Pharr Seminar: Why bees are disappearing by Dr. Spivak

This year the Mason Pharr Seminar committee is proud to announce that Dr. Marla Spivak from the University of Minnesota will be our speaker, Thursday, March 17, 2016. Dr. Spivak is a Distinguished McKnight University Professor of Apiculture and Social Insects. She received her B.A from Hombolt State University in Biology and her PhD from the University of Kansas in entomology. She was a 2010 MacArthur Fellow and teaches several courses in bee management, pollinator protection and insect societies. Continue reading

Dole Named as Interim Associate Dean and Director for Academic Programs

Dr. John DoleOn Monday, January 25, 2016, Dean Richard Linton named Dr. John Dole, Interim Associate Dean and Director of Academic Programs, starting March 1.  Dole replaces Sam Pardue who will become the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of Georgia. Filling Dr. Dole’s role in Horticultural Science on an interim basis is Assistant Head, Dr. Wayne G. Buhler. Continue reading

Buhler Named as Interim Department Head

Wayne Buhler received his Ph.D. from Purdue University in 1991 and has been with the Department of Horticultural Science for 18 years. He is the statewide coordinator of the Pesticide Safety Education Program and was the Director of the Southern Region Pesticide Safety Education Center from 2000 to 2006. One of his main responsibilities has been to develop and distribute educational materials and resources for the certification and recertification of North Carolina’s Private and Commercial Pesticide Applicators. Each year, at numerous schools his program hosts across the state, Wayne teaches and provides education to hundreds of attendees who are seeking licenses. Wayne has served as the Assistant Department Head in Horticultural Science since 2011.

Horticulture Shines at Bayer CropScience Research Symposium

2015 Bayer CropScience Research SymposiumThe Department of Horticultural Science was well represented at the first annual Bayer CropScience Research Symposium and poster competition on November 5. PhD student Nicholas Basinger and Master’s student Laura Kaderabek won first and second place, respectively. Over 80 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from universities across the Triangle submitted applications to present posters, with 28 being selected to participate in the event. In addition to presenting posters, participants had the opportunity to learn more about industry research, tour the Bayer CropScience facilities at RTP, network with Bayer scientists, and learn about careers at Bayer CropScience. Continue reading