Purdue's College of Agriculture Top 19 Stories of 2019 includes "Champions cultivate the future," the account of the 2019 agBOT Challenge winners.

Dr. Bernie Engel served as department head of Agricultural and Biological Engineering for 15 years prior to being promoted to associate dean of agricultural research and graduate education.

Bright spotlights illuminated the stage Friday, Dec. 6, at the Shively Club at Ross Ade Stadium as the Purdue College of Engineering celebrated the contributions of 18 engineering staff members for 2019. Dean Mung Chiang welcomed more than 200 guests, including the honorees, their families, friends and colleagues. “Staff make the College hum. We wouldn’t be here today without their awesome contributions,” said the dean.

Ankita Raturi, assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, Linda Prokopy, professor of forestry and natural resources, and Anna Morrow, Midwest Cover Crops Council program manager, are part of a team of researchers throughout the eastern part of the country who will examine the benefits of cover crops in corn, soybeans and cotton.

"Usually, when you mix oils and water, you end up with them separating or creating a cloudy mess. Our method still leads to the water looking clear because the droplets are nanoscale and not affected by visible light," says Mosier.

Professor Jin and his lab have developed a hand-held device for scanning plants. "It's also constantly getting better because we scan plants every day and are upgrading both hardware and software technologies."

Dr. Ladisch is a Distinguished Professor in ABE and the founding director of the Laboratory of Renewable Resource Engineering (LORRE).