Speaker: Dr. Wagner Vendrame, Interim Chair & Professor, Ornamental Horticulture and Biotechnology. University of Florida International Strategies in Horticulture Internationalization of the curriculum and research programs in horticulture has become increasingly important to us in higher education. For students, exposing them to different cultures brings a better understanding of horticultural markets and activities, unique cultural experiences, and a broader view of global issues related to agriculture. For researchers, adding an international component to your program is essential for promotion, while also bringing opportunities for collaboration and increased funding. In this presentation, I will share my international experience and discuss different strategies for internationalization of research and academic programs.
Dr. Vendrame leads a broad research program focusing on production and conservation of ornamental plants using plant tissue culture and cryopreservation techniques, including orchids, ornamental trees, foliage plants, palms, and other ornamental plants. In 2007, he partnered with NASA on an innovative research project to evaluate the growth, development and differential gene expression in plant cells of jatropha (Jatropha curcas), a biofuel species, as affected by microgravity, with five spaceflight studies on board of the space shuttles Atlantis, Endeavour and Discovery, and the International Space Station National Laboratory. More recently, studies have focused on cryopreservation of orchid seeds, protocorms and pollen, palm seeds, and banana in vitro shoots; and large scale propagation of plants using temporary immersion bioreactor technology, including micropropagation of orchids, bromeliads, sugarcane, banana, papaya, palms, and caçari (a tree native to the Amazon rich in vitamin C).
