Purdue University College of Agriculture

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University’s Institute for Digital and Advanced Agricultural Systems (IDAAS) is at the forefront of integrating data-driven technologies into agriculture, serving as a platform for groundbreaking innovation. By connecting the brightest minds in academia and industry, IDAAS underscores Purdue’s commitment to shaping the future of agricultural systems. To celebrate this mission, the institute will host a panel discussion and networking event Dec. 11 in Purdue’s Stewart Center titled “Advancing the Digital Technology Revolution for Agriculture.”

Sophia Dasaro was 8 when she accompanied her mother, who works in human resources for a pharmaceutical company, on Bring your Child to Work Day. The lab coats that staff wore captured Dasaro’s imagination, and she resolved to have one of her own someday. The New Jersey native was the first in her immediate family to attend a traditional four-year college so relied on advice from a high school guidance counselor who told her, “You have good grades in science and math. Go find an engineering school.” Dasaro found Purdue and selected it for its affordability and reputation. She also joined a group chat of other newly admitted students. “Some of the people I met in those group chats are my friends to this day,” she says. After completing her undergraduate degree in ABE in 2022, Dasaro prepared to enter industry. “But I felt this pull,” she says. “I loved the academic environment and learning, and I wanted to have a deeper understanding of the field I was going into.” Her Purdue professors encouraged her to apply to graduate programs, Purdue among them. “What really solidified the choice was interacting with the different advisor opportunities at Purdue,” she says. She began PhD studies in 2022 with Kurt Ristroph, assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering. “Beyond work, he cares deeply about his graduate students’ personal well-being and success,” she says.

This year, the Purdue Agriculture TEAM Award, which has recognized the interdisciplinary team achievements of faculty and staff since 1995, has been awarded to the Gearing Up for Safety: Production Agricultural Safety Training for Youth initiative. This program addresses the specific safety needs of young workers in agriculture – a sector often associated with hazardous tasks, especially for youth under the age of 16.