BioWRAP

BioWRAP 2024 Annual Meeting

A diverse group of people poses together in front of a stone Kansas State University sign and flagpoles during the 2023 BioWRAP annual meeting, with trees in the background. Some are sitting on a bench, others standing behind them, all smiling at the camera. - BioWRAP

BioWRAP 2024 Annual Meeting

Published: June 18, 2024

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2024 Annual Meeting in Manhattan, Kansas

Innovation Meets the Heartland at the 2nd Annual BioWRAP Meeting

A diverse group of people poses together in front of a stone Kansas State University sign and flagpoles during the 2023 BioWRAP annual meeting, with trees in the background. Some are sitting on a bench, others standing behind them, all smiling at the camera. - BioWRAP
The BioWRAP Team enjoys the summer evening in Manhattan, Kansas.

In May 2024, the BioWRAP team gathered in the vibrant college town of Manhattan, Kansas—home to Kansas State University—for its second Annual Meeting. The three-day event brought together a dynamic mix of researchers, students, faculty, and industry experts from Kansas State University (KSU), the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), and South Dakota State University (SDSM). Also in attendance were members of the BioWRAP External Advisory Board, lending valuable insight and guidance to the project’s future.

At the 2023 BioWRAP Annual Meeting, a woman in a white blazer speaks into a microphone before an audience, with a large screen displaying a Microsoft Edge welcome page behind her in the conference room. - BioWRAP
Primary Investigator, Vashali Sharda, welcomes the team and presents an overview of the project.

Held primarily at the Bluemont Hotel, the meeting wasn’t just about presentations and panels—it was a deep dive into the future of sustainable agriculture. A highlight of the event was a field trip to A&H Farms, a family-owned agri-tourism and production farm known for its use of plastic and cloth films for weed control and water conservation. For many students, it was their first up-close look at a working production farm—an eye-opening experience. They witnessed how conventional materials often remain behind in the soil and gained a new appreciation for the power of BioWRAP: a biodegradable film that not only suppresses weeds and conserves water but also breaks down to enrich the soil, potentially replacing herbicides and synthetic barriers.

Throughout the meeting, attendees shared cutting-edge research and outreach efforts, including initiatives designed to engage K–12 students in agricultural science. Workshops were carefully curated to build both technical and interpersonal skills. One standout session was the CliftonStrengths Workshop, which helped team members understand their individual strengths and how to leverage them for more effective collaboration.

The event included a presentation from KSU’s Office of Educational Innovation and Evaluation, the team responsible for tracking BioWRAP’s impact through ongoing surveys and data analysis. Day two began with an energizing panel discussion titled “Why-O-WRAP”, where panelists explored the significance of the project and its potential to revolutionize production agriculture by offering a sustainable, biodegradable solution for weed control.

Student involvement was a central focus, with several opportunities for them to shine. A high-energy poster networking session featured four-minute lightning talks, giving students the chance to showcase their work before engaging in deeper discussions during longer-format presentations.

In all, the 2nd Annual BioWRAP Meeting was more than a research update—it was a celebration of collaboration, innovation, and the promise of a more sustainable agricultural future.

A person holding a microphone stands near a wall with two large sheets of paper covered in colorful sticky notes, while two people stand nearby watching during the BioWRAP 2023 Annual Meeting workshop or group discussion. - BioWRAP
Dr. Laura Moley works with her team on an ice breaker activity.
A woman and four children gather around a table covered with colorful craft supplies, making art projects together at the 2023 BioWRAP Annual Meeting. The group looks engaged and happy in a lively, indoor setting. - BioWRAP
Children discover how different soils interact with liquids with Besangie Sellers, OEIE.
At the 2023 BioWRAP Annual Meeting, a woman and an older man sit at a table in conversation. The woman gestures with her hands as the man holds a piece of paper. Buffet trays and another attendee are visible in the background. - BioWRAP
Jasmeet Kaur and Roric Paulman inspect a BioWRAP sample.
Three panelists sit at the front of a conference room for the "Why-o-WRAP Panel Discussion" at the 2023 BioWRAP Annual Meeting. A woman speaks into a microphone while two men listen. An empty podium and round tables are in the foreground. - BioWRAP
Panel members discuss Why-o-WRAP.
A woman stands and smiles next to a scientific poster titled “Analysis of Consumer Demand for BioWRAP Products” at the 2023 Annual Meeting, displayed on a grey board in an indoor setting. She is wearing a blue shirt and a name badge. - BioWRAP
Kanij Fatema of UNL presents her research at the poster presentation.
A man in business attire presents a slide at the BioWRAP Annual Meeting. The slide outlines engineering biopolymer tasks and lists three team members’ names as he stands near the screen, gesturing with his hand. - BioWRAP
Muhammad Akram, UNL, presents his research during the oral presentation segment.
At the 2023 Annual Meeting, two people stand indoors, one handing an award to the other with smiles. Behind them is a staircase, a sign reading "Carl R. Ice College of Engineering," and people seated at tables for BioWRAP. - BioWRAP
Hesam Parsaeian, SDSM, is congratulated by Dr. Tanvi Govil on his poster presentation.
Two people stand indoors, smiling and holding a glass award together at the 2023 Annual Meeting. Behind them, multiple digital screens display colorful charts and BioWRAP posters. Both are dressed in casual business attire. - BioWRAP
Kanij Fatema, UNL is congratulated on her poster presentation by Dr. Chittaranjan Ray.
At the 2023 Annual Meeting, a man with gray hair sits at a table with a plate of food, holding a chip. The purple tablecloth and vases of artificial sunflowers brighten the scene, with other attendees and tables visible in the background. - BioWRAP
Dr. David Salem, SDSM, enjoying the student poster presentations.
A group of ten people, diverse in age and gender, stand outside in front of a stone building at the 2023 BioWRAP Annual Meeting, smiling at the camera. Most are dressed in business-casual attire, with greenery and a tree behind them. - BioWRAP
The SDSM group enjoying a nice walk through the KSU campus.
At the 2023 Annual Meeting, a group gathers outdoors around a blue and black BioWRAP agricultural machine, attentively listening as its features are explained in a grassy area with trees under a bright sky. - BioWRAP
Team members at A&H Farms learning how plastic sheet mulch is applied to fields.
Cucumber plants growing on black plastic mulch with blue strings for support, as seen during the 2023 Annual Meeting; some weeds and a person’s boots are visible at the edge of the frame. - BioWRAP
A&H Farms cloth mulch.
Three men stand together smiling in front of rows of crops at the 2023 BioWRAP Annual Meeting, enjoying the outdoor setting under a blue sky with scattered clouds. Casually dressed, they appear happy and relaxed on the farm field. - BioWRAP
Team members enjoying their time on the farm.
Three people sit on stationary saddles behind a wooden fence, waving and smiling at the camera during the 2023 BioWRAP Annual Meeting. The background shows a grassy field, scattered equipment, and a cloudy sky. - BioWRAP
Team members from SDSM having some fun on the A&H Farms “horses”.

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