P. Stephen Baenziger
MS '75, PhD '75, Agronomy
Age: 51
Title: Eugene W. Price Distinguished Professor
Company: University of Nebraska
Location: Lincoln, Neb.
A.K.A.: "Mr. Wheat" for his crop research at University
of Nebraska
1. Best advice…
Teamwork. My major professor had the policy that no one left the field
until everyone left the field. We worked as a team to get everything
done.
2. Boiler memory…
I grew up in a suburb and went to an urban university for my BA. My
fondest memory was seeing nature (in this case applied agriculture).
I still remember seeing how big the moon is when it breaks the horizon
as it rises above a cornfield.
3. Thank you…
My major professor, Dr. David V. Glover, taught me what it takes to
be a scientist and a professional. He was an associate editor for Crop
Science magazine. He was extraordinarily successful in his science,
but he was always willing to do service for his profession and his church.
But with all that, he still was able to put his family first. It's a
concept that I tried to apply in my career and my life, that there is
more to it than just being a scientist. People are important.
4. Great escape…
If you love what you do, there are very few pressures. I love to just
take a time-out and relax, usually outdoors or in greenhouses. I also
love to see something different, to travel to new places, near and far.
In his words:
"I view Purdue University as the start of my career. My undergraduate
days at Harvard positioned me to go into agriculture, and Purdue was
the launching pad."
