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University of Georgia Center for Food Safety researcher Issmat Kassem has dedicated nearly two decades to studying antimicrobial resistance, identified by the World Health Organization as a top-10 public health threat to humanity. Kassem was recently recognized as a ScholarGPS Highly Ranked Scholar for his research studying antimicrobial resistance in water and food. Hear directly from Kassem in this Q&A about his work to protect public health from this ongoing threat.

In this episode of Cultivating Curiosity, we dive into the science behind composting with two University of Georgia Cooperative Extension experts — what composting is, why it matters and how you can start doing it right at home. Whether you’re new to composting or looking to improve your bin game, this episode breaks down the basics, offers beginner-friendly tips and shares the real-life benefits of turning your food scraps into nutrient-rich soil. Plus, learn how composting can save you money and help the planet, one banana peel at a time.

Meet Scott Jackson, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Synthetic Biology. Jackson's research at the University of Georgia focuses on accelerating crop improvement to benefit farmers, communities and a rapidly expanding global population. “We’re utilizing advanced modeling to explore the role of multiple, interacting aspects of agricultural systems, genetics to management, with the ultimate goal of improving productivity and sustainability,” said Jackson, faculty in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Calling all chicken wranglers: If you raise free-range or pastured chickens on your commercial farm, researchers at the University of Georgia want to know what your feathered friends are eating. To find out, the research team at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences wants your chicken poop for the Chicken Ecology and Ecosystem Services, or ChickEES, study.

Rachel Kinsaul, a two-time graduate of the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, has been named a 2024–25 Milken Educator Award recipient — an honor widely recognized as the nation’s preeminent award for K–12 teachers. A leader in agricultural education, Kinsaul teaches agricultural science at Morgan County High School in Madison, Georgia, where her innovative, hands-on programs have redefined how students experience the agricultural sciences.

The senior 4-H team from Bleckley County took home first place at the Georgia 4-H State Wildlife Judging Contest held April 27 at Rock Eagle 4-H Center. Team members Rebekah Crosby, Benjamin Agnew and Maggie Powell earned the prestigious title of Georgia Master 4-H’ers.

As temperatures warm up and summer approaches, a surge in stinging and biting insects can quickly turn a fun day outside into an itchy, uncomfortable ordeal. Elmer Gray, a research entomologist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and specialist for UGA Cooperative Extension, shares insight into the most common insect pests of the season — and how to protect yourself and your family.

Researchers at UGA working with fire ants are trying to understand how a small group of ants can convince a larger group to change a fundamental aspect of their behavior—whether they kill or nurture multiple queens. Their work was published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The lead author is Haolin Zeng, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Georgia Odum School of Ecology who completed his PhD at the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in 2022.

Whether nestled between bacon and lettuce, perched atop a smear of cottage cheese, or simply sprinkled with salt and fresh-cracked pepper, there’s nothing quite like a homegrown sandwich tomato. Long before the first sandwich can be assembled, and even before gardeners begin planting, setting up trellises and fighting pests, home gardeners must select which tomato types to add to their planting list. To make the choice easier, we asked experts to rank their top sandwich tomato cultivars based on what they’d most likely recommend to home gardeners across the state. 

University of Georgia professors C. Robin Buell and Daniel R. Perez have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the organization announced on April 29. Members are elected to NAS in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Membership is a widely accepted mark of excellence in science and is considered one of the highest honors a scientist can receive.