NORMAN BORLAUG: A LEGACY OF A BILLION LIVES
Sophia Burick, Kelly McDonald, and Kate McKernan
Junior Division
Group Website
Process Paper (500 words)
We came together as a group because we all wanted to do our project on something regarding farming innovation and food production. This topic was interesting because it drastically changed the world long ago, and is still extremely relevant today. Next, we needed to narrow our topic down. We wanted to research genetically modified organisms (GMOs), but that topic was too recent. When we met again, we had discovered Norman Borlaug. He was perfect for our project because his work was the precursor to GMOs. We really enjoyed learning about Borlaug's work and the legacy of GMOs that it has created.
We began our research by finding and reviewing secondary sources discussing Norman Borlaug to help us form our opinion on his work and legacy. Then, after we had decided to take a position that he left a lasting and positive legacy, we found sources with our same viewpoint, and sources against it. After we had a thorough understanding of the project, we took a trip to the University of California, Irvine research libraries and found many books and even a movie. We then focused our energy on finding key individuals who would be willing to be interviewed regarding the legacy of Borlaug, including GMOs. We were able to interview Capt. Madeline Michael, Chief Dietitian of the U.S. Public Health Service, and Sylvi Listhaug, the Norwegian Minister of Food and Agriculture, and these interviews were very informative, particularly since they had differing viewpoints. Lastly, we reached out to Monsanto Company to interview Monsanto regarding the debate over GMOs. We submitted questions and received helpful responses.
Our group chose a website because it is a unique and impressive way to format the data we collected through our reserach. We found that assigning each person a section to work on was helpful. We are all familiar with computers and found it easy to use the website designer software. Once we had chosen a website template and theme colors, we made notes on each argument, and categorized pictures under each tab. We then added writing, pictures, quotes, and videos. Finally, we annotated and cited the sources we used. We did a final check, then published the website.
National History Day’s theme of leadership and legacy is epitomized in Norman Borlaug’s life work. Borlaug showed exceptional leadership in the struggling third world countries where he lived and worked in order to provide a better future of full stomachs and better health. His toils kicked off the Green Revolution, and millions of people today live on his legacy, high-yield wheat. Thanks to Norman Borlaug, the fields of the world thrive because he developed the first rust resistant and commercially available semi-dwarf wheat. His leadership in training scientists and cultivating the plants that would turn the tide of hunger and famine resulted in a legacy that is planted and harvested each season. Norman Borlaug’s leadership sowed the seeds crucial to the survival of millions and his legacy is the wheat that keeps our starving world alive.