The CALS Speaker Series aims to bring in distinguished guest speakers to provide our community with insightful perspectives on a variety of topics. All presentations are free and open to the public.

Past speakers

• Johan Swinnen, director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and managing director, systems transformation, CGIAR
  Topic: Global Food Security in CCC (Conflict, Climate, COVID) Times
• Scott Hutchins, USDA deputy under secretary for research, education and economics
  Topic: Igniting Agricultural Innovation
• Tom Tomich, founding director of the Agricultural Sustainability Institute at the University of California, Davis
  Topic: Global Food Security and Sustainability: Food system disruptors and opportunities
• Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum
  Topic: Out of Many, One: A Defining Moment for American Immigration
• Temple Grandin, professor of animal science at Colorado State University and autism spokesperson
  Topic: Educating Different Kinds of Minds
• Cliff Ohmart, retired senior scientist with SureHarvest
• Alison Van Eenennaam, USDA NRSP-8 Cattle Genome Coordinator
  Shelley McGuire, director, Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences
  Topic: Food Evolution
• Randy Olson, a scientist-turned-filmmaker
  Topic: ABT Framework: The Communications Tool Science Has Been Needing
• Cathy Kling, Charles F. Curtis Distinguished Professor of economics at Iowa State University
  Topic: Improving Water Quality: Are Economics and the Environment Always at Odds?
• Sonny Ramaswamy, director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture
  Topic: Innovations for 21st Century Food Systems
• Cara L. Santa Maria, M.S., science communicator and journalist
  Fred Gould, Distinguished University Professor, North Carolina State University
  Topic: What’s for Dinner? A Guide to Understanding GMOs