Research in the News
Links to Research stories in the media from work in the Ristaino Lab
Videos and TV
Tracking a Plant Killer: Historical and Scientific Reflections on the Irish Famine Pathogen. Royal Irish Academy, Dublin Ireland, August 20, 2024.
Tracking a Plant Killer: Historical and Scientific Reflections on the Irish Famine Pathogen. Pathologist of Distinction Lecture, August 2023, Denver CO
The Potato Plague: A Painfully Interesting Subject. The Linnean Society, London, May 19th, 2022
Featured Book: Pioneering Women in Plant Pathology. Book review by Sophien Kamoun, Oct 4, 2021
Digital Farming Technologies for Disease Surveillance, Pathogen Detection and Forecasting, NC Crop Protection Conference. Start at 40 min
Plant Aid Video, by Inga Meadows and Duncan McSorley, August 2021
Plant Aid: A data-driven and sensor integrated platform for monitoring plant disease, PSI Forum, Oct 29, 2020
NC State Researchers Working to Detect Plant Disease before they Stirke. May 24, 2021 CBS17 , Raleigh
New smartphone technologes for pathogen detection, Grains Research Development Corporation Meeting, Perth Australia, Feb 2020,
PlantAid: A Big Data Project to detect plant diseases faster
A new way to fight crop diseases with a smart phone
NC State developing new technology that will help farmers detect plant diseases
Scientists are fighting for the Stricken Pickle Against a Tricky Disease, NPR The SALT, Dec. 14 2018
Watch a recording of my seminar on emerging plant diseases for the Global Genetic Engineering and Society Center colloquium here.
Crop Diseases that Threaten your Breakfast: A panel discusssion at Harvard, July 31, 2018
See Jeans Webinar presented at FAO Rome in April 2018 on Emerging Plant Disease: A Threat to Global Food Security
Emerging Diseases Threaten Food Security and Your Breakfast, RTP 180, August 23, 2016. Video link
Emerging Plant Disease in the Context of Ecosystem Services- US Department of State, April 13, 2013 Video link
Emerging Plant Disease: Tackling Global Challenges Agrilinks Video
Genetic Engineering and Society Colloquium. Nov. 4, 2014, Video link
AgriLinks Interview with Jan Leach, June 20, 2013, Video Link
Major Contributions of Early Women Plant Pathologist to our Science: Strategies, Struggles and Success, July 29, 2008, Video Link
CNN Global Challenges Film- Global_56k
Television interview on late blight research –Main_T1
Podcasts
Irish Farmers Weekly Podcast, September 13, 2024. Interview with Jean Ristaino starts at 18:17
Farm to Fork Radio, A Plant Pathology Story, July 6,7 nd 8th, 2021
Plant Pandemics, Top of the Mind Radio with Julie Rose, July 21, 2021
Podcast for Wicked Problems: Wolfpack Solutions, Summer 2020
Oh the Praties they Grow Small- sung by Sarah Ristaino for Wicked Problems:Wolfpack Solutions
Perspectives from Plant Pathologists, Centennial Meeting July 2008, Podcast
Boston Museum of Science Podcast
Pioneering Woman Scientist Eva Sansome Podcast
Potato Famines DNA Deciphered, Sept 18, 2008 Podcast
NPR radio interview with Dr. Jean Ristaino and Richard Harris
Press releases and Printed
Growers urged to be Vigilent for New Potato Blight Strain, Irish Farmers Journal, September 11, 2024.
Towards Better Plant Disease Prediction. NC PSI News, August 21, 2024.
Former Mütter Museum forensic anthropologist launches research institute, WHYY PBS Philadelphia, August 16, 2024.
Evolution of Phytophthora infestans on its Potato Host Since the Irish Potato Famine”. NC State News, August 5, 2024.
Preventing the Next Plant Plague, CALS NEWS, Febuary 19, 2024
Using Written Records – and Tweets – as a Roadmap for Plant Disease Spread, NC State News, February 12, 2024
Plant disease: Mapping the spread of potato blight prior to the Irish potato famine, Nature Scientific Reports, February 15, 2024
NC State researchers Assemble Pathogen “Tree of Life”, NC State News, April 3, 2023.
