Texas A&M AgriLife turf breeder recognized as ‘game changer’
Ambika Chandra’s 3D-print, life-size statue on display in Dallas’ Fair Park June 11-July 19
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Texas A&M AgriLife leader and turfgrass breeder Ambika Chandra, Ph.D., is one of 26 “Game Changers” who have been scanned and 3D printed as statues for display at the 2026 FIFA Fan Festival in Dallas.
Lyda Hill Philanthropies’ IF/THEN Initiative presents its IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit: Game Changers, a display of statues celebrating leaders whose work demonstrates how science, technology, engineering and math, STEM, fuel the world of sports.
The installation shines a light on the STEM careers that shape and power today’s global sports industry, according to Lyda Hill Philanthropies. Each statue includes a QR code that unlocks videos and images that bring these women’s journeys to life.
In collaboration with the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, the interactive exhibit will be on public display from June 11 through July 19 at the Fan Festival at Dallas’ Fair Park, 3809 Grand Ave.
“Dr. Chandra’s recognition as a ‘game changer’ reflects the impact of leading-edge innovation at Texas A&M AgriLife,” said G. Cliff Lamb, Ph.D., director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research. “Her work in turfgrass breeding advances resilient, sustainable systems that support athletics, livelihoods, natural resources and the communities we serve.”
“Dr. Chandra’s work is a great example of the STEM hidden in plain sight throughout sports,” said Margaret Black, managing director of Lyda Hill Philanthropies and co-founder of IF/THEN. “Every athlete relies on safe, high-performing playing surfaces, yet few people realize the science and innovation required to create them. Her story helps young people see that STEM careers can be found in unexpected places and they can have a tremendous impact on the sports we love.”
A recognized STEM leader
Chandra is recognized as a behind-the-scenes innovator.
She is the AgriLife Research leader of the Turfgrass Breeding and Urban Landscapes Program at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas and professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She is also assistant director at the Texas A&M AgriLife center at Dallas.
The Texas A&M Turfgrass Program is a partnership among AgriLife Research, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
“There is so much STEM happening right underneath athletes’ feet,” Chandra said in her profile associated with the statue. “Yes, even the grass on the playing field is backed by science. Every time an athlete plants their foot or they pivot or they accelerate or they slide, they interact with a natural turfgrass system that includes the turfgrass itself and the soil underneath. And that’s the realm of my field of science.”
A lifetime of turfgrass breeding
Chandra is widely known for developing resilient, more sustainable grass for golf courses and sports fields. She uses genetics and plant science to create turfgrass that can survive heat, drought and heavy play while using less water and pesticides. Her work helps athletes compete on high-quality fields while protecting the environment.
“This recognition highlights the great work that Dr. Chandra has done to enhance turfgrass for many areas, including the release of varieties that have great adaptation to the climate of Texas,” said David Baltensperger, Ph.D., head of the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
New turfgrass varieties developed by Chandra and others within the Texas A&M Turfgrass Program are designed to withstand Texas’ harsh conditions and be shade- and traffic-tolerant to meet the needs of homeowners, golf courses and sports fields.
Chandra’s research and the latest Texas A&M AgriLife varieties will be highlighted at the annual Texas A&M Turfgrass and Landscape Field Day on Oct. 8 at the Texas A&M AgriLife center in Dallas, 17360 Coit Road.
