Global Seminar Spotlight: Harkamal Walia
This is a continuation of our "IANR is Global" series, which highlights the many ways internationalization is woven through the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources: through research collaboration, government and private industry partnerships, extension work, student educational experiences and the IANR community from around the world.
This edition is specifically focused on the many global voices we have on campus who will be sharing their expertise through seminars during spring semester 2020 (virtually, as of March). Associate professor Harkamal Walia will be presenting an online talk entitled “Wild Wheat as a Source for Enhancing Drought Adaptation in Wheat” on May 7, as Heuermann Chair and Faculty Fellow with the Daugherty Water for Food Institute. Tune into his seminar online here. We appreciate the expertise we are fortunate to have from all over the world, as shown by their many and varied contributions to the work of the university and our continued mission to create a globally engaged institution. To this end, we want to help our campus community get to know each other (and the world) more, starting with these experts.
Where is your hometown? Where did you receive your education?
I'm from Punjab, India. I received my B.S. in agriculture from Punjab Agriculture University, PhD from the University of California-Riverside
Tell us a little about your path to where you are now.
I got postdoctoral training at the University of California-Davis and then joined UNL as a faculty member in 2010.
Are you engaged in any research collaborations or do you still have work that you do related to your home country?
Yes, with research groups in Israel and Bangladesh.
Why is it important for institutions like the University of Nebraska to have faculty with experience from different parts of the world?
We live in a highly connected world. Sharing solutions and solving challenges together is a faster, more efficient way to make progress.
What is one piece of advice you would share with students?
Know your strengths and then take some risks with new research directions.
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Are you giving a seminar in spring 2020 (or the future) and have an international element to your work, studies or background you'd like to see highlighted? Contact Brianne Wolf at bwolf4@unl.edu.