“We have nothing to deal with that at all, and I think that’s an area we have to deal with.”

Frankenberger’s concern is shared by some state lawmakers.

Future SPARK application rounds are not yet on a definite schedule, but the next round is anticipated at the end of summer, assuming the availability of funds. For comprehensive SPARK information, including program format, eligibility, application process and evaluation criteria, visit the SPARK website.

“We don’t have enough data. One of the issues is the lack of appropriate measurement technology,” Ni said.

Somali Chaterji and Caitlin Proctor, assistant professors of agricultural and biological engineering at Purdue University, share their experiences and how they became inspired to pursue their careers motivated by role models and early passions. They also explain why it is important for the field to be more representative and how they connect to this year’s theme, offering advice to early-career engineers.

On a given sol at the Hab, GreenHab Officer Madelyn Whitaker was often tending to the thriving microgreens.

ABE professors Carroll, Engelberth, Ni, and Simsek are collaborating on the team working to increase the production of seafood, known as "blue food," which is healthier and more sustainably produced than land-based foods.

"Having built and sustained a number-1-ranked department at Purdue for more than a dozen years, and then driving graduate student enrollment, scholarly impact and intellectual innovation across the college as senior associate dean, he has proved time and again his ability not only to impact the farms and fields of our state and world, but also to drive Purdue’s continuing excellence at scale."

Nate Mosier, department head and professor of agricultural and biological engineering, also credits his colleagues for this accomplishment. “We’re honored for the continued recognition of the excellence in research and graduate education in ABE at Purdue. It is through the outstanding work of our graduate students, mentoring of our faculty and support of our staff that we have stayed at the top for so long.”

“Agriculture needs to convert data into information for making decisions. In India, there is a lot of infusion of drone technology and sensors, a plethora of data that is generated by their use could transform farming practices of small and marginal farmers there.”

An agriculture-related project at Purdue University has created an open-source framework and community for sharing data and algorithms with the goal to improve sustainable food and agricultural systems to help feed the growing world population.