ThinkSwiss & Fulbright Alumni 2023 - Daytime Activities

This year again, join your peers for the day activity! We have put together an exciting program which will take all participants to 2 locations

Morning departure from the Embassy, anticipated return around 4pm. More precise travel times will be announced later.

Part 1: Visit to the National Institute of Health (NIH), specifically, the National institute of Childhood Diseases and Human Development (NICHD), Bethesda Maryland

Scientists use a variety of laboratory techniques to investigate the genetic cause of human diseases. Research often utilizes patients’ cells or tissue samples, but to determine if a mutation in a specific gene can cause a patient’s symptoms, scientists often need experimental animal models. This is where Zebrafish come in.

There are 3 sites at the NICHD we will visit:

• Aquatics Facility tour

• Filtration and Feed prep tour

• NHGRI Zebrafish Core Lab tour: To talk about use of zebrafish in Biomedical research.

Lunch at noon, Ellicott City, MD

Part 2: Central Maryland Research and Education Center (CMREC) Headquarters, use of drones in agriculture

For over six years, University of Maryland Extension (UME) researchers have been studying the various uses of drone technology for growers in Maryland, as well as the environmental and economic impacts it has on farm and nursery operations. These studies have also ushered in the excitement of a new UAV (or drone) school catered to growers, developed by Stanton Gill, Extension specialist in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Entomology at the Central Maryland Research and Education Center, and co-developed with David Clement, Extension specialist in Plant Pathology, and Andrew Ristvey, Extension specialist in commercial horticulture.

Presenters:

• Dr. Stanton Gill, Entomologist at the University of Maryland

• Kirk Floyd of KDrones – demonstration of drone technology in the field

• Dr. Dave Clement, plant pathologist at the University of Maryland

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Embassy of Switzerland, 2900 Cathedral Avenue Northwest, Washington, United States