Each year, the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science (HCS) hosts a Spring Soiree to recognize the remarkable achievements of our students, staff, faculty, alumni, and friends. This year Dr. David Barker was selected to receive the 2025 HCS Selfless Service Legacy Award for his exceptional service leadership, influence and dedication to improving HCS's culture and achieving its goals.
We chatted with Dr. Barker to see what keeps him motivated and got his advice for students considering plant science related careers...
What motivates you to show up each day to work?
When I first started at Ohio State, I was very appreciative of the senior faculty who knew all the ‘rules’ for academic administration. It was helpful to be able to focus on my new career with their support. Now, 25 years later, I’m in that position and am happy to ‘pay back’ that service to our new faculty. Many questions that come up are not new and have precedent from some time in the past!!
What’s a day in your life like?
Hmmm...it's hard to describe a typical day, because every day is different. Now as Associate Chair, and being close to retirement, my research has gotten less, and I spend more time on departmental issues, such as the recent departmental review, updates to academic curriculum, departmental committee meetings, space requests and other fun stuff. Departmental meetings might sound ‘unfun’, but this is where the business of the department is done, and it's very exciting to participate in new initiatives to improve HCS.
I’m still a regular faculty member, and most days have a mix of teaching 1-2 classes, 1-on-1 meetings with students, and contribution to research projects. I'm also an adviser to 2 student groups, so most weeks have evening meetings with student clubs.
What have been some highlights of your career so far?
The biggest career highlight was moving from a federal research position in New Zealand to a research and teaching position at Ohio State. Adding a teaching appointment mid-career was a huge highlight because I enjoy teaching more than I expected. Other highlights have been more than 100 manuscripts published, and invitations to many countries such as Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Australia and (back to) New Zealand.
Citations are a special highlight - although the Forage industry is relatively small and we don’t have many citations, having other researchers cite my publications is very rewarding. Being recognized by colleagues is a big highlight, and the Selfless Service Legacy Award is very special since it comes from colleagues I work with every day.
What were your thoughts on winning the HCS Selfless Service Legacy Award?
Receiving the Selfless Service Legacy Award is very special because I see so many other hard-working people in the department. To be recognized with so many other deserving candidates is quite humbling.
What advice would you give students considering plant science related careers?
It's hard to give advice, since today is a vastly different world. When I started in research, the world population was 3 billion people and malnutrition was relatively common. Our motivation was to feed the world. Today with almost 9 billion people, and relatively less famine, the social issues are vastly different. Even our climate is different from before. Despite that change, plants underpin almost every aspect of today's society, and the challenge for our students is to enhance that dependency. Students today are highly accomplished; I have every confidence they’ll rise to that challenge.
Eager for more news from our Spring Soiree? You're in luck - check out all the articles here.