The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is participating in the inaugural “Within Reach” conference, hosted virtually April 12-15. Registration is free for students, faculty and staff.

Featuring the theme of zero hunger, the conference is organized by the University of Missouri’s Deaton Institute for University Leadership in International Development alongside other national and international partners.

Nebraska continues to use the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals — which include zero hunger — to analyze and direct work toward grand global challenges. The conference offers an opportunity to show how the university community is addressing the zero hunger goal.

A panel of four outstanding international young Nebraska researchers from four countries will be featured as a side-event during the conference, with a discussion on how their broad range of work impacts food and nutrition security as well as sustainable agriculture more broadly. Panelists will include:

• Jaspreet Sandhu, doctoral student, plant breeding and genetics, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture;

• Eugene Baraka, senior integrated science major, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources;

• Niloofar Moghadam Maragheh, doctoral student, Department of Food Science and Technology; and

• Rodrigo Mendoza Jimenez, postdoctoral research associate and 2020 doctoral graduate, Department of Food Science and Technology.

Registration is available here. Nebraska faculty, staff and students can attend for free using the code 2021WR-UNLINCOLN.

With renowned World Food Prize Laureates, international food security powerhouses, and many scientists, business executives, engineers and others, this conference will inspire, empower, and challenge students and educators to take action against hunger in a world plagued by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, virtual education, and economic hardship.

Keynote speakers for the conference include:

• Vimlendra Sharan, Director of FAO North America

• Catherine Bertini, former Executive Director of World Food Program

• Roger Thurow, acclaimed journalist and author

• Rob Bertram, USAID Chief Scientist

• Dan Glickman, former USDA Secretary

• Ertharin Cousin, former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Missions of Food and Agriculture

Students can also get professional written feedback on their resume, plus numerous networking and breakout opportunities with entry- and mid-level professionals.

For more information contact Brianne Wolf at bwolf4@unl.edu.