Non Technical Summary
This Agriculture and Food Science Facilities and Equipment Program for Insular Areas project aims to increase the capacity for research and instruction in plant pathology, and related disciplines at the College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CNAS) of the University of Guam (UOG). We will acquire a biosafety cabinet, environmental chambers, and upgrade an aging laminar flow hood. We also plan to enhance the nursery facilities dedicated to plant pathology and construct new facilities to accommodate other agriculture courses and the UOG Agriculture Life Science (ALS) student club. Both the biosafety cabinet and laminar flow hood are staple pieces of equipment in a plant pathology lab to create controlled sterile work environments. The biosafety hood creates an enclosed clean space to aerosolize pathogen inoculum or handle transgenic organisms. The laminar flow hood also creates a clean sterile workspace but allows manipulation of items such as large plants. The environmental chambers allow for experiments with transgenic pathogens in controlled environmental conditions. Lastly, pathogen free plants are produced in nurseries protected from rainfall and other environmental factors that influence disease spread. Limited space is available on underdeveloped campus facilities. Resources will be allocated for the renovation and expansion of the area, incorporating four distinct hoop houses on a concrete surface. These will cater to plant stock for pathology work, pathogen inoculated plants, an instructional nursery, and dedicated space for the ALS student club. Proposed equipment and facilities will augment learning experiences for both CNAS undergraduate and graduate students.

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
212	4099	1100	50%
212	4099	1103	20%
212	4099	1102	20%
212	4099	1130	10%

Knowledge Area
212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
4099 - Microorganisms, general/other;

Field Of Science
1103 - Other microbiology; 1130 - Entomology and acarology; 1100 - Bacteriology; 1102 - Mycology;

Goals / Objectives
1) Plant Pathology Lab equipment procurementtasks: project planning, equipment procurement and installation2) Nursery expansiontasks: construction planning, solicitation of quotations, removal of extant structures, facilities construction3) Research and instructiontasks:- integration of expanded facilities and equipment plant pathology research and instruction- develop cirriculum modules that incorporate new nursery space into course materials or extension programs4) Monitoring and evaluationtasks:- record plant pathology facilities usage in diagnostic requests, grant proposals and research published products- record nursery facilities usage, student engagement, and community outreach

Project Methods
None. The project is primarily procurement of equipment and contruction services.