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Shreesha Pandeya, a graduate student working with Professor Dr. Buddhi R. Gyawali at Kentucky State University (KSU), earned the Best Student Presentation Award at the Nepali Academics in America (NACA) 2025 Conference for her research on, "Factors Influencing the Adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural Practices Among Rice Farmers." The award recognizes both academic excellence and the broader impact of her research on climate resilience.

KSU had a strong presence at the conference at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, with faculty, staff, and students contributing to multiple sessions focused on sustainability, environmental justice, and community resilience.

Dr. Buddhi Gyawali, Professor of Geospatial Applications, Human Dimensions and Climate Studies at the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, led a special session titled, “Studying Degraded Appalachia: A Citizen Science Approach to Revitalize Disturbed Ecosystems.” He was joined by KSU’s collaborator, Clifford Smith of Renew Appalachia and KSU Extension Associates, Lauren Traitz and Richard Shmikler, who shared insights from their work restoring ecosystems in Eastern Kentucky through citizen engagement.

“Restoring ecosystems in Eastern Kentucky through citizen engagement advances the KSU’s Land Grant mission by empowering communities, promoting sustainable land stewardship, and translating research into real-world environmental solutions,” Dr. Gyawali said.

A total of five KSU students and two research associates which included Kabita Paudel, Shikha Acharya, Shristi Adhikari, Dipesh Oli, Shreesha Pandeya, and Santosh Rajbanshi, presented their research across sessions such as Growth and Change and Environment.

“We’re proud to see our students and colleagues at the forefront of conversations on extreme weather resilience, sustainable agriculture, and regional revitalization,” said Dr. Gyawali. “This conference is a meaningful space for building collaborations that bridge Kentucky, Nepal, and beyond.”

“Global collaboration is essential for tackling the interconnected challenges of our time, whether it's extreme weather, food security, or ecological restoration,” he continued. “By bringing together diverse perspectives and shared experiences from places like Appalachia and the Himalayas, we not only enrich our research but also co-create solutions that are locally grounded and globally relevant.” 

KSU’s engagement at NACA 2025 reflects its growing leadership in interdisciplinary research and its commitment to advancing sustainability and equity through applied scholarship.