06/02/2025
Congratulations to our own Director Hikmet Budak for serving the students. https://www.azwestern.edu/news/director-agriculture-dr-hikmet-budak-presents-international-plant-and-animal-genome-conference
Dr. Hikmet Budak, Director of Agriculture Programs at Arizona Western College, recently hosted a workshop at the International Plant and Animal Genome Conference (PAG 32) in San Diego, Calif. Renowned as the largest ag-genomics meeting globally, PAG 32 featured the best minds in the industry and showcased the latest information and scientific breakthroughs in plant and animal genomics.
This was the first year that an AWC workshop proposal has been accepted for the prestigious conference. The workshop, titled, “Fostering Curiosity: Engaging Students to Lifelong Education and Research,” addressed four key areas: student wellness, education, research, and leadership opportunities worldwide. Dr. Budak received glowing reviews from workshop participants and was invited to facilitate it again at next year’s conference.
“The workshop was very engaging and interactive,” Dr. Budak shared. “I was very excited to see that our workshop attracted many students and professors from all over the world.”
In addition to facilitating the AWC workshop, Dr. Budak spoke in another presentation about “Sequencing and editing microRNAs and LncRNAs using Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence.” He has been invited to speak at the conference for over 10 years.
“We are thrilled that our Agriculture Director attended the Plant and Animal Genome Conference accompanied by one of our outstanding students,” commented Reetika Dhawan, Vice President for Workforce Development and Career & Technical Education at Arizona Western College. “Attending events like PAG 32 ensures that Yuma, AZ, especially our faculty and staff, remains engaged with state-of-the-art technology and advancements in agricultural genomics. The conference provided a unique opportunity to learn from world-class speakers and access cutting-edge research, further strengthening our commitment to excellence in education and workforce readiness.”
PAG 32 took place in San Diego, Calif. from January 10th to 15th, 2025.
