Windows to the world: issues and challenges for plant pathology
teaching and extension
T. M. Stewart
Institute
of Natural Resources, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222,
Palmerston North, New Zealand Email: t.stewart@massey.ac.nz
Presented as a Keynote Address at the 8th International Congress
of Plant Pathology, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2 – 7 February
2003
In mid-2001, an ISPP-sponsored online symposium brought plant
pathology teachers and extension personnel together to discuss
information technology as it implies to their activities. Among
the issues raised was difficulty of teaching plant pathology
in developing countries, where the cost of teaching/extension
material and keeping in touch with pathologist in developing
countries was prohibitive. It was hard to keep up to date. Another
problem highlighted was the lack of incentives to university
faculty to invest time in innovative teaching at the undergraduate
level. Advancing technologies have allowed new initiatives to
arise which help meet these challenges. Low cost camera and
cheap portable coloured printers mean that extension work and
training can be facilitated by inexpensive digital images. Publishing
of information via web and DVD/CD-ROM is less expensive than
more traditional printed media. DVD/CD-ROM is particularly useful
for developing countries, where the computers may be present
but the communication infrastructure is meagre. As global activity
improves, communication and collaboration by email and discussion
boards make it easier for pathologists in developing nations
to keep in contact with colleagues in riche countries. The web
not only allows plant pathology to be taught at a distance,
but also allows busy teachers to share resources and techniques.
At no other time in history can we so easily share the experiences,
lessons, history and science of plant pathology with others.
We need to make these activities a priority.
