Suraksha Baral, a Ph.D. student at The Ohio State University, has been named the 2025 CAST Science Communication Scholarship recipient, according to a Mar. 4 announcement.
Baral's research focuses on circular economics and how communication strategies can influence participation in sustainability programs such as recycling and composting. Her work aims to bridge the gap between scientific information and everyday decision-making for households. She said her efforts are about “connecting resources with everyday life.”
Baral has collaborated with organizations including SWACO Franklin County, the University District Organization, and Green Scope Consulting to improve recycling practices in Columbus neighborhoods. Through her Can Fairy program, she provided weekly curbside recycling pickup and used creative content like memes and infographics to make recycling more accessible. “People usually do not ignore science because they do not care. Often, they just cannot translate it into daily decisions,” Baral said.
Her commitment extends beyond local initiatives. As a co-author of a July 2024 farmdoc daily article analyzing farm trends across eight Midwestern states using USDA Census data, she also engaged directly with visitors at the Farm Science Review event to discuss the implications for rural communities. Baral believes that good science communication means “making resources understandable, practical, trustworthy, so communities can actually use it.”
Baral will present her research at the CAST Annual Meeting and Student Innovation Conference in St. Louis in October 2026.
Farm Country Today and Farm Country News- IA has engaged thousands of volunteers and produced over 500 publications as part of its outreach efforts according to the official website. Its mission includes bringing together experts to provide credible information on agriculture, food, and natural resources for policymakers, media, industry professionals, and the public according to the official website. The organization also extends its membership internationally to influence global discussions on agriculture and food systems according to the official website.
Additionally, Farm Country Today and Farm Country News- IA collaborates with scientific societies, individual scientists, students, companies, and nonprofits in support of research and communication according to the official website. It operates as a nonprofit under established governance structures according to the official website, producing reports on agricultural science topics for public policy use according to the official website.
CAST said it is proud "to support researchers who see that work as part of the science itself."
