Name: Lautaro Rostoll Cangiano
Institution: University of Guelph
Current role with ADSA: Graduate Student Division President
Twitter: @LRCangiano
LinkedIn: Lautaro Rostoll Cangiano
- How long have you been involved with ADSA, and what compelled you to join the association?
I have been involved with the board for the last 2 years, but I have been a member of ADSA since 2015, when I first attended an annual meeting. Since then, I have been nothing but thankful for all that the association has contributed to my development as a scientist, and the opportunities and people it has put in my way. Through my personal experience, I am keenly aware of the vital role this organization plays in the development of so many graduate students in our field who aspire to be future leaders in the dairy industry.
- What do you enjoy most about being a board member?
Working with an amazing group of people and helping to organize the annual meeting. Also, ADSA has done so much for my professional development that it feels nice to be able to support it by getting involved.
- Why is it important for the dairy science community to participate in the association?
A key component in the future success of our careers after grad school is the networking and collaborations that we establish during our graduate years, and ADSA plays a crucial role in being a bridge to providing the opportunities and facilitating these interactions.
- What do you think is the most important resource that ADSA provides the scientific community?
The Journal of Dairy Science and both the annual meeting and Discover conferences.
- What strategic initiative of ADSA are you most passionate about and why?
I am very excited about the strategic plan in general. The strategic initiative “Champion the Profession’s Scientific Outcomes” is the one I am most excited about. I believe that it will help bridge the divide with the public and settle some consumer concerns by educating and promoting scientific,and innovative dairy products and production practices that are based on strong science.
- What is one pressing challenge for the future of the dairy industry and how is ADSA addressing that through its new strategic plan?
The main challenge is probably consumer perceptions about the dairy industry. As I noted above, I believe that strategic initiative #1 “Champion the Profession’s Scientific Outcomes” can have an impact on consumer perception by showing all the cool things we are doing as an industry to raise healthy cattle that are well taken care of, while producing a product of very high nutritional value such as milk.