Texas A&M AgriLife Research administrators and leaders from two Italian universities recently joined in signing formal memorandums of understanding that marked the beginning of official cooperation among the three entities and the Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI).
The Rector of the Polytechnic University of Bari (POLIBA) Francesco Cupertino, Ph.D., and Professors of the University of Bari Aldo Moro (UNIBA) Raffaele Lafortezza, Ph.D., and Francesco Gentile, Ph.D., together with Texas A&M AgriLife Research Director Cliff Lamb, Ph.D., signed the two memorandums of understanding Sept. 2 at Texas A&M University.
“We are honored to help formalize international collaborations with TWRI, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the Polytechnic University of Bari and the University of Bari Aldo Moro,” said TWRI Director Giovanni Piccinni, Ph.D. “We have been developing these plans with our colleagues in Italy for months and are thrilled to begin exchanging doctoral student opportunities and research opportunities.”
The agreement paves the way for new scientific collaborations, student and faculty exchanges, and joint projects in the agricultural technology and water sectors.
“These partnerships are beginning with Ph.D. students from Italy coming here to study, and Texas A&M Ph.D. students studying abroad in Italy,” Piccinni said. “Italy and Texas have numerous water-related challenges in common, including salinity and agricultural production demands, and we have numerous opportunities to conduct mutually beneficial research.”
The delegation from Italy toured facilities in Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M RELLIS Innovation and Tech Campus, Texas A&M Biological and Agricultural Engineering department, the Texas A&M Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Environmental, Water Resources and Coastal Engineering division, and the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas.
