br />
Presentations<br />
Gagan Kaur, U. R. Bishnoi and E. Cebert. 2007. Polymer seed coating effect winter canola seedling establishment. Presented poster at<br />
ASA-SSSA-CSSA Annual International Meetings , New Orleans, LA. Nov. 4-8. (2nd prize)<br />
Gurudev Mayalagu, S. R. Mentreddy and J. Kloepper. 2007. Organic no-till vegetable production system: Weed management with cover<br />
crops. Poster presented at ASA-SSSA-CSSA Annual International Meeting, New Orleans, LA. Nov. 4-8.<br />
Maheteme Gebremedhin, T. Tsegaye, M. Wagaw, M. Sili<strong>to</strong>nga, O. Mbuya and A. Johnson. 2007. Measuring carbon and energy exchange<br />
over a no-till agriculture using the eddy covariance technique. Poster presented at ASA-SSSA-CSSA Annual International Meetings, New<br />
Orleans, LA. Nov. 4-8.<br />
Lekhanath Paudel and U. R. Bishnoi. 2008. Effect of herbicides and intercultivation on weed biomass and canola yield. Poster presented<br />
at ASA CSSA SSSA Annual Meetings, Hous<strong>to</strong>n, TX, Oct. 5-9.<br />
Paul Okweye, T. D. Tsegaye, and K. Golson-Garner 2007. Distribution of heavy metals in surface water of the Wheeler Lake Basin in<br />
Northern <strong>Alabama</strong>. Journal of Environmental Moni<strong>to</strong>ring and Res<strong>to</strong>ration 3: 91-100. USEPA, ATSDR & CDC Poster Award Honorarium.<br />
Publications<br />
Bishnoi, U. R., G. Kaur, and M.H. Khan. 2007. Calcium, phosphorus, and harvest stages effects on soybean seed production and seed quality.<br />
J. Plant Nutrition 30: 2119-2127.<br />
Brouillette, L.C., M. Gebremedhin, D. M. Rosenthal and L. A. Donovan. 2006. Testing hypothesized evolutionary shifts <strong>to</strong>ward stress <strong>to</strong>lerance<br />
in hybrid Helianthus species. Western North American Naturalist 66 (4 ): 409–419.<br />
Golson-Garner,K., T.D. Tsegaye, P. Okweye, W. Tadesse and S. Dennis. 2007. Spatial and temporal distribution of heavy metals in the<br />
Indian Creek Watershed. J. Environ. Monit. Rest. 3:101-115.<br />
Awards<br />
Congrats! Gagan Kaur Chahal, a recipient of 2008 Gerald O. Mott Meri<strong>to</strong>rious Graduate Student Award in Crop Science Society of<br />
America.
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