Former IRRI Scientist receives alumni award from UPLB College of Agriculture and Food Sciences

Dr. Kyu-Seong Lee, a former IRRI Scientist, was one of the recipients of the University of the Philippines Los Banos’ (UPLB) Distinguished Alumni award, given by the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences. This award recognizes university alumni for their exemplary achievements in their respective fields, and whose works have had a positive national and international impact.

IRRI scientist recognized for developing drought-tolerant rice for Nepalese farmers

Photo: Meira Andutan/IRRI

KATHMANDU, Nepal—As part of its Silver Jubilee, the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) acknowledged  the "tireless contribution" of Dr. Arvind Kumar (photo left) in improving drought-tolerant rice varieties (photo below) and making them available to Nepalese farmers.

Kumar, a senior scientist at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), leads the South Asia plant breeding group for the rainfed lowlands at the institute. He has expertise in trait development for drought, aerobic rice, and dry direct seeded rice. He also improved several popular rice varieties for drought tolerance as well as developed a drought plus submergence-tolerant version of the popular Indian rice variety Swarna. NARC will recognize Kumar in person on 7 May.

Nepal has released six drought-tolerant rice varieties (Sukha Dhan 1-6) and two submergence varieties (Swarna-Sub1 and Shamba Mahasuri Sub 1). These climate change-ready varieties have gained much popularity and are spreading to large areas of the Nepal Terai and river basin.  The varieties have made a significant impact in minimizing the risk of major stresses that affect poor farmers in the country.

“Rice is a vital crop in Nepal, contributing to about 10% of the GDP,” said Dr. Y.R. Pandey, NARC executive director. “However, rice farming in the country is dependent on the monsoon and very much prone to drought and flooding risks. Since its establishment 25 years ago, NARC has had a long and admirable history of collaboration with IRRI and in developing rice varieties that have tackled various challenges, including the current climate change issues.”

Some of the successful collaborative projects between NARC and IRRI include water-saving, stress-tolerant rice for Africa and South Asia, and accelerating the adoption of stress-tolerant rice varieties.

Photo: Jericho Montellano/IRRI

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IRRI scientist wins prestigious global prize for his impact in developing world

TRIESTE, Italy—The Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) has selected Dr. J.K. Ladha (photo) to be one of two recipients of its 2015 TWAS prize for outstanding contributions to the agricultural sciences.

The TWAS prizes are annually awarded to scientists and engineers in nine different categories whose efforts have had a significant impact in the developing world.

Ladha, a soil scientist and agronomist at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), is being honored for his development and promotion of conservation practices in the rice-wheat system of South Asia. He is sharing the 2015 prize in this category with LI Feng-Min of China.

Ladha’s work, in collaboration with many of IRRI’s national partners, takes a holistic, systems approach that covers various components of agronomic, soil, and water management.

Through his research, several integrated crop and resource management technologies have been adopted to help resource-poor farmers, according to the Agriculture and Food Security Center of Columbia University. 

Ladha has received various international accolades including the 2015 International Service in Crop Science Award from the Crop Science Society of America. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Society of Agronomy, the Soil Science Society of America, and the Indian Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Founded in 1983 and based in Italy, TWAS is the World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries. The major objectives of TWAS are to recognize, support, and encourage the pursuit of science excellence in developing countries.

TWAS annually recognizes individual scientists from developing countries in recognition of their outstanding contribution to knowledge. TWAS prizes are awarded in nine fields: agricultural sciences, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, engineering sciences, mathematics, medical sciences,  physics, and social sciences.

Each TWAS Prize carries a cash award of USD15,000. The winners will lecture about their research during TWAS's 27th General Meeting in Rwanda in November 2016, when they will also receive a plaque and the prize money.

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IRRI thesis intern wins best undergraduate thesis award

Wilson Aala, a former affiliate undergraduate thesis intern in IRRI, received the Undergraduate Best Thesis Award from Philobioscientia (UPLB Life Sciences Society) during the organization's 28th anniversary celebration on 2 August 2012.

Wilson's award-winning undergraduate thesis was titled Morphological and molecular characterization of novel salt-tolerant germplasms from the Philippines and Bangladesh. He was supervised by Glenn Gregorio, IRRI scientist and breeder.


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