News Updates: The BCCA announcement (below) about Kevin Folta caused plenty of buzz. Due to the nature of Dr. Folta’s work and his passion for communication a few voiced concern, but many in the ag/science world sent positive reactions. Twitter and Facebook comments have been active, and the following articles represent the overall coverage of the announcement.
This AgriPulse article explains some of the controversy.
Two moms explain how Kevin Folta inspired their pro-biotechnology science writing and advocacy.
Dr. Folta explains his passion for ag and science in this TEDx speech.
Press Release: The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) announces that the prestigious 2016 Borlaug CAST Communication Award goes to Dr. Kevin Folta, Chair of the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). A teacher, mentor, researcher, and organizer, Folta focuses on clear, credible information. He knows how to communicate science to non-scientific audiences—and how to train scientists, farmers, physicians, and students to perform public outreach in scientific or controversial topics.
Communicating about science is a driving force for Folta. His blog (Illumination) covers recent events at the interface between society and science, and his weekly podcast (Talking Biotech) discusses genetic improvements in agriculture and medicine.
Folta received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Northern Illinois University, a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and postdoctoral training at the University of Wisconsin. His curriculum vitae is filled with impressive publications, presentations, and awards—including the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Award for undergraduate mentoring, the University of Florida Research Foundation Award, and the University of Florida Postdoctoral Mentoring Award.
Folta devised a program for postdoctoral researchers—assisting them in the fundamentals of grant writing, application preparation, interviewing, and professional presentation. As one of his students said, “He taught me that my science could go beyond tables and figures to help someone understand the joy of discovery.”
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