Grace Sward Jun 2026

: Earned her undergraduate degree before moving into specialized graduate studies.

Dr. Grace Sward is a prominent and researcher recognized for her significant contributions to sustainable agriculture and integrated pest management (IPM). Her work primarily focuses on finding natural, eco-friendly solutions to protect crops, particularly in the specialty mushroom and berry industries. Educational Background and Early Career

She has served as the president of the Entomology Graduate Student Association (EGSA) , where she led outreach initiatives such as public "Insect Nightwalks" to promote ecological literacy. grace sward

She collaborates with agricultural groups to foster environments that encourage native pollinators, such as bumblebees, which are essential for crops like heirloom tomatoes. Community Outreach

: Completed at the University of Minnesota , where she conducted research on the Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD), a devastating pest for fruit growers. : Earned her undergraduate degree before moving into

: During her tenure, she led efforts to create digital educational content, including tutorials on using Adobe Illustrator to visualize ecological data and "Virtual BugZoos" to engage the public.

: Investigating biopesticides like Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) to manage fungus gnats in oyster mushroom production. Her work primarily focuses on finding natural, eco-friendly

Beyond academia, she has applied her expertise to pop culture, fact-checking biological and safety protocols for science fiction series like Alien: Earth . Key Research and Contributions