Agricultural Research Scientists to Speak at Mishkan Torah on Feb. 8 at 10:30

The Adult Education Committee at Mishkan Torah Synagogue is sponsoring a free program on Sunday, February 8, 2015 at 10:30 am entitled “Agricultural Research at the Beltsville Agricultural Center- Addressing Unprecedented Food Production and Environmental Concerns.” The speakers will be husband and wife Mishkan Torah Members and scientists Martha Tomecek and Michel Cavigelli.

Ms. Tomecek is a Plant Physiologist and Mr. Cavigelli is a Soil Scientist. Both are employed at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, a unit of the USDA Agricultural Research Service. Ms. Tomecek’s research involves the impact of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations on plant growth and reproduction. She has worked on globally important crop plants such as rice and soybeans and locally important weeds including poison ivy and ragweed. Mr. Cavigelli’s research focuses on the impacts of agricultural methods on crop yields, nutrient dynamics, economics, soil quality, and greenhouse gas production. He works on both conventional and organic crop production systems. He also has expertise in soil microorganisms that produce nitrous oxide, a catalyst of stratospheric ozone decline and a greenhouse gas.

The couple moved to Maryland 15 years ago from Michigan, where Ms. Tomecek worked as a research technician and Mr. Cavigelli completed his PhD. Prior to that they both earned their MS degrees in Agronomy at Kansas State University. Ms. Tomecek is originally from Kansas and Mr. Cavigelli from Massachusetts. They have three children (Anna, 33; Noah, 31; and Katia, 17) and one grandchild (Emma, 5 months old). They have been members of Mishkan Torah since 2000. The event is free and open to the general community. Light refreshments will be available for nominal purchase starting at 9:30 a. Mishkan Torah is located at 10 Ridge Road in Greenbelt.