President Choi's Blog

A day of discovery with NSF Director Panchanathan

April 25, 2023


A photo of President Choi, University of Missouri Board of Curators Chair Michael Williams, NSF Director Panchanathan, Vice Chair Robin Wenneker, and Nobel laureate George Smith.
(Left to right) President Choi, University of Missouri Board of Curators Chair Michael Williams, NSF Director Panchanathan, Board Vice Chair Robin Wenneker and Nobel Laureate George Smith.

On Monday, we launched the President’s Distinguished Lecture Series with Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan, the 15th director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), as the inaugural speaker. University of Missouri Board of Curators Chair Michael Williams, Vice Chair Robin Wenneker, chancellors from UM System universities and many elected officials joined a packed house in Monsanto Auditorium.

During his energetic presentation, Dr. Panchanathan shared his vision for partnerships that support opportunity across the nation. He specifically cited Mizzou research excellence, including NSF-funded work by Curators’ Distinguished Professor Ron Mittler and Associate Professor David G. Mendoza-Cózatl. Their study of how plants respond to iron deficiencies has the potential to improve human nutrition. As the event concluded, we presented Dr. Panchanathan with a personalized Mizzou Football jersey.

A photo of Dr. Panchanathan at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) with Robert Moller (NSF chief of government affairs), MU administrators and MURR faculty and staff.
Dr. Panchanathan also toured the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR). He was joined by Robert Moller (NSF chief of government affairs), MU administrators and MURR faculty and staff.

NSF is the only government agency charged with advancing all fields of scientific discovery, technological innovation and STEM education. Throughout the day, Dr. Panchanathan had the opportunity to tour Mizzou and meet with faculty, staff and students, who shared some of their discoveries.

It was the perfect way to kick off the President’s Distinguished Lecture Series, which brings leaders to campus to discuss grand challenges and how MU is positioned to make a difference. I want to thank Dr. Panchanathan for visiting our community.

— Mun