People

• Peter Jennings: luck is the residue of design
  Peter Jennings, the International Rice Research Institute’s first rice breeder (1961-67), with a long career in Latin America after his work in Asia, kicks off this historic series with a singular wit. He played a major role in the development of IR8, the rice variety that would ultimately change the face of agriculture across Asia (see Breeding History on pages 34-38 of Rice Today Vol. 5, No. 4). He reminisced on a warm, muggy day (20 July 2007) at his home in Gainesville, Florida. Here are edited highlights of the interview.
  Conducted by Gene Hettel
  View full (edited) interview transcript with photos and hotlinks: html; pdf

• Where science meets art
  As he prepares for retirement after 15 years at the International Rice Research Institute, molecular biologist John Bennett reveals himself as a scientist who not only appreciates art—he blurs the distinction between art and science.
  By Meg Meg Mondoņedo

• Letting a hundred flowers bloom
  As deputy director general for research at the International Rice Research Institute, Ren Wang was instrumental in elevating both international partnerships and research capacity
  By Duncan Macintosh

• Pushing things forward
  Agricultural economist Mahabub Hossain retires from international work to pursue his dream for his home country of Bangladesh.
  By Meg Mondoņedo

• The quiet achiever
  Recently retired rice scientist Vethaiya Balasubramanian has spent his life helping people--and he's not going to let retirement stop him
  by Trina Leah Mendoza

• Steinbeck and a calling
  Noel Magor’s focus on marginal farmers in Bangladesh derives from his childhood on a modest Australian farm, his experience of famine in Ethiopia, and a classic tale of dust bowl America
  by Rebecca Khelseau-Carskby
  
  
• All in the genes
  Like the plants they produce, plant breeders seem to be strong, healthy, and productive. Thailand’s renowned rice breeder Surapong Sarkarung confirms that it takes more than retirement to keep a good breeder down
  by Bob Hill

• A hybrid pioneer
  Over the past 3 decades, Sant Singh Virmani — the man who put hybrid rice on the map in tropical Asia — fought a winning battle to help feed the hungry and poor
  by Adam Barclay and Samjhana Shrestha

• A tale of a Texas farm boy
  Ronald P. Cantrell, the Texas farm boy made good, heads home after more than 6 years at the helm of the International Rice Research Institute
  by Leharne Fountain
  
  
• The tao of Tom
  Ronald P. Cantrell, the Texas farm boy made good, heads home after more than 6 years at the helm of the International Rice Research Institute
  by Leharne Fountain