Learning about current research and scientific practices was a highlight of my fellowship with Bayer CropScience. Prior to my time at Bayer, I had little background knowledge of the agriculture industry itself so I was prepared to spend time learning a significant amount of new information. What I had not considered was the immense innovation of technology in agricultural science. Taking only intro level science courses in college life, physical, and earth sciences have always felt separated to me. This summer I was able to see all of these sciences applied through the agriculture industry. It makes sense that this application of technology is necessary because according to statistics shared with me at Bayer, worldwide we will need to produce 60% more food than we do today in order to sustain the anticipated population growth.

After spending time with the EnSa (environmental safety) team, I had a better sense of how numbers of such small value could have great meaning. The EnSa team works to understand what happens to a pesticide in nature and analyzes samples to detect levels of pesticides on food/water. I spent time learning about what would be equivalent to a ppm (part per million) and ppb (part per billion). An equivalent to 1 ppb is a single drop of a substance in a gasoline tanker. The resources that the EnSa team has at its disposal can detect traces of pesticides at this level. This learning was particularly exciting for me to think about because in fifth grade math we encounter values at this level. Working with the EnSa team to learn about how they use these small values in their findings to create risk assessments was a neat way to think about how such tiny numbers are applied on a daily basis.

The research that the EnSa team is conducting to determine the impact of pesticides on soil and water sources after hours, days, months, and even years of initial and repeated applications is critical for the product cycle. Our culture is hyperaware of the facts that it wants to be aware of in relation to pesticide use and the EnSa research can be used to support the work being conducted at Bayer that may otherwise be criticized. It was new for me to consider how strong the connection between research and public relations could be for a company. Of course, I must also consider that the research is conducted in the depth that it is mainly due to EPA standards and regulations and not for the sole purpose of public relations, but it was an interesting connection to consider nonetheless.