Performing Department
AGRICULTURAL & BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Non Technical Summary
A well educated work force in the environmental and ecological sciences and engineering fields is required. Four students will be educated in the proposed Ecological Science and Engineering (ESE) graduate program. The students will complete gradaute coursework, attend seminars and conduct research.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Four students will be trained with funding provided by this program with additional students benefiting as well. The primary educational objective of the Ecological Science and Engineering (ESE) graduate program is to assure that our graduates have the appropriate skills for the challenges and evolving needs of professionals charged with designing and managing ecologically sustainable natural and human systems. Through the ESE curriculum, students will explore the principles, methods and analyses required to study the multi-scale interactions of environmental issues (e.g., global warming; globalization of disease; loss of habitats and biodiversity; sustainable food production; water resources quality and quantity), the scientific basis that helps design sustainable solutions to ecological challenges, and the economic, social, and political forces that shape environmental decision making. The Fellows will increase the number of researchers, educators, and professionals
entering the workforce with the necessary skills to meet the needs of existing, persistent, as well as emerging global environmental issues and encourage motivated students to pursue collaborative research at this interface between science and engineering.
Project Methods
A group of students will be recruited to start the program together as a chohort. Year 1 will consist of intensive course work (including a weekly colloquium, a capstone Maymester final course, and a summer internship. Year 2 will focus on individual research. In the first semester, fellows will enroll in 3 or 4 courses and the required seminar. They will meet with their advisory committee to determine courses to take and discuss research possibilities. Each a fellow will deelop a plan of study for courses to be completed. Fellows will participate in lab and field facility tours and seminar series. In the second semester, fellows will continue their coursework and initiate a literature review in their respective research area. Each fellow will meet with their advisory committee to discuss research plans including preliminary data collection. Each fellow will present a preliminary research plan as a seminar.