Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Faculty and students of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University; faculty and students of Nanjing Forestry University and other universities in USA and China. General public and international communities. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? This year's program started with a three day orientation at AAMU to prepare for international travel. Once we arrived in China, students and faculty engaged in a variety of courses including language, cultural, and history classes taught by NFU faculty, as well as scientific writing, statistics, and how to create PowerPoint presentations and posters by AAMU faculty and graduate students. All students were paired with a primary mentor in the U.S. prior to travel. Mentors included graduate students and faculty from both AAMU and TU. Upon arrival at NFU, students were then paired with a second mentor from NFU, with similar research interests. Students then met with mentors to devise and conduct a research project. Research topics included a diversity of subjects such as "Songbird Species in China: Evaluation of DNA Extraction Kits, Primers, and Feather Age", "Occurrence of Typical Antibiotics in Huai River and Hongze Lake, Eastern China," "Bat Forage and Insect Communities in Three Habitat Types in Nanjing, China," and "The Adsorption Behavior of Black Carbon in Urban Forest and Traffic District Soils Toward Heavy Metal Ions (Cu, Zn)," “Establishment of a Riparian Buffer Strip for Alleviating Lake Eutrophication,” among others. Students learned to design a research project, collect data, operate research equipment, analyze data, and communicate their