College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Engaging Students
Search for Chronic Disease Risk Factors in
Horses Leads to Clues about Prevention
Bringing New Life to an Eroding Stream
Value-added Soybeans to Save Money and Environment
Expanding the Learning Experience
Crossing Traditional Boundaries of Science
To Find Health Solutions
Hobby-size Planes May Be Future of
Early Warning System
Improving Local Economies Through Agritourism
Incentive Payments May Reduce Phosphorus Pollution
Protecting Milk’s Flavor and Nutritional Value
Finding a Healthful and Environmentally Friendly Use For Peanut Skins
Supporting Virginia’s Expanding Wine Industry
Virginia Tech Reaches Top 10 in Agricultural Research
Entrepreneurship Education Puts Business Owners in the Express Lane
E-learning Option for Place-bound Professionals
Financial Planning – From the Farm to the Household
New Graduate Program to Train Faculty in Agricultural Education Fields
Farmers’ Markets from Diverse Communities Benefit from Sharing
Families, Food, and Fun
Developing Disease-free Mosquitoes
Mites Make Right in Honduras – or Not?
Help for the Hippos of Zambia
Accolades
Percival Zhang, assistant professor of biological systems engineering, has received an Air Force Young Investigator award to advance development of an onboard process to convert a cellulosic material into hydrogen to power fuel cell vehicles.
In
the Air Force-funded research, Zhang will engineer enzymes to expedite the conversion of the insoluble cellulosic substrate into the
soluble product that is ultimately converted to hydrogen energy – to effect a phase change from solid to liquid. “It is a ratelimiting step in the process and our research will speed up the reaction rate,” said Zhang.
“How fast the reaction happens is an important consideration because you don’t want to wait in your vehicle while the product of a biochemical process feeds your fuel cell,” says Zhang.
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research will award approximately $9.5 million in grants to 29 scientists and engineers who submitted winning research proposals through the Air Force’s Young Investigator Research Program. A total of 215 proposals were received in response to the solicitation in major areas of interests to the Air Force.
Ozzie Abaye, associate professor of crop and soil environmental sciences, and Thomas Wilchynski, safety and mechanical manager at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center, received Andy Swiger Land-Grant Awards for their contributions to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Established to reward creative achievement and commitment to the college, the award recognizes both a faculty and a staff member each year whose accomplishments in teaching, research, or Extension greatly benefit the agriculture industry and improves the quality of life for Virginians.
Abaye was honored for her involvement and interaction with students in the college. Along with her teaching and advising responsibilities, she has served as the Virginia Tech Crop Judging Team coach and mentor for 15 years. She is noted for her unique personal teaching and advising style that allows her to develop a remarkable rapport with her students.
“I can think of no one who better exemplifies the landgrant
concept than Ozzie; she takes ‘city kids’ and makes them knowledgeable as agriculturalists,” says David Parrish, professor of crop and soil environmental sciences. “At the same time, she takes students from rural backgrounds and opens them to a whole world.”
In his position at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Virginia Beach,
Wilchynski is responsible for the maintenance and environmental health and safety for the center. Through his diligent efforts, he has been able to integrate facility systems to improve efficiency and environmental quality, as well as help to reduce costs. In addition to his facility responsibilities, he also assists faculty members with a variety of research needs such as fabricating and repairing instruments, which help them keep their research on time and on track.
“Thomas’ experience and enthusiasm make him a valuable resource,” says Peter Schultz, director of the Hampton Roads AREC. “He has been instrumental in leading the AREC staff into areas they have often been reluctant to address. Thomas has made such a positive impact here at the Hampton Roads AREC.”
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