Summary - Green Solutions for Future Public Health Leaders: International PhytoScholars Program -
2024
We will train and inspire the next generation of professionals and academic researchers in public
health protection as part of the 18th Annual International Phytotechnologies Conference. We plan to
support student participation in the International Phytotechnologies Scholars Program to be held in
October 2024 at the University of Calicut, Kerala, India. The conference is hosted by the International
Phytotechnology Society (IPS), that also develops and executes the PhytoScholars Program.
PhytoScholars is a unique student-oriented scholars program for green solutions for public health
protection with the overarching goal to inspire and train future leaders in green solutions. Phytoscholars
program has the following objectives:
• To increases knowledge of the broader roles of phytotechnologies in the concurrent protection
of public health, risk assessment and the improvement of ecosystem function;
• To provide students with professional skills and development opportunities and the chance to
network with international professionals working in the field of phytotechnologies;
• To directly support student training, international engagement, mentorship and education in
phytotechnologies and sustainable technologies as strategies for environmental remediation,
management, and stewardship.
As part of this program, students will be supported to attend the conference by offering support for
partial coverage of travel and lodging fees for an expected 15 selected scholars. PhytoScholars will be
offered the opportunity to travel and will directly interact with international leaders in public health
protection to learn scientifically and grow professionally. All PhytoScholars will be tasked to offer a
presentation, meet professional leaders, offer specified feedback, and meet learning objectives, which
include not only scientific objectives but also cultural and professional development objectives. All
PhytoScholars’ presentations will be evaluated by a minimum of two professional leaders, many listed
below. The selection process will aim to invite applicants in groups underrepresented in STEM fields. The
selection committee, listed below, is a diverse group of accomplished scholars that has interacted with
past conferences and PhytoScholars programs. All selection committee members will be invited to the
conference to offer talks and engage with the PhytoScholars.
Table 1. Selection committee for ‘Green Solutions for Public Health Leaders of the Future: International
PhytoScholars Program - 2024 - 2024’.
Name and nationality Affiliation
Basis for participation on
selection committee
Barbara Zeeb (Canada)
Professor, Chemistry and Chemical
Engineering, Royal Military College of
Canada IPS President
Liz Rylott (UK) Senior Researcher, University of York (UK) IPS Executive Vice President
Matt Limmer (USA)
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of
Delaware
IPS Treasurer and former
PhytoScholar
Azam Noori (USA)
Associate Professor, Merrimack College
(USA) IPS Vice President
Jos Puthur (India)
Professor, University of Calicut, Kerala
(India) Conference Co-Chair and Host
Om Parkash Dhankher
(USA)
Professor, University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA (USA) Conference Co-Chair and Host
Elena Maestri (Italy) Research Professor, Università di Parma IPS Secretary
Lee Newman (USA)
Associate Professor and Chair of
Chemistry, SUNY-ESF Syracuse IPS Past President
Joel Burken (USA)
Professor, Missouri University of Science
and Technology
PhytoScholars PI and Founder,
IPS Board
