Achievement

Semi-annual symposia have become the forum for applying course knowledge to real problems. First, 10 trainees and one faculty member co-organized, with the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, a symposium entitled People Protecting Manoomin: Manoomin Protecting People held on the White Earth Indian Reservation in Mahnomen, Minnesota August 25-27, 2009. Leaders from both the research and Tribal communities spoke about their own knowledge of and concerns about wild rice (manoomin) research. Trainees, who facilitated discussions and recorded important points, experienced first hand an aspect of the risk assessment process emphasized in our IGERT program: identifying the cultural, spiritual and other non-science components that should be incorporated into the process. Second, 5 trainees and one faculty member co-organized the International Entomophagous Insect Symposium July 27-31, 2009 through which students engaged with researchers who work to address pest problems using biological control.