Source: DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to
MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL DATA SCIENCE TRAINING OF STUDENTS IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1029031
Grant No.
2022-38413-38220
Cumulative Award Amt.
$249,960.00
Proposal No.
2022-03848
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Aug 15, 2022
Project End Date
Aug 14, 2027
Grant Year
2022
Program Code
[KF]- Multicultural Scholars
Project Director
Aryee, A. N.
Recipient Organization
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY
1200 N DUPONT HWY
DOVER,DE 199012202
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Data science is one of the fastest growing career paths, and demand for technical expertise needed to develop new methods and tools is out-pacing supply. The U.S. administration has identified big data analytics as a core area of national need. There is a growing demand for technically trained scientists to contribute to this rapidly evolving field in food and agriculture sciences. Three 1890 Historical Black College & Universities (Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, and Alabama A&M University) are partnering to train and prepare food and agriculture science students for technical careers in big data analytics and data science. Students will acquire in-depth technical skills to enable them to understand the underlying technical fundamentals of data analytics as applied to food and agriculture science research and data. The overall goal of this project is to strengthen the technical skills of 21st food and agricultural science workforce with training in data science education.
Animal Health Component
70%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
30%
Applied
70%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
7011899100070%
5011599209030%
Knowledge Area
501 - New and Improved Food Processing Technologies; 701 - Nutrient Composition of Food;

Subject Of Investigation
1599 - Grain crops, general/other; 1899 - Oilseed and oil crops, general/other;

Field Of Science
2090 - Statistics, econometrics, and biometrics; 1000 - Biochemistry and biophysics;
Goals / Objectives
The overall goal of this project is to increase participation of especially underrepresented and underserved minorities enrolled in food and agricultural sciences in data science. The project proposes to: (1) provide food and agricultural science students with technical depth knowledge in the fundamentals of data analytics and understanding the underlying principles and implementations of analytical methods; (2) support and prepare scholars for careers in the 21st-century digitized workforce; (3) integrate data science in workshops and summer camps to attract high school students to food and agriculture science programs and career opportunities within USDA and beyond; and (4) increase enrollment, retention, and graduation rates in food and agricultural science degree programs infused with data science education at the participating institutions.
Project Methods
Each partner institution will establish a recruitment committee to recruit students into the program. Selection standards will be similar for all institutions; however, minor modifications may be made to accommodate local conditions. The recruitment committee will comprise institution faculty/staff and industry representatives to create effective and diverse teams. These standards will require that students be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and have maintained a 3.0 GPA or higher from high school or community college and be from a traditionally underrepresented food and agricultural sciences group. We will work with high school science teachers and counselors to recruit local students, especially those located in areas with a high concentration of underrepresented minority populations. Delaware State University (DSU) will target high schools in all the three counties in Delaware and parts of Pennsylvania and Maryland. The Co-PIs at FAMU and AAMU will identify and collaborate with science teachers at high schools within North Florida and Alabama Black Belt region to select and recruit two and one academically strong students, respectively, into this program. Applicants will be required to submit an essay explaining the importance of the application of data science in food and agricultural science scenarios and the reasons for pursuing a degree in food/agricultural sciences. In addition, applicants will provide two letters of recommendation from high school teachers who have taught them, an unofficial transcript, and a resume listing applicant's accomplishment, recognitions, and awards (academic and non-academic). The recruitment committee will review the applications and select students deemed to have a very high probability of succeeding in the program. The recruitment committee will look for candidates passionate about food, agriculture, and related sciences with critical thinking, computer skills, cultural sensitivity, and creative abilities. At least two alternate students will be selected by each collaborating institution, but the alternate students will only be informed of selection if a student chosen declines the offer. Student recruitment will take place during the summer and fall of the first year of the proposed project.

Progress 08/15/22 to 08/14/23

Outputs
Target Audience:The first year of the grant was used by the PIs for planning. In the second year, the target audience are students and especially under-represented minority students in Food and Agricultural Science majors from the three collaborating institutions. Recruiting and getting enough participants to participate is a challenge. One other the PI changed institutions.The first year of the grant was used by the PIs for planning. In the second year, the target audience are students and especially under-represented minority students in Food and Agricultural Science majors from the three collaborating institutions. Recruiting and getting enough participants to participate is a challenge. One of the PIs changed institutions. Changes/Problems:One of the PIs has changed institutions. It has been a challenge recruiting and getting enough participants to participate in the program. We plan to engage one graduate student to assist with tours and webinars about graduate school and research. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have been providing informal presentations to faculty and students on summer experiential learning opportunities, interdisciplinary, participatory research and extension on food systems, range of opportunities for underrepresented students to be trained in workforce development experiences. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have disseminated the framework of the project to students and faculty through informal presentations. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to convene two speaking opportunities on careers in the 21st-century digitized workforce. We also recruit and on-board students and hold PIs meeting. We also plan to disseminate information about our summer camps to attract high school at neighboring schools.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The project is collaborating across four main themes including 1) providing food and agricultural science students with technical depth knowledge in the fundamentals of data analytics and understanding the underlying principles and implementations of analytical methods; (2) supporting and preparing scholars for careers in the 21st-century digitized workforce; (3) integrating data science in workshops and summer camps to attract high school students to food and agriculture science programs and career opportunities within USDA and beyond; and (4) increasing enrollment, retention, and graduation rates in food and agricultural science degree programs infused with data science education at the participating institutions. We have started our recruitment efforts and hope to expand this opportunity. We have started the first year of the project. This summer, objective 3 will be launched.

Publications