Student Activities

Graduate Student Association

The PBGG GSA continues to be very active in social activities and assisting the faculty planning seminars and other activities. They also maintain all the social media for the IPBGG.

This year’s officers are:

President: Samuele Lamon
Vice-President: Brianna Cheek
Secretary/Treasurer: Namrata Maharjan
Journal Club Chair: Stephanie Botton
Social Chair: Emile Barnes
Webmaster: Samikshya Rijal
Fundraising Coordinator: Holly W. Presley
GSA Delegate: Habib Widyawan

The Graduate Student Association has been giving constant feedback to IPBGG faculty and staff for the enhancement of the graduate program. Notable examples have been the establishment of the annual Boerma Seminar series, the improvement of the IPBGG website, and the design of the IPBGG hoodies with the IPBGG logo.

GSA-sponsored events

Christmas door decoration contest

Sponsored by the PBGG Graduate Student Association, the van der Knaap lab won the 2022 contest.

The winning entry featured a Christmas tree made from tomato bushes and a greenhouse made from microwell plates. The award was a pizza lunch for the lab.

Triannual photo contest

Check out the great selection of photos taken by the graduate students and the award winners.

IPBGG Journal Club

The students organize and run their own journal club, which meets monthly, covering both soft and hard skills.

Fall semester topics were:

August 31st – "Surviving graduate school without burning out" by Stephanie Botton.
September 28th - “Climate-resilient crops & small-scale producers” by Emile Barnes.
October 26th – "Marketing yourself for post-graduate life" by Brianna Cheek.
November 30th - "Procrastination" by Razi Ibrahim.

Social Activities

July 7th - Cookout with the PBGG Practicum class at CAGT, Athens.
August 24th - Social Night and Fundraising event at the Athentic Brewing Company, Athens.
August 25th - Back-to-School at the NESPAL deck, Tifton.
August 26th - Cookout to welcome new IPBGG and IPS students at CAGT, Athens.
September 10th - Pool Party hosted by Dr. David and Soraya Bertioli, Athens.
October 25th - Pumpkin Carving at CAGT, Athens.
October 27th - Pumpkin Carving at NESPAL courtyard, Tifton.
November 15th - Miller Mingle social with PBIO and PPATH at Miller Plant Sciences, Athens.
November - No-Shave November campaign and donation of $100 to the No-Shave Foundation.