Catherine Woteki is an internationally recognized leader in science policy and a celebrated advocate establishing platforms for international food and agricultural research. Dr. Woteki is the former chief scientist and undersecretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Research, Education, and Economics mission area.

In her role, Dr. Woteki developed the federal Office of the Chief Scientist, established the USDA Science Council, and implemented the USDA’s first scientific integrity and open data policies. Woteki garnered global respect for envisioning the international forum that became the annual Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists at the Group of Twenty (G20) international forum and for chairing the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases.