The Fall 2024 Student Research Symposium showcased more than 40 student researchers in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Students presented their research in a diversity of fields with an emphasis on how their research will contribute to a more sustainable future.

The University of Delaware’s Qingwu (William) Meng won second place in the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) early career competition. Meng’s research and teaching focus on the production of high-value specialty crops, including edible crops and flowers, in highly controlled environmental systems like greenhouses and indoor farming spaces. He says controlled-environment horticulture is a sustainable solution to feeding the world while protecting the planet. Meng’s new class, “Growing Plants in Space,” capitalizes on student interest in space exploration to teach plant science. Nicole Donofrio, professor of plant pathology, says Meng cares deeply about increasing the efficiency of hydroponically grown plants.

Jack Levy-Diedrich, a Ph.D. student in plant and soil sciences, researches the future of urban forests, which are threatened by invasive species and climate change. His work, under the guidance of faculty member Tara Trammell, focuses on cataloging plant communities and studying seed banks in forests across five states. By analyzing soil samples and vegetation, Levy-Diedrich can predict the impact of forest disturbances and how invasive species may take over. This research aims to influence urban forest management, helping environmental entities protect biodiversity and mitigate future threats.

Davidson Obilor Nwaonu, an agricultural and resource economics graduate student in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, wants to reduce agriculture’s contribution to climate change. His research seeks to understand how consumers make trade-offs between climate-smart attributes and health attributes while grocery shopping. Nwaonu is a scholar at the United States Department of Agriculture’s Graduate Student Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Partners, also known as USDA GradCAMP. Climate justice is important to Nwaonu, who came to UD from an area of Nigeria polluted by oil drilling.