Newsmakers 2014: Dr. Michael Aide, agriculture professor at Southeast Missouri State University

If Dr. Michael Aide, professor and chairman of the Department of Agriculture at Southeast Missouri State University, isn't teaching or on a farm, he probably is attending an agriculture-related event. If there is one thing he's passionate about, it's agriculture.

Agriculture science brings technologies from other disciplines such as physics, chemistry and biology and "welds them into technologies that grow the food and fiber that's ultimately going to feed 7 billion people and growing," he says, making it "probably the most important discipline on Earth."

Aide has worked with different constituents across Southeast Missouri to develop an awareness that agriculture is a leading industry in bringing emerging technology to the region -- what he considers his greatest professional accomplishment.

"We spread the gospel," he says.

Aide's satisfaction comes from working with students through the processes of graduate research, finding internships and bidding them farewell as they move on to a rewarding career.

Southeast Missouri has a rich culture base with friendly people who are open to discussions, he says.

"The variety of interaction I have with many different people, their innovative ideas, watching projects come to fruition and seeing agriculture grow as an economic driver across Missouri" is what Aide says he loves about his work.

--Amity Shedd