Colorado State University Professor Recognized with National Award for Gps Systsem Farming Programs

Rajiv Khosla, an associate professor and Colorado State University Cooperative Extension specialist, recently received international recognition at the annual American Society of Agronomy meeting. The annual award, the 2005 American Society of Agronomy Syngenta Crop Protection Recognition Award, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the agronomic profession. Khosla’s work in innovative teaching, research and outreach education earned him the honor.

Khosla was presented with the award on Nov. 6 in Salt Lake City at the meeting, which was held in conjunction with the Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America. With the award, Khosla will receive a trip to Syngenta facilities in Europe next summer.

Khosla teaches precision agriculture at Colorado State University and also teaches outreach classes to Colorado’s farmers to help them adopt the technology to their own businesses. He directs a degree program unique to Colorado State University.

The program, which grants degrees in applied information technology in agriculture, is the only program of its kind in the United States. He recently developed more than 20 three-dimensional computer animated instructional modules on using GPS and GIS systems in agriculture. The modules are used in classroom settings as well as in educational opportunities for farmers. The modules secured an Award of Excellence for Khosla from the American Society of Agronomy’s Educational Materials Awards Program in 2004.

"Dr. Khosla is truly one of the most motivated and remarkably successful young scientists I have known in my 35-year career," said Gary Peterson, head of the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.

Khosla earned his bachelor’s from the University of Allahabad in India and a master’s and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech. Khosla is responsible for precision agriculture research, Colorado State Cooperative Extension educational programs on the topic, and teaching precision agriculture at Colorado State.

Khosla has established a comprehensive research and Cooperative Extension education program in precision agriculture at Colorado State. The program involves partnerships with government agencies and has been recognized nationally and internationally. His research and teaching focus on managing soil and crops using global positioning satellite systems, geographic information systems and remote sensing.

Khosla has presented invited lectures and research presentations in  several countries including Argentina, Germany, India, Mexico and Sweden. He has earned numerous national and international awards including the Outstanding Young Scientist Award in 2003 from the Soil Science Society of America and the same award in 2004 from the Agricultural Scientists of Indian Origin.

Khosla also has been recognized with the Outstanding Early Career Award presented by Cooperative Extension’s professional fraternity, Epsilon Sigma Phi. He also was recently recognized with the highest teaching award in the College of Agricultural Sciences – the Charles N. Shepardson Teaching Award.

Khosla is the associate editor of the Soil Science Society of America Journal and reviews various leading international journal articles. He is president of the Gamma Sigma Delta National Honor Society for Agriculture at Colorado State.

The Syngenta award is administered by ASA and supported through a contribution by Syngenta to the Agronomic Science Foundation.

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