November 20, 2003

 

Biotechnology Workshop Scheduled for Dec. 5 in Fort Totten

A workshop on the science and potential impacts of biotechnology will be held at Cankdeska Cikana Community College in Fort Totten on Friday, Dec. 5.

"Biotechnology products are being used in many areas of human life," according to Doug Lohnes, Cankdeska Cikana agriculture/natural resources instructor. "Our goal is to provide a general description of the scientific approaches followed in developing biotechnology products. We also plan to highlight the variety of biotechnology products we use in our daily lives and present the diversity of opinions regarding biotechnology and its use in ordinary products."

The workshop is jointly sponsored by Cankdeska Cikana and the North Dakota State University Extension Service. A registration form is available on the Web at www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/biotech/workshops.html,  e-mail at mzeigler@ndsuext.nodak.edu  or by calling (701) 231-7171. No registration fee is required.

Video conference sites will be at Sitting Bull Community College in Fort Yates, United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, Turtle Mountain Community College in Belcourt and the Fort Berthhold Community College in New Town.

The workshop begins at 11 a.m. with a discussion on the science of biotechnology led by Phil McClean, a professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at NDSU. At 11:40, Joel Ransom, NDSU Extension Service agronomist will discuss pollen drift from a scientific perspective.

The afternoon session, starting at 1 p.m., will look at the diversity of perspectives regarding biotechnology and will be led by McClean. At 1:30 a panel of Spirit Lake Elders will offer their viewpoints of biotechnology from a cultural aspect.

At 2:30, Duane Berglund, NDSU Extension Service agronomist will discuss the effects of biotechnology on production agriculture. The last session of the day has Ransom discussing a biotechnology case study of wild rice.

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Source: Doug Lohnes, (701) 766-1385, Doug_Lohnes@littlehoop.cc
Duane Hauck, (701) 231-7178, duane.hauck@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, richard.mattern@ndsu.nodak.edu