IITA is thrilled to announce that IITA Eastern Africa Hub Director and Biotechnology Program Lead Leena Tripathi has been elected a fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS). This prestigious recognition celebrates her significant contributions to bioscience and agricultural biotechnology.
Tripathi’s outstanding research efforts have earned her this distinction from the AAS Governing Council following rigorous evaluations of nominations submitted for the 2022 AAS Fellowship. Her dedication to crop improvement, including work on banana and plantain, cassava, and yam, has been instrumental in addressing crop diseases, ensuring food security, and improving livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.
“The election to the African Academy of Sciences is a profound honor. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of my team at IITA and our collective commitment to advancing agricultural biotechnology for food security and improved livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa. I am deeply grateful and inspired to continue our efforts in transforming agriculture through innovative technologies,” said Tripathi.
The technologies developed under Tripathi’s leadership at IITA, such as robust genetic transformation platforms, have been pivotal in increasing productivity and nutrition security. Her team’s efforts in creating transgenic and gene-edited products are being transferred to national agricultural research systems across sub-Saharan Africa. Tripathi’s global collaborations span leading laboratories in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and Africa.
Tripathi’s international recognition is further highlighted by her election as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the AAS. These accolades underscore her pivotal role in advancing IITA’s research and its positive impacts on communities. Her commitment to agricultural biotechnology and multidisciplinary endeavors underscore her dedication to tackling global food security issues.
The African Academy of Sciences congratulated Tripathi, acknowledging her critical role in enhancing agricultural productivity through innovative technologies such as transgenic and gene-edited crops. Her collaboration with other scientists has significantly impacted food security and nutrition, benefiting farming communities, particularly in East Africa.
The selection process for the AAS Fellowship involved multi-level reviews by the AAS Membership Advisory Committees (MACs) in various fields of specialization. The penultimate step was voting by the academy fellows, with final recommendations submitted to the AAS Governing Council for endorsement.
The AAS highlights the benefits and obligations of its fellows, including the honor of being elected to a continental academy and membership in the General Assembly, the highest decision-making body of the AAS.
Contributed by Hadi Rashid
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