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Food Security, Sustainable Farming the Aims of New Chair at U of G

Growing crops more efficiently to ensure food security while keeping soils healthy are key goals of a new faculty chair funded this year at the University of Guelph.

The Martin and Denise Pick Family Chair in Sustainable Cropping Systems will be supported by a $2-million gift to the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), along with funding from OAC and an anonymous bequest.

Our Sympathies: Ben McFadyen

It is with deep sympathy we share the passing of Ben McFadyen, a Master of Science (Plant Agriculture) student, on August 29, 2022. A celebration of life for Ben will take place at McIntyre & Wilkie Funeral Home in Guelph on Thursday, Sept. 8 starting at 10 a.m. Campus flags will be lowered to half-mast Sept. 8 in Ben’s honour.

Sending Barley Seeds to Space

What goes up must come down. That rings true for physics and for a batch of barley seeds University of Guelph scientists sent to space last year. Now that the seeds provided by The Glenlivet have returned to Earth, Dr. Mike Dixon, a professor in the School of Environmental Sciences and director of the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility, is overseeing their germination.

Bees Don Backpacks for U of G Pollinator Research

It’s common practice for farmers to apply insecticides to their crops, but one University of Guelph research team wants to know if the substances they’re using are pollinator friendly. 

Our Sympathies: Luke MacDonald

It is with deep sympathy we share the passing of Luke MacDonald, a student entering his third year in environmental sciences, on August 10, 2022. A celebration of life will take place in Toronto on Thursday, Aug. 18. Campus flags will be lowered to half-mast on that day in Luke’s honour.

Past Dean, Clay Switzer, presents Sneha with her scholarship.

OAC Class of ’22 Profile: Sneha Sengupta

Sneha recently graduated with her BScAgr as part of the OAC Class of 2022. She came to Guelph in 2018 as an international student from Mauritius, and despite studying abroad at a particularly challenging time, she excelled. Sneha attributes part of her success to the OAC scholarships she received and the encouragement they inspired in her, including the Rosemont Scholarship in Food Sustainability and Class of '51 O.A.C. Leadership Prize she received at convocation.

Students to Compete in International ‘Weed Olympics’

It’s not exactly a varsity sport, but training and competing in the annual “weed Olympics” can be equally gruelling. 

The Northeastern Collegiate Weed Science Contest, an annual event that pits the finest plant science students against one another in tough but friendly competition, is set to return this week after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

Continue reading, "Plant Science Students to Compete in International ‘Weed Olympics’" here. 

Our Sympathies: Keith Hutcheson

It is with sympathy that we share the passing of Keith Hutcheson on July 18, 2022. Keith was a member of the OAC Class of 1950 and was recently inducted into the Order of OAC to honour his philanthropic support of the college. His obituary is available here. 

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