BioWRAP

BioWRAP 2025 Annual Meeting

A group of about 30 people poses for a photo on a staircase indoors at the Annual Meeting, with a University of Nebraska–Lincoln banner and a Starbucks sign in the background. The diverse group represents BioWRAP’s 2025 gathering. - BioWRAP

BioWRAP 2025 Annual Meeting

Published: August 1, 2025

2025 Annual Meeting in Lincoln, Nebraska

Collaboration for a Sustainable Future , 3rd Annual BioWRAP Meeting

A large, diverse group of adults stands smiling on a staircase and landing in a modern building with a tree, metal railings, and a University of Nebraska "N" sign, gathered for the 2025 BioWRAP Annual Meeting. - BioWRAP — *The BioWRAP Team – University of Nebraska-Lincoln, East Campus Union*

The BioWRAP team returned to Lincoln, Nebraska, for its 3rd Annual Meeting, held June 5–7, 2025, on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) East Campus. This multi-day event brought together researchers from Kansas State University (KSU), the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), and South Dakota School of Mines (SDSM), continuing a powerful collaboration aimed at advancing sustainable agricultural practices through innovation and interdisciplinary research.

Welcome and Keynote Highlights – Dr. Derek McLean, Dean and Director of UNL’s Agricultural Research Division, welcomed attendees to Lincoln, setting the tone for an inspiring and productive gathering. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Jesse Bell, Director of Water, Climate, and Health at the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute. His dynamic presentation connected global agricultural challenges with regional opportunities, reinforcing the importance of BioWRAP’s mission.

Research Presentations and Collaborative Learning – Faculty leads, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students showcased their research spanning diverse topics—from developing “Candy Crush-like” cell-free factories that produce biodegradable PHA, to in-depth analysis of soil health and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Sessions encouraged interdisciplinary thinking and highlighted the project’s multifaceted approach to sustainable agriculture.

Communication and collaboration were central themes, with interactive sessions on network mapping and stakeholder engagement led by Crystal Powers, UNL Associate Extension Educator, and the OEIE team (Ian Cummings and Adrienne McCarthy).

Ram Singh, SDSM

Afruja Begum, UNL

Manavjot Singh, KSU

Innovation in Action – Special guest speaker Anagha Ashok, a high school intern at SDSM, introduced a mobile app she developed to simplify data collection and enhance research efficiency—a compelling example of how young innovators are contributing to the future of agricultural research.

The team also visited Havelock Farms, a UNL research site, for a hands-on demonstration of BioWRAP spray applications and soil monitoring technologies led by Ana Clare Gomes. Havelock Farms is one of several research locations testing BioWRAP film and collecting vital data on soil health, weed suppression, and pest control.

A woman kneels on the ground outdoors, working on a laptop atop a blue bucket during the BioWRAP Annual Meeting. She is surrounded by field equipment and other people, with a red wagon and grassy landscape in the background. - BioWRAP — *Ana Clare Gomes*

At the 2025 BioWRAP Annual Meeting, a person stands in a grassy field next to an off-road vehicle equipped with gear, while another person sits inside. Trees and a cloudy sky form the backdrop. - BioWRAP — *Havelock Farm Sprayer Demo*nstration

At the 2025 Annual Meeting, a man in a white shirt and khaki pants crouches on the ground, touching the soil with his hand in a field where other attendees are gathered among grass and plants. - BioWRAP — *Muhammad Akram*

Outreach and Engagement – As always, outreach to youth remained a key priority. Dr. Heidi Sieverding led a fun and educational demonstration on viscosity using household items like ketchup, mustard, and cornstarch. The activity will help K–12 students (and their mentors!) explore fluid dynamics in an engaging and accessible way—demonstrating that science can be both meaningful and fun.

At the BioWRAP Annual Meeting 2025, people in business attire gather around a table filled with ice cream toppings, paper cups, napkins, and a whiteboard drizzled with syrup for a fun ice cream social or demonstration event. - BioWRAP

Four people are interacting at a table in a spacious conference room during the 2025 BioWRAP Annual Meeting. Two face the camera, engaged in conversation, while a third stands beside them and a fourth walks in the background. - BioWRAP

A group of people stand around a table covered with food items and supplies at the 2025 BioWRAP Annual Meeting, while a woman shows something on a tray to the others in a spacious, well-lit room with beige walls and a wooden floor. - BioWRAP — *BioWRAP Team Members experimenting with the different substrates during the K-12 student exercise*. *Tanvi Govil demonstrates viscosity to team members and special guests.*

At the 2025 Annual Meeting, a whiteboard with brown grid lines displays blobs of colored substances. BioWRAP materials, markers, paper cups, yogurt containers, and plastic spoons are arranged on a gray tablecloth around it. - BioWRAP

Student Collaboration Across Campuses – Throughout Fall 2024 and Spring 2025, student researchers participated in cross-institutional projects outside their primary areas of study. These collaborative projects culminated in a poster session at the stunning International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, offering a unique venue to share ideas and spark future research directions. Presenting students and postdocs were recognized to celebrate their achievements within the BioWRAP Project and beyond.

A diverse group of people stand in a classroom near a whiteboard and posters during the 2025 BioWRAP Annual Meeting. Tables with flower centerpieces are in the foreground, and most attendees wear nametags and business or casual attire. - BioWRAP — *Vaishali Sharda welcomes the team to the Poster Presentations at the Quilt Museum*.

Two men stand indoors at the Annual Meeting, shaking hands and smiling at the camera. One is dressed in a black suit, the other in a gray sweater and beige pants. Tables, chairs, and wall art are visible in the background. - BioWRAP — *Michael Madin (L) with*
*David Salem (R)*.

Three men stand together in a room, smiling at the camera while holding a BioWRAP award. Two men are in front and a taller man stands behind them. In the background, another person is near a table and colorful wall art at the 2025 Annual Meeting. - BioWRAP — *Woashib Shikder (L) with Chris Shearer (C) and David Salem (R)*.

*Jasmeet Kaur (L) with*
*David Salem (R).*

A man and a woman are shaking hands in a modern conference room at the 2025 BioWRAP Annual Meeting. The woman, wearing a name badge and lanyard, holds a small award as they both smile at the camera. Tables and chairs are in the background. - BioWRAP — David Salem (L) with
Anagha Ashok (R).

A smiling woman in a suit receives an award from an older man in a casual outfit at the BioWRAP 2025 Annual Meeting, while others stand and watch in a modern conference room. - BioWRAP — Antonia Gibbs (L) with
David Salem (R).

At the 2025 BioWRAP Annual Meeting, a woman receives an award from an older man in a conference room. A child stands smiling in front of them, while attendees sit at tables with black tablecloths in the background. - BioWRAP — *Kanij Fatema (L) with*
*David Salem (R)*

Two men are shaking hands while one presents a transparent BioWRAP award plaque to the other in a modern, well-lit conference room during the 2025 Annual Meeting. Other people and artwork are visible in the background. - BioWRAP — *Sudan Baral (L) with*
*David Salem (R).*

A woman and an older man smile as they hold a glass award together at the 2025 BioWRAP Annual Meeting in a brightly lit room with tables and abstract art on the walls. Other people and food trays are visible in the background. - BioWRAP — *Kritika Thakur (L) with*
*David Salem (R).*

A Thoughtful Close to an Inspiring Gathering – The meeting concluded with a visit to Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, where the team explored the “Walk Among the Trees” tour, learning about the fascinating ways trees communicate through wind and root systems—a fitting metaphor for the interconnectivity and growth fostered by the BioWRAP collaboration.

The 2025 BioWRAP Annual Meeting marked another meaningful step forward in the project’s evolution—deepening partnerships, cultivating innovation, and laying the groundwork for a more sustainable agricultural future.

Six people sit around a round table in a meeting room, engaged in discussion at the BioWRAP 2025 Annual Meeting. Papers, drinks, and snacks are on the table. The setting appears casual and collaborative. - BioWRAP — *Team members, Heidi Sieverding, Tanvi Govil, Erin Haacker, Chris Proctor, Sudan Baral, and Ram Singh review joint publications and deliverables for the project.*

Six adults sit around a round table in discussion, some using tablets and laptops. Papers, notebooks, drinks, and snacks are on the table. A whiteboard with notes is in the background at the BioWRAP 2025 Annual Meeting. - BioWRAP — *Collaboration Round Table talking project sustainability includes Laura Moley, Woashib Shikder, Kanij Fatema, Michael Madin, Rajesh Sani, Ikenna Onyekwelu, and Manavjot Singh.*

A group of eight people sit and stand around a round table in a large, well-lit room, engaged in discussion at the BioWRAP 2025 Annual Meeting, with papers, notebooks, and drinks on the table. - BioWRAP — *Karina Schoengold, Loren Isom, Antonia Gibbs, Vaishali Sharda, Mohammad Akram, Anagha Ashok, Chris Shearer, and Chittaranjan Ray discuss cross-collaboration on the uses of BioWRAP film*.

Two men sit at a round table with papers, a laptop, and coffee cups, smiling and talking about the 2025 BioWRAP Annual Meeting in a bright room with wooden floors and large windows. - BioWRAP — *Saeid Mahdavinejad and Ian Cummings enjoy a moment during a collaboration exercise.*

Two people stand and talk at a round table with papers, a water bottle, and a laptop during the 2025 BioWRAP Annual Meeting. Others are gathered in the background, suggesting an engaging workshop or collaborative session. - BioWRAP — *Hesam Parsaeian and Chittaranjan Ray take time to discuss future research ideas.*

Two men in business attire sit at a table during the 2025 Annual Meeting, discussing BioWRAP documents. One gestures while the other listens. Several drinks, folders, and papers are on the table, with other attendees talking in the background. - BioWRAP — *Team Post Docs, Ikenna Onyekwelu and Ram Singh talk BioWRAP sustainability*.

Two women stand and talk while holding papers in a meeting room during the 2025 BioWRAP Annual Meeting, as several people sit and converse at tables in the background. The setting is casual and collaborative. - BioWRAP — *Antonia Gibbs (L) and Karina Schoengold (R) share ideas during a brainstorming session.*

A man stands next to large sheets of paper taped to a wall, writing on one with a red marker during what appears to be a group brainstorming session at the BioWRAP Annual Meeting. - BioWRAP — *Hesam Parsaeian adds to the Ripple Effect Mapping exercise.*

At the Annual Meeting 2025, a man in a suit stands and speaks into a microphone at an indoor event, while others sit and listen around him at tables. - BioWRAP — *Rajesh Sani contributes to the discussion during the sustainability session.*