South Dakota Academy of Science meeting hosted by DSU

October 25, 2022

Dakota State University is hosting the South Dakota Academy of Science annual meeting on Friday, October 28, and Saturday, October 29.

According to its website, the South Dakota Academy of Science’s mission is to develop interest in science, strengthen bonds of fellowship between scientists, preserve information of scientific value, and stimulate research in areas related to the state’s natural resources.

The annual meeting is held at various public and private universities in the state, said Dr. Jeff Palmer, DSU organizer of the event. Palmer worked with fellow DSU employees Dr. Andrew Sathoff, Dr. Kristel Bakker, and Professor Emeritus Dr. Dale Droge to plan the meeting.

“This annual meeting allows scientists to talk face-to-face with each other,” Palmer said.

The event will also include an executive council meeting, registration and social mixer, an invited research presentation, paper sessions, a keynote address, and a poster session.

Sathoff is giving the invited research presentation entitled “Uncovering and managing soilborne alfalfa diseases in South Dakota.”

“Essentially, it covers my last three years of research at DSU,” Sathoff explained.

He will focus on the applied nature of his alfalfa pathology research and tie all the projects together to tell a cohesive narrative.

“I discuss common problems with alfalfa production (soilborne alfalfa diseases), describe our research investigating these problems, and suggest research-based disease management strategies, which can serve as potential solutions,” Sathoff said.

One of Sathoff’s students, Alex Rachynska, will be giving a talk about her research during the annual meeting.

The keynote address will be given by Dr. David Swanson of the University of South Dakota, titled “Grasslands and Woodland and Cold, Oh My: 32 Years (and Counting) of Bird Study in South Dakota.”

Those interested in attending the event can register at the South Dakota Academy of Science’s website.