2025 IRSA Spring Conference Recap: Statistics, Agriculture & the Environment

The 2025 IRSA Spring Conference, held May 16–17 at Walter Library in Minneapolis, brought together researchers, students, and professionals to explore the intersection of statistics, agriculture, and environmental science. Hosted by the Institute for Research in Statistics and its Applications (IRSA) and NISS (National Institute of Statistical Sciences), the in-person event created a dynamic space for cross-disciplinary dialogue and innovation. 

This year’s theme, Statistics, Agriculture, and the Environment, focused on how advances in technology, data science, satellite imagery, and 3D modeling are reshaping environmental monitoring and agricultural practices. A wide variety of subjects and acronyms were covered, including how one participant joked, defining BMPs (Best Management Practices) became a running theme, sparking both technical insight and light-hearted moments.

Notable attendees included Baskar Ganapathysubramanian (Iowa State University), who introduced his team's Insect Finder App, a field-ready tool that leverages image recognition to identify pests and support integrated pest management. David Mulla (University of Minnesota) presented cutting-edge work on agricultural precision and remote sensing data for land and Maize recommendations. Students also presented high-quality poster research, and each received awards for their contributions.

Speakers from a range of sectors, academic, government, and industry, shared insights on statistical applications in climate resilience, soil health, crop modeling, and beyond. Reinforcing IRSA’s mission to foster collaboration across domains.

A highlight of the event was IRSA’s growing relationship with the National Institute of Statistical Sciences (NISS), setting the stage for future partnerships focused on data-driven solutions to environmental and agricultural challenges.

With high-level research and a collegial spirit, the 2025 Spring Conference marked another successful chapter in IRSA’s ongoing commitment to connecting statistics with the real-world needs of our planet.