Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The Florida International University (FIU) proposes a Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) for big data application in Agriculture and Natural Resources Science. The proposed MSP will recruit and train five outstanding undergraduate Scholars from minority communities with multiple objectives: (a) to train students at baccalaureate level in one of the NIFA challenge areas, Food and Agricultural Sciences,with a focus on application of big data; (b) to prepare Scholars for pursuing higher education or careers in the scientifically challenging US food and agriculture industry; (c) to enhance leadership skills and qualities among Scholars as necessary for agricultural industries, agencies or media; and (d) to enhance multicultural diversity in the skilled agricultural workforce by recruiting from traditionally underrepresented groups. Through research, internships, community engagement, leadership building, and special experiential learning activities scholars will acquire scientific skills researching soils, waters, soil microbes, soil nutrients, farm renewable resources, off-farm chemical inputs, and financial and social aspects of farming. Embedded application modules will be designed within curriculum that transcends multiple disciplines -Sustainable Agriculture, Horticulture, Soil Sciences, IPM, Environmental Sciences, Conservation and Renewable Resources, Natural Resource Economics. Students will be trained in applications of big data in agricultural and environmental fields and get opportunities to work closely with USDA, FTBG and other institutions. Scholars will have competitive edge in pursuing agriculture careers that require multi-disciplinary skills and perspectives. They will also be prepared for pursuing advanced graduate degrees in agricultural and environmental sciences, natural system analysis, agricultural economics, policies, and management.
Animal Health Component
75%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
75%
Developmental
25%
Goals / Objectives
The project proposal of providing high quality agriculture and big data science education to multicultural scholars has the following main objectives: (1) Recruit five (5) underrepresented students as MSP scholars who will pursue baccalaureate education in agriculture, food and natural resource sciences and graduate with degrees that qualify for Food and Agricultural Sciences jobs, both locally and nationally. (2) Develop data science application modules (integrated into existing courses), and provide cross-discipline special experiential learning experience, training, workshops and internship program to build student's competencies for big data related careers.(3) Create a collaborative environment along with faculty and peer mentoring program that enhances learning, networking, teamwork, and career readiness for data science jobs.
Project Methods
We are proposing following integrated curricular approaches for meeting our project objectives. (i) In order to recruit and select scholars for the program the project directors will work closely with the FIU Freshman Group, Public School District Office, and Senior High School Counselors to identify eligible students for the program. In addition, we will work closely with various university divisions such as Multicultural Programs and Services, Division of Student Affairs, and the on-campus Upward Bound Program which the University conducts for high school students, to identify eligible program Scholars. (ii) A rigorous curriculum consisting of comprehensive Agri-Science major academic plan, internships, experiential learning projects, leadership summit, visit to conferences, and one-on-one mentoring by faculty mentor. (iii) Hands-on and on-site instructional approaches to create opportunities for Scholars to engage with state-of-the-art experimental learning as part of courses attended as well as through summer internships. (iv) Experiential and interdisciplinary opportunities will be provided by incorporating modules on big data applications in existing courses (e.g., Sustainable agriculture, Integrated Pest Management, Modern Crop Production and Farm Economics) relating to food security and food safety databases, online archives of functional genomics data, USDA Risk Management (RM) databases, precision agriculture and tools, and also an additional module on concerns with big data. (v) Assessing academic needs and mentoring academic growth through assessing of Scholars' financial needs, a review of their academic records to review the candidates' course loads as well as to ensure that they are registered for the right courses in the proper sequence. Scholars showing inadequate progress will be urged to seek the university's tutoring facility and linked up with senior students to facilitate collaborative learning. (vi) Integrating "best practices" into student services: Our core practices to support student learning include encouraging appropriately sequence learning steps (lower and upper division core classes, internships, undergraduate research, professional development), and using diagnostic questions at various academic stages during the 4-yr program. We also provide for a collaborative classroom environment to encourage students to drive their own learning and find solutions to problems with the help of their peers. Each student is tied to a faculty mentor as well as a graduate student mentor (pyramid mentoring). (vii) Plans for developing scholars' critical thinking: Incorporating debate and discussion allows students to analyze subjects more deeply and understand how they fit in relation to other areas. Students will be given opportunity to explore new ways of doing and thinking about a specific topic by integrating information from a range of sub-fields and working as a team on especially undergraduate field experiments done as part of the Agroecology class. (viii) Dissemination Plans: We will profile the success of each MSP Scholar on various publicity materials including FIU News, Agroecology Newsletter, etc. The MSP publicity materials will be distributed to students, teachers, and parents during our visits. Finally, scholars' profiles will be featured and updated on the Agroecology website. The MSP will result in the publication of Scholars research work as papers and posters at national conferences and FIU Agroecology Symposium and/or in journal articles. (ix) Opportunities for workshops and professional meetings: Scholars will join local chapter of the Minority in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS). The proposed MSP will have a chance to attend MANRRS conferences during their 4-yr program as well as other national workshops and conferences (e.g., USDA HSI national PDs conference, Agronomy and Soils conferences, etc.). (x) Management plan with a timeline for deliverables and project review: We have a detailed project evaluation plan, the project director will oversee the project including recruitment, student mentoring, curriculum revision, project review, and internship placement for students. Co-PDs will be heavily involved with student mentoring, curriculum development and undergraduate mentoring of scholars on their lab, field, and big data analytical projects. (xi) Evaluation and assessment: Two types of project evaluation will be ongoing throughout the project. First, Scholars will be asked to evaluate the various academic services and experimental learning activities, professional development, and other components of the program. Both qualitative and quantitative indicators measuring Scholars' satisfaction and progress in the program will be developed and reported to USDA in the annual reports. Second, an external evaluation will be conducted by the project advisory committee every year through on-site visits. The Project Director will collect feedbacks from students, and the advisory committee members twice a year. PDs will share the reviews with individual faculty mentors, who will take note of comments and make necessary changes to their student counseling as suggested by the advisory board or student scholars. (xii) Tracking and evaluation: We keep track of Scholars' academic progress through their stay in graduate school and until the attainment of graduate degrees. The FIU MSP will contact 100% of the Scholars enrolled in graduate school at least once every six months. We provide necessary support to Scholars to ensure that they make the necessary progress in their graduate studies. We encourage and urge students in master's program to continue towards doctoral degrees.