IDAAS Graduate Student Association

IDAAS Graduate Student Association (IDAAS GSA) is a new student organization focused on advancing learning, collaboration, and professional development in digital agriculture.

Open to graduate students from all academic disciplines, the organization will bring together students interested in the future of agriculture and emerging technologies. Through networking events, professional development opportunities, industry engagement, educational programs, and community-building activities, members will gain valuable experience while expanding their knowledge and professional connections.

The IDAAS GSA will also work closely with IDAAS to support institute initiatives, events, and outreach efforts, helping strengthen Purdue's digital agriculture community while preparing students for careers in a rapidly evolving agricultural workforce.

How to Join

IDAAS GSA is open to all graduate students at Purdue University - West Lafayette who are interested in digital agriculture. There is no formal application process. To become a member, simply attend one of our meetings or events, introduce yourself, and get involved.

Members who are interested in a leadership role may run for an officer position. Officer elections are held annually, and any active member who meets the requirements for a specific position may run or be nominated

To learn more about the association, upcoming events, and opportunities to get involved, visit our official Purdue BoilerLink page

For questions, contact volpato@purdue.edu or digitalag@purdue.edu

Building Momentum: Purdue's 2nd Annual SyDAg and Hackathon Weekend Returns

2025 SyDAg Symposium – Panel Discussion: “Innovation and Impacts Today: The Foundations for Tomorrow,” featuring Ankita Raturi, Claudia Nari, Kaitlin Gold, Josh Bailey, and Lukas Koch.

Following the success of Purdue University's inaugural Symposium of Digital Agriculture (SyDAg) and Hackathon Weekend, members of the newly established IDAAS Graduate Student association is preparing to welcome attendees to the 2nd Annual SyDAg and Hackathon Weekend, strengthening a growing tradition of student-driven innovation in digital agriculture. The events are designed to bring together students, researchers, growers, industry professionals and technology leaders to explore how emerging digital and AI-powered tools can address challenges across modern agriculture.

Hosted with support from Purdue University's Institute for Digital and Advanced Agricultural Systems (IDAAS) and numerous academic and industry partners, the weekend will begin with the SyDAg Hackathon in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) from September 25-27, followed by the 2nd Symposium of Digital Agriculture on September 28 at the Beck Agricultural Center in West Lafayette. The 2026 symposium theme, “Growing with AI," highlights the increasing role of artificial intelligence in agricultural decision-making, production systems, and technology adoption.

Last year's inaugural event demonstrated what can happen when students are empowered to lead conversations around the future of agriculture. This year, we're building on that foundation by creating even more opportunities for hands-on learning, collaboration and professional networking.

The vision for SyDAg remains focused on building a future where digital agriculture is impactful, intuitive and accessible, while the symposium's mission is to create a hands-on, student-led experience that encourages meaningful conversations and showcases practical applications of emerging technologies.

Reflecting on a successful first year

The inaugural SyDAg in 2025 established a strong foundation for growth. The event welcomed approximately 140 attendees from academia, industry, and research organizations, while also featuring more than 35 research posters, an interactive technology showcase with over 10 industry and organizational partners, and the first-ever SyDAg Hackathon. The symposium and hackathon awarded more than $5,000 in student prizes and travel support and highlighted innovative solutions to real-world agricultural challenges.

The 2025 symposium also featured opening remarks from Purdue’s former President Mung Chiang and College of Agriculture Dean Bernie Engel, alongside presentations from university researchers, industry experts and agricultural innovators. In addition, posters were archived through Purdue e-Pubs, creating a permanent, accessible record of student and researcher contributions.

That momentum now carries into the second annual event, with organizers aiming to expand participation and deepen connections across disciplines.

Hackathon Weekend

2025 SyDAg Hackathon – Participants came together for a weekend of innovation, collaboration, and digital agriculture.

The SyDAg Hackathon will take place September 25-27 in ABE, where students from diverse backgrounds will collaborate in teams to develop innovative solutions to challenges facing modern agriculture. Participants will have the opportunity to apply skills in agriculture, engineering, data analytics, computer science, and artificial intelligence while working directly on practical problems relevant to growers and industry stakeholders.

Throughout the weekend, teams will engage with mentors, refine their concepts, and present their solutions to judges, continuing SyDAg's commitment to turning innovative ideas into meaningful impact. All of this is made possible by our sponsors: Bayer, AgriNovus, Purdue Research Services, and IoT4Ag.

SyDAg 2026

SyDAg Symposium – The organizing team, made up of students from Purdue’s College of Agriculture, came together to create an incredible event focused on innovation, collaboration, and the future of digital agriculture.

The 2nd Symposium of Digital Agriculture will be held on September 28, 2026, at the Beck Agricultural Center. The symposium will bring together researchers, educators, growers, startups, and industry professionals to explore how AI and digital technologies are reshaping agriculture.

Attendees will hear from a distinguished lineup of speakers, including keynote presenter William Aderholdt, co-founder and executive director of Grand Farm, alongside leaders from Purdue University, the University of Illinois, Cornell University and agricultural industry organizations. Sessions will explore the opportunities and challenges associated with AI adoption, digital decision-support tools and the future of agricultural innovation.

The symposium will also continue the popular poster session, providing students and researchers an opportunity to share their work, build professional connections, and showcase innovations that are shaping the future of food and agriculture. Consistent with the symposium's mission, the event seeks to create accessible pathways for understanding emerging technologies while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and workforce development.

A key feature of this year’s symposium will be an expanded technology showcase, where industry partners will demonstrate emerging digital agriculture tools, including drones, robotics and other innovative technologies. Participants will have the opportunity to see these technologies in action through live field demonstrations, interact directly with industry leaders and learn more about how these innovations are being applied to address real-world challenges in agriculture.

As SyDAg continues to grow in its second year, the event remains committed to fostering collaboration among students, researchers, industry leaders and growers while advancing innovation in digital agriculture. The success of SyDAg would not be possible without the invaluable support of our sponsors. We proudly recognize and thank Corteva, John Deere, Bayer, Agri Spray Drones, Purdue College of Agriculture, Hunsinger Ag Solutions, BRANDT, CNH, Indiana Corn, Indiana Soybean Alliance, Robotics, Solinftec, Purdue Agriculture Alumni Association, AgriNovus, IoT4Ag, Purdue Research Services, Consolidated Grain and Barge, Spraytec, and Beck's for helping make this student-led initiative a reality.