Jha honored at international conference
Prakash Jha
Prakash Jha, an assistant professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, recently shared his Mississippi-based agricultural climatology research with colleagues halfway around the world. He was invited to serve as an international advisor at Bihar Agricultural University’s (BAU) inaugural International Seminar on Empowering Agriculture and Rural Economy (EAR-2024), held last month in Sabour, India.
This innovative conference was established to address problems and identify opportunities in India’s agricultural industry. Scientists, mainly from India but including international guests, came together for two days to discuss the issues affecting the industry, the environment and rural communities and propose solutions for sustainable agricultural development.
Jha, whose research focuses on remote sensing, crop modeling and using climate modeling to assess the impacts of climate change, was invited to organize a session related to climate and livelihood and to serve as a keynote speaker for that session.
“I grew up in Bihar, and the scientists at BAU know my work at Mississippi State in the area of climate change and agriculture, and they asked if I could provide input on what could be done to address these problems,” he said. “That invitation and the occasion to contribute to these efforts in my home state meant a lot to me.”
During the conference, Jha -- also a scientist with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station -- was recognized for his outstanding research, receiving the International Young Scientist award.
“For me, receiving an award comes with new responsibilities, and I see it as a challenge to fulfill its requirements,” he said. “I also acknowledge the contributions of my colleagues and students because without them, I would not have received this award.”
As a young scientist, Jha said that he is working on building his international reputation for research. A recent USAID project spanning the continents of Africa, Asia and South America has given him an opportunity to expand his research.
“International opportunities such as this conference engage me personally as a scientist, but they also allow me to bring new knowledge and ideas to my students and colleagues,” he said. “I want to thank the entire BAU administration for inviting me and conferring with me on agricultural issues that affect us all, no matter where in the world we may live.”
For more information about the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences in MSU's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, visit www.pss.msstate.edu. For more on the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, visit mafes.msstate.edu.
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Meg Henderson | Agriculture and Natural Resources Marketing
