At a ceremony held on March 3, 2026, at the Library of Congress, the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) awarded Dr. David L. Ortega the 2025 Borlaug CAST Communication Award for his significant contributions to agricultural science communication. The event also recognized Suraksha Baral as the recipient of CAST’s Science Communication Scholarship.

We all know that AI models are becoming increasingly commonplace, with hundreds of software companies now offering AI-powered tools, and dozens of iterations of ChatGPT and similar LLMs popping up every year. While some bemoan AI tools, they’ve also been lauded as powerful and helpful tools that we ought to be using every day.Regardless of where you stand on the AI-usage spectrum, one thing is certain: AI models are reshaping education, even at the highest levels. Economics is no exception. Even for PhD students like me, AI tools are becoming a feature of student life — and when used smartly, can be a great asset to learning.