For Cole Hammett, entomology and plant pathology student at North Carolina State University and 2024 National Association for Plant Breeding Borlaug Scholar, learning to speak with confidence and authenticity isn’t just a valuable skill—it’s essential to advancing both his career and the field of plant breeding itself.
Reflecting on his entry into plant breeding, Cole recalls, “When I first got into it, the plant breeding world seemed vast and intimidating. But as I immersed myself, I realized it’s actually quite a close-knit community.”
For students like him, communication skills begin with presenting research posters and giving brief talks, but it doesn’t end there. Whether talking with colleagues, professors, or other students, the ability to effectively communicate is foundational, he says.
“It’s about more than just giving presentations,” he explains. “As you grow in the field, it becomes just as important to connect one-on-one, to introduce yourself genuinely, and to build empathetic connections within the industry.”
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