Dr. Rod Wing, from the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences and the Bio-5 Institute, is using technology to reach out from the UA to people, especially hungry populations worldwide, through the fields of genomics and biotechnology to improve food crop production. Rod Wing and his team have puzzled out the complete genome of rice and corn and they are now looking for specific genes that might be helpful to manipulate so as to grow crops with less water and in poorly nourished soils. This will be a boon to hungry people everywhere.

Rod Wing, PhD; Professor of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Member Bio-5 Institute. The 5th annual Innovation Day at The UA was held on March 25, 2008. Innovation Day at The UA celebrates technology development and commercialization by highlighting the research achievements of students, staff and faculty. The Technology Innovation Awards recognize University of Arizona researchers for achievements in translating original ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace.