Lincoln, Neb. —Santosh Pitla, associate professor of advanced machinery systems at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has won the 2021 A. W. Farrall Young Educator Award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.
Pitla, part of the biological systems engineering department at UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, works to research and develop next-generation agricultural robotic machines. Through the classes he teaches, he helps students think critically and broadly about the future of agriculture.
“Teaching is all about student learning. Students with different backgrounds learn differently, and as an instructor you have to provide various types of learning opportunities to engage students through classroom and hands-on lab activities,” Pilta said. “The most exciting part of teaching for me is when students apply the engineering and technology principles they learn in my classes to real-world projects.”
Established in 1972, A.W. Farrall Young Educator Award recognizes and honors members under 40 years of age for outstanding contributions to the advancement of the profession and to stimulate professional achievement.
Endowed by the family and friends of ASABE Past President and Fellow, A.W. Farrall, who was associated with Michigan State University's Agricultural Engineering Department, the award honors outstanding success in motivating others in the application of engineering principles to the problems of agricultural engineering.