It is my pleasure to present the first departmental newsletter from the Department of Renewable Resources. As the mission of our department is to foster sustainable communities through responsible stewardship of food, fiber, and environmental resources, the department is continually striving for excellence in teaching, research, and outreach.

This year our faculty continued receiving research grants and conducting research projects in water quality, Louisiana native wildflower seed bank, coastal restoration, algae production, and genetic improvement of cattle. Our students received hands-on experience and developed laboratory skills for soils, plants, animals, water quality, and GIS. Students were involved in internships at the New Iberia Research Center, Heifer International, National Park Service, Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries, USDA, and Coastal Environmental Services, just to name a few.

Sponsored outreach activities during the year included the Land Judging Contest, FFA Career Development Event, FFA Agronomy Event Workshop, the Louisiana Envirothon, and Earth Day. We would like to extend a hearty welcome to new faculty members, Drs. Jenneke Visser and Yi-Hong Wang. Please visit our website at http://rres.louisiana.edu for more information.

The rest of the News Letter

Durga D. Poudel, Ph.D.