Alumni News

Want to know more about how something as far-reaching as climate change affects something as small as an aphid? Join Andrei Alyokhin, a professor at the School of Biology and Ecology at the University of Maine, for a special guest seminar on plant pests, invasive species, and climate change: “Scaling Up: What Can Aphids and Viruses in Maine Potato Fields Tell About Global Change?”

Apologies for some misstatements about FDM’s 53rd Annual Fashion Show in last week’s CTAHR Notes—don’t let it keep you from enjoying a “Sweet Escape” on April 28! The show will feature three junior designers, offering exciting swimwear, menswear, and dresswear designs. And showtime is 7:00–9:00 p.m., but doors open at 5:30 for VIPs and 6:00 for the general public.

Pomai Weigert of CTAHR’s GoFarm Hawai‘i has been selected by Pacific Business News as one of the “40 under 40” for 2019! The award recognizes young business professionals in Hawai‘i who demonstrate business excellence, contribute to the overall success of their organizations, stand out amongst colleagues and peers, and have strong community involvement.

It happened on April Fool’s Day, but those who promoted Nick Yamauchi to his new position were no fools! On April 1, Nick was hired as farm foreman at the Kona Research Station, after working there for almost 2 years as an agricultural technician III. He has been helping to conduct research on coffee and macadamia nuts, but now he’ll be responsible for the station operations more broadly.

JB Friday (NREM) joined Marian Chau of the Lyon Arboretum, Lisa Keith of USDA ARS, and Kumu Kehaulani Kekua of Kaua‘i for in-depth interviews about Rapid ‘Ohi‘a Death on the PBS program Insights. The experts explained the recently discovered pathogens that cause it and how it is spread by burrowing ambrosia beetles that create fungus-imbued sawdust, which floats over forest canopies and infects other trees.