Kendall Nygard, professor of computer science, is scheduled to give a presentation about his experience as a Jefferson Science Fellow. The talk, “Jefferson Science Fellowship Program,” is tentatively scheduled for Monday, Oct. 13, at 10 a.m. in the Memorial Union Century Theater.
Jefferson Science Fellows serve as national science advisers on important foreign policy issues. Appointees spend one year at the State Department or the U.S Agency for International Development in Washington, D.C. Nygard, who was selected to the prestigious post for 2013-14, worked with both government entities.
According to Nygard, Department of State issues center on the role of science, engineering and medicine in international policy. At the Agency for International Development, the focus is on beneficial operations and assistance within developing countries. Following their one-year appointments, fellows are available for an additional five years as consultants.
“My awareness of international issues was greatly heightened, particularly concerning underdeveloped countries where such things as poverty, global health and conflict are huge problems,” Nygard said, noting 13 academic scientists, engineers and physicians from institutions of higher education across the country were selected for the important positions this year.
The fellowship program was initiated in 2003, designed to engage American science, technology, engineering and medical experts from academia in the development and implementation of U.S. foreign policy.
In his presentation, Nygard will describe and promote the program. He also will present information on specific scientific projects and programs where he made contributions.
“Whenever a new executive order came down, there was a ripple of activity and excitement in response,” he said. “There were lots of young, energetic and bright post-doctoral fellows in my group. Everything was fast-paced.”
Nygard joined the NDSU faculty in 1977, and served as the computer science department chair from 1996 to 2005. In 1994-95, he was director of the Scientific Computing Center at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. He previously was a visiting scientist at the Air Force Logistics Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio and a research fellow at the Air Vehicle Directorate of the Air Force Research Lab.
Nygard’s research interests include combinatorial optimization methods involving management of networks and sensor networks, cooperative mission control for unmanned air vehicles, data science and analytics.
He earned a bachelor’s degree at Minnesota State University Moorhead, a master’s degree in mathematics from Mankato State University and a doctorate in operations research from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.