ACES 2020 Funk Awards recipients recognized

URBANA, Ill. - Each year the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences recognizes faculty, staff, and graduate students who have demonstrated outstanding achievements or exceptional service to the college.

The awards program was established in 1970 by the Paul A. Funk Foundation of Bloomington, as a memorial to the late Paul A. Funk, who attended the college as a member of the class of 1929 and devoted his life to agriculture.

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Celebrating our diversity

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – It is snowing again, and I turn to look through the bus window as it slowly pulls into the final stop. I hide my face in my scarf, hoping to stop the cold air sneaking in. It has been almost six years since I moved to the Midwest from Taiwan, but I still cannot deal with winter and snow. Once off the bus, I follow footprints to the Wildlife Veterinary Epidemiology Laboratory and push open the glass door.

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Low-income households get nutritious food from food banks, study shows

URBANA, Ill. – Millions of Americans vulnerable to hunger receive support from public food assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). But they also rely on private charities such as Feeding America, the umbrella organization for food banks across the country.

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Ribeye-eating pigs demonstrate protein quality for humans

URBANA, Ill. – Nearly a decade ago, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) developed a new index to assess protein quality in foods. The goal, writ large, was to address food security for the world’s most vulnerable populations, creating more accurate tools for food assistance programs seeking to provide balanced nutrition.

Hans H. Stein at the University of Illinois knew he could help.

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Lessons in green schoolyards benefit kindergarteners, especially girls

URBANA, Ill. – Amid one of the strangest back-to-school seasons in modern history, many teachers, parents, and caregivers are struggling to enrich their students’ experiences beyond screen-based learning. A new study from University of Illinois researchers suggests daily outdoor lessons in green spaces could boost self-regulation in young children, setting them up for greater academic and social-emotional success.

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Maternal food insecurity linked to post-partum depression in Canada

URBANA, Ill. – Canadian women who experience food insecurity during pregnancy have increased risk of post-partum depression, and their children have higher frequency of emergency room visits, according to a new study from the University of Illinois and the University of Toronto.

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Dariotis joins Family Resiliency Center as director

URBANA, Ill. - Jacinda K. Dariotis has joined the Family Resiliency Center (FRC) at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as director and as Pampered Chef Ltd. Endowed Chair in Family Resiliency in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES). She began the new role Aug. 16.

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Contextual engineering adds deeper perspective to local projects

URBANA, Ill. – When engineers develop drinking water systems, they often expect their technology and expertise to work in any context. But project success depends as much on the people and place as on technical design, says Ann-Perry Witmer, lecturer in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) and research scientist at the Applied Research Institute at University of Illinois.

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John W. Santas, former assistant dean of academic programs, passes away

John W. Santas devoted much of his career to facilitating international opportunities and study abroad programs. Santas, former assistant dean of academic programs in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) passed away on July 23, 2020, at the age of 80.

Santas worked for 25 years at the University of Illinois, managing the training and education components of a variety of international projects and programs.

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Emergency research grant studies how coronavirus affects food systems in the U.S.

Urbana, Ill.–– The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is highlighting food system deficiencies. While the food system is successfully providing for Americans during this crisis, many are encountering empty grocery shelves. Simultaneously, producers are struggling to reach consumers due to concerns with processing, distribution and demand.

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