Three NAU students recently traveled to South Africa to make presentations on global forest management during two international conferences.<\/p>\n
Monica Gaylord<\/strong>, a doctoral forestry student, and\u00a0T. Seth Davis<\/strong>, a forestry graduate student, discussed bark beetle management, and doctoral student\u00a0Sky Stephens<\/strong>\u00a0reported on her multi-year research program in Ghana.Michael Wagner<\/strong>, a Regent\u2019s professor in the School of Forestry, joined them.<\/p>\n Wagner and the students attended the International Union of Forest Research Organizations Forest Entomology meeting and the International Congress of Entomology in July. The students presented professional papers, gave speeches and took field trips to learn about intensive eucalyptus plantations and conservation reserve areas.<\/p>\n The international conferences were held in Pretoria and Durban, South Africa. Among all of the universities represented, NAU had the largest student team attending the both conferences.<\/p>\n \u201cThese students had the opportunity to display their capabilities as scientists and future employees,\u201d Wagner said. \u201cThe international experience, and being able to work with people from other cultures, is a very important aspect of a student\u2019s education.\u201d<\/p>\n Although pine bark beetles do not impact South Africa, Wagner said they create major problems throughout the world, including in the Flagstaff area.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was enlightening to hear perspectives on bark beetles from Europe and Asia,\u201d said Gaylord, who also met with the South African director of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute. Gaylord toured his labs and went on several field trips to visit plantations and view damage from pest species in South Africa.<\/p>\n \u201cThe trip was excellent,\u201d Gaylord said. \u201cI met new colleagues from New Zealand, South Africa and Siberia, and I was able to further interactions with scientists I had met previously.\u201d<\/p>\n For Stephens, attending such a large scientific gathering was a great opportunity to be exposed to a diverse amount of material.<\/p>\n \u201cGiving presentations on my doctoral research program enabled me to highlight my abilities as a speaker and researcher to a large international audience of current and potential colleagues and collaborators,\u201d Stephens said.<\/p>\n Stephens hopes to continue working internationally in forestry and entomology and use the contacts she made in South Africa to expand her job search in upcoming months.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n\n
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