UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 22, Page 7
March 2, 1995
Nicaraguan students learn food science techniques

     Mir N. Islam, professor of food science, has received a $288,500
grant from the U.S. Agency for Innction with Scott Stevens, director
of the English Language Institute (ELI), to provide food science
training to 15 Nicaraguan students, who have been on campus since
January.
     The NPSP students currently are studying English through the
campus ELI program in preparation for their food science training,
which will include courses in food science principles, food chemistry
and analysis, food preservation, tropical fruits and vegetables, meat,
poultry and marine food technology. Guest lectures and field trips
also are planned.
     The 18-month program is administered by the Nicaraguan Peace
Scholarship Program (NPSP) at Georgetown University. As part of the
democratization process, Nicaraguans are being trained for the overall
economic development of the country. Food science has been identified
as an area with potential for employment and growth in the
agroindustry.
     Islam has had extensive experience in Latin America. In 1980, he
established the food technology program at the University of Panama.
He later conducted collaborative research in Costa Rica and the
Dominican Republic. As a Fulbright professor in 1989, he lectured on
food chemistry and conducted research on tropical fruits in Brazil and
Argentina. In 1990 and 1991, he served as a consultant to upgrade the
food technology program in Panama.
     Islam visited Nicaragua this past summer to assess the training
needs of the students. He visited several food processing plans and
met with representatives from the government and from agribusiness.
     Based on his visit, Islam designed a program to train entry-level
personnel to work in the food processing industry and in allied
government agencies.
     Other UD food science personnel involved in the project are
Carolyn Fisher, visiting scholar;  Kathryn Kotula, assistant
professor;  and Yoga Pandya, research associate II; and Doris Hicks,
Marine Advisory Service agent.
     For further information, call Islam at 831-8411.