Mulitfunctional patch Offers Early detection of Plant Disease and Other Crop threats, NC State News, April12, 2023.
Early Detection of Late Blight in Tomato, Southeast FarmPress, October 10, 2022
Connecting field and lab with an eye towards extension, Duncan McSorley Profile October 5, 2022
Plant Science Pioneer Fights Late Blight of the Past and Future, CALS News, March 29, 2022
Phytophthora infestans popullations in Italy- Plant Pathology Highlights, British Society of Plant Pathology website, Dec. 7, 2021
Study Finds Late Blight stoked Outbreaks on Six Continents, Potato Grower Magazine, September 2021
Plant Patch Enables Continuous Moniotring for Crop Disease, July 7, 2021
Irish Potato Famine Pathogen Stoked Outbreaks on Six Continents, July 11, 2021
Study Highights the need to Prevent Plant Pandemics, SouthAsia Media Network, May 22, 2021
Preventing the Spread of Plant Pandemics, McGill University, May 21, 2021
Plant Pandemics are on the Rise, Popular Science, May 26, 2021,
Plant Disease Pandemicis and How they Could Endanger our Food Supply: Scientists Sound the Alarm on a Growing Menance, May 22, 2021. The Washington Post
To Preserve Global Food Security, New tools Needed to Prevent Plant DIsease Pandemics, May 17, 2021
PlantAid: A Grip4PSI Big Data Project to Detect Plant Diseases Faster, NCSU Press Release, April 29, 2020
A new way to fight crop diseases with a smart phone, New York Times, July 30, 2019
AAAS Announces Leading Scientists Elected Fellow in 2020, November 24, 2020
Portable Tech sniffs out plant diseases in the field, July 29, 2019
New Microneedle Technique Speeds Plant Disease Detection, June 10, 2019
Patterson and Ristaino receive awards for international impact, April 29, 2019
Jean Ristaino wins 2019 NC State Global Engagement Award, April 24, 2019
Faculty Focus: Jean Ristaino wins Fulbright Award
Read about my recent sabbatical to the University of Catania in Italy in Phytopathology News.
Washington Post, Genetics Say Origin of Irish potato blight was South America, newspaper link
Study Provides Evidence on Movement of Potato Famine Pathogen, Dec 28, 2016. Press release link
CALS Professor to Speak at Darwin Day, Febuary 8, 2016, Press release link
Study Provides More Evidence Irish Potato Famine Causing Pathogen Originated in South America, Press release Link
Irish Potato Famine Pathogen More Virulent then Ever, Press release link
Interns learn valuable life lessons studying tropical plant pathology in Costa Rica, March 2, 2013, Press release link
Ristaino Named Jefferson Fellow at State Department, July 20, 2012, Press release link
Taking the bite out of blight, April 7, 2011, Press release link
Potato Famine Research Exhibit on Display at the US Botanic Gardens, Sept, 3, 2010, Press release link
ABC News Samples from Irish potato blight may shed light on Crop Killer, Press release
Researcher Identifies Pathogen Strain responsible for the Irish Potato Famine, press release
Smithsoniam Magazine, The Sherlock of Spuds: Smithsonian.com
Smithsoniam MagazineScientists finally pinpoint the pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine Smithsonian.com
National Geographic News Magazine
PCR Amplification of the Irish Potato Famine Pathogen from Historic Specimens Nature.com
Forensics Shifts Blame for Blight, Nature News
Museum piece: PCR identifies Irish Potato Famine Pathogen Nature Highlights
DNA Evidence Calls Irish Potato Famine Theory into Question, EurekAlert
Beyond Jurassic Park: Real Science with Ancient DNA, Press release
ASM Microbe World, Tracking the fungus behind the famine, Press release
Wired- The Famine: Mexico Off the Hook, Press release
USA Today – Irish Potato famine caused by unidentified fungus press release
Studying the Historic Migrations of the Irish Potato Famine Pathogen using Ancient DNA Trends in Plant Science Trends in Plant Science Note