In addition to a new name, fall 2023 marked the start of a new Master of Science (M.S.) program in Prairie View A&M University’s (PVAMU) College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR). The Natural Resources and Environmental Science (NRES) graduate program fits very well with the tripartite mission of the college of academics, research, and teaching, training students to deal with the current and future challenges underserved communities face in Texas, the United States, and international communities.  

The NRES graduate program is supported by talented CAFNR faculty that provides students research opportunities in topics including building resilient limited resources communities to climate change and extreme events (drought/flood), sustainable water-energy-food resources, soil health, circular economy, carbon sequestration, natural resources economics, and environmental planning to name a few. Students are trained in mastering the latest technologies and approaches, including smart agriculture tools, raising technologies, and artificial intelligence. Students can either pursue a thesis or a non-thesis option. Graduates of the program could have a role in academic teaching, policy agencies, agricultural and forestry industries, consulting firms, and private nonprofit and non-governmental organizations. 

The first NRES cohort includes five students  taking four courses, including research methods, seminar, hydrology, and an economics course totaling nine credits. The program is accepting student applications for the 2024 spring semester and beyond.  

Bhagya Deegala is an international student from Sri Lanka. She is working on using algal biomass as a crop fertilizer. She is also interested in climate change modeling. Research topic: Evaluation of Impact of Biochar and Hydrogels Application on Carbon Sequestration at Different Ecosystems. 

Catana Faison was born in Okinawa, Japan; however, her family settled in San Antonio, TX,  which she calls home. “This is my first semester at PVAMU, and I love it so far.” She received her B.S. in Environmental Science with a minor in Entrepreneurship from TAMUCC in August of 2022. When asked about her primary  interests she replied, “I would like to focus on alternative energy sourcing like algae or studying how to become more environmentally friendly through simulation models for K-12.” Research Topic: Sorghum’s Nutrients and Moisture Stress Detection Based on RGB Imageries and Artificial Intelligence. 

Sanjita Gurau is an international student from Nepal. She has a B.S. in Horticulture, and some of her research interests include Algae production from wastewater. Research topic: Evaluating Algal Biomass as a Sustainable Biofertilizer for Cotton Plant Growth: A Comprehensive Environmental Assessment.  

Siearra Webb is originally from Washington State but has been a Pearland, TX, resident  for over 15 years. She graduated from PVAMU with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Agriculture with a concentration in Animal & Food Science. “I am excited to start this M.S. in Environmental Science and am interested in the oil and gas industry, but I also have an interest in the climate and the changes currently going on in the world.” Research Topic: Zwitterionic and Graphene Oxide Coatings for Use on a Dual-sided Membrane Used in Forward Osmosis for Produced Water. 

Kayla Stamps joined PVAMU in 2017 from Mississippi and graduated from CAFNR this past May. She is working on  using algae and mushroom stems as chicken feed. Research Topic: Using Organic Mushroom Stems as a Sustainable Feed Resource for Organic Poultry Production. 

 During the fall semester, the inaugural NRES students presented their research topics during the weekly CAFNR Land Grant Seminar Series (LGSS). The LGSS has attracted speakers from educational institutions and organizations from all over the world. Each NRES student had two opportunities to present their topic and answer questions from a live audience. You can click here to view their presentations from October 12 and November 30.  

The NRES graduate program will equip talented professionals with the latest technologies and approaches to address contemporary and future challenges. For more information about the program, you can visit the website at Graduate: Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences – College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources (pvamu.edu) 

 

Ali Fares, Ph.D.
Endowed Professor of Water Security & Water-Energy-Food Nexus
alfares@pvamu.edu