Robert E Sharp (with Shannon K King, Rachel K Owen, Jonathan T Stemmle and Shaozhong Kang), Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri. Missouri China Programme: Science Communication

1. Interdisciplinary Science
Communication Experiences in
China: A Graduate Student
Perspective
Bob Sharp1, Shannon King2,
Rachel Owen3, Jon Stemmle4,
Shaozhong Kang5
University of Missouri: 1Division of Plant Sciences;
2Department of Biochemistry, 3School of Natural
Resources, 4School of Journalism
China Agricultural University: 5Center for Agricultural
Water Research in China, College of Water Resources
and Civil Engineering

2. Interdisciplinary root biology research at the
University of Missouri
“Physiological genomics of maize nodal roots under drought”
(NSF Plant Genome Program, 2016-2020)
Mel Oliver (USDA-ARS
Plant Genetics Unit)
- metabolomics, genomics
Scott Peck (Dept. Biochemistry)
- plasma membrane proteomics
Bob Sharp (Div. Plant Sciences)
- root and drought physiology, lab
David Braun (Biol. Sciences)
- maize genetics, carbohydrate transport
Felix Fritschi (Div. Plant Sciences)
- root and drought physiology, field
Trupti Joshi (Dept. Health
Management & Informatics)
- bioinformatics
NSF Broader Impacts Activities --- Examples of Target Outcomes
• Increased public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and technology
• Development of a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce
• Increased partnerships between academia, industry, and others
Jon Stemmle (School of Journalism)
- science communication

3. Graduate student/postdoc workshop (August 2018)
“Responses and adaptations of plants and ecosystems to changing environments”
Collaboration with Prof. Shaozhong Kang, Director, Center for Agricultural Water Research
in China, China Agricultural University
• “111 Program”, Chinese Ministry of Education --- to facilitate closer communication and
research activities between key Chinese universities and international partners
• “Improving water use efficiency in agriculture from the molecular level to the regional scale”

4. • Display on “Getting to the Root of Drought”, 2018 & 2016 Missouri State Fair,
to educate the public, producers, and policy makers about the importance of
drought and root research
• Podcast on “Drought” with Univ. Missouri Chancellor Alexander Cartwright,
Bob Sharp and PhD student Shannon King (Sept. 2018)
• Workshop on “Roots and Water”, featuring three international speakers and
grad student/postdoc presentations (June 2017)
• Six-week Science Communication workshop including grad students,
postdocs and project PIs (Summer 2016)
University of Missouri System
President Dr. Mun Choi at the
State Fair
Prof. Michelle Watt (Julich,
Germany) with graduate
students and postdocs at the
“Roots and Water” workshop
Science Communication, Jon Stemmle, School of Journalism

6. Shannon King, Ph.D. Candidate Biochemistry
Rachel Owen, Ph.D. Candidate Natural Resources
@Mizzou #SciComm
Minquin County, Gansu, China

8. What have I gotten myself
into?

10. Navigating multiple “languages”
International Interdisciplinary Science to Non-Science

11. International Interdisciplinary Science to Non-Science

13. Informal conversations
enhanced understanding

14. What is the first thing you notice
in this picture?
International Interdisciplinary Science to Non-Science

16. Bradford Research Center,
University of Missouri, USA
Shiyanghe Experimental Station,
Gansu Province, China

17. Science to Non-ScienceInternational Interdisciplinary Science to Non-Science

19. Science Communication Products
• RootsInDrought blogs and videos
http://www.rootsindrought.missouri.edu
• Cultural experiences
• Scientific concepts
• Lessons learned
• Magazine and peer-reviewed articles
• Tackling international research
• Breaking communication barriers

20. Now What?

21. Prof. Shaozhong Kang
Director for the Center for Agricultural Water
Research in China - CAU

24. Our wish – similar opportunities for
graduate students in the future

25. Thank you!
111 Program Grant
MU College of Agriculture, Food,
& Natural Resources
MU Interdisciplinary Plant Group
National Science Foundation
Prof. Shaozhong Kang & CAU colleagues