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NEWS RELEASE

09-30-02

Contacts:
Helen Jensen, Economics, (515) 294-6253
Pat Miller, Lectures, (515) 294-9935
Teddi Barron, News Service, (515) 294-4778

NOBEL LAUREATE NORMAN BORLAUG TO SPEAK AT ISU OCTOBER 15

AMES, Iowa -- Norman Borlaug, who won the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for a lifetime of work to feed a hungry world, will present the first annual Borlaug Lecture, 8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Iowa State University. His talk, "Feeding a World of Ten Billion People: Our 21st Century Challenge," will be in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union. It is free and open to the public.

In 1944, Borlaug began work as a research scientist in a pioneering technical assistance program in Mexico. For the next 16 years, he worked to solve a series of wheat production problems that were limiting wheat cultivation. Borlaug developed new wheat varieties and improved crop management practices that transformed agricultural production in Mexico and later in Asia and Latin America. His work sparked what today is known as the "Green Revolution."

Borlaug also is the founder of the World Food Prize, an international award recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced human developments by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.

Borlaug is a native of Cresco, Iowa. He earned his bachelor's and doctoral degrees at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Lecture attendees are invited to attend a reception in the Memorial Union from 7 to 8 p.m. Undergraduate and graduate students conducting research related to World Food Prize themes will display posters.

The World Food Prize, based in Des Moines, created a statewide series of lectures and academic programs to be held at higher education institutions in Iowa each October, at the time of the World Food Prize presentation and symposium. Named for Borlaug, the series honors his accomplishments and highlights contributions of those who have worked toward the goal of a nutritious and sustainable food supply for all people.

In coming years, Iowa State's Borlaug Lecture will feature a previous World Food Prize winner or a leader in research related to World Food Prize themes.

The first annual Borlaug Lecture at Iowa State is sponsored by the President's Office and the Lectures program and coordinated by The Nutritional Sciences Council. For more information, contact the ISU Lectures program, (515) 294-9935.

The ISU Lectures program is sponsored by the Government of the Student Body and by the ISU Committee on Lectures.

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