Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Associate Specialist Pedro Andrade Sanchez leads the statewide program to increase the efficiency of mechanized agricultural operations. Here he tests equipment to evaluate plant growth status in the field. Extension activities of Pedro and other ABE faculty aim to impact growers and farmers throughout the state.

Biosystems engineering students gain hands on experience especially working in the ABE Department machine shop.

Dr. Donald Slack was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering in Agricultural Engineering by Khon Kaen University, Thailand. ABE faculty has an impact all across the globe.

Every day, a typical municipal water company must deliver many thousands of gallons of fresh, potable water to its customers. To make sure the water is safe to drink, water-quality engineers must add the proper amounts of beneficial chemicals such as chlorine and fluoride. The Water Distribution Laboratory examines these chemicals experimentally and computationally to determine how they will mix and spread throughout the water as the water travels on through the pipe network.

As a part of our ongoing algae biofuel research efforts, researchers have been developing a computer model that will help them to design optimal raceways and establish operational criteria. The model will also enable scientists to identify the warm-climate algal species that can best thrive in the American Southwest.

Students learn advanced concepts in evaluating soils for installing onsite wastewater treatment (septic) systems. Sixteen advanced students from around the state participated in a 2-day course in Payson, AZ, to learn about issues relating to soil and site evaluation of onsite wastewater treatment systems. This new offering by the University of Arizona’s Onsite Wastewater Education Program, directed by Dr. Kitt Farrell-Poe of the Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering Department, provided classroom and field experience. Here you see students in soil pits evaluating the soil for texture, structure, and consistence. For more...

Flow-resistant HUVEC adhesion with nanostructured ensemble surface.

Wire-guided microdrop PCR allows <4 min thermocycling.

Track & tranport H1N1 in classroom with LOC device.

The Air Accordion reactor is a photobioreactor for the production of green algae biomass that may be used as animal feed, nutraceuticals (e.g. Omega 3 fatty acids), or Biofuels.

Upcoming Events

Monday, August 26, 2013 (All day) - Fall Semester Begins

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Recent ABE and University News

Sustainable Farming Vital for Food Security, Alleviation of Poverty

Dr. Turki Faisal Al Rasheed who has a joint appointment in ABE as well as Chairman of Golden Grass Inc. has been invited to be a guest speaker at the upcoming Commonwealth Business Forum 2013 to be held in Colombo on November 12-14. read more

ABE New Student Graduate Orientation

New Student Orientation for Graduate Students will be held Friday, August 23rd. Please contact Dava Jondall at davaj@email.arizona.edu to reserve your spot today! This orientation will provide you with information that will assist with the transition to the ABE program as well as the university.

OFA Short Course in Columbus, Ohio

As one of the largest of its kind, the OFA Short Course will be held July 13-16 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. OFA's focus was recently expanded to various horticultural applications including food crop production. One special workshops relevant to CEA food crop production features CEAC's own Chieri Kubota

Happy 90th Birthday, Steward Observatory

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the UA's Steward Observatory and the department of astronomy. "We have the best location of any educational institution in America. The University ought to make itself famous with a telescope." With those words, part of his long and persistent effort to bring a world-class observatory to the UA campus, pioneering astronomer Andrew Ellicott Douglass set...

A Message from UA President Hart Regarding Yarnell Hill Fire Victims

By now most of the University of Arizona community will have heard of the loss of the 19 brave firefighters who perished this weekend in the Yarnell Hill Fire in Yavapai County. Please join me in expressing our deep sympathy and sorrow to their families and friends. Our thoughts and prayers also go out to the many Yarnell residents who, in addition to grieving for the loss of the fallen heroes,...

UA Ranked Among Top 100 Universities in World

The UA was named one of the top 100 universities in the world by the Center for World University Rankings. Recognized for publishing highly cited research in influential journals, the University was 78th on the worldwide list and 49th among American universities.

UA President Hart Joins Other University Leaders to Call on Congress, President Obama to Close Innovation Deficit

The nationwide university community has launched an effort to urge Washington to restore investments in research and education that ensure America’s role as innovation leader, power the economy and create jobs. UA President Ann Weaver Hart has joined other leaders in the call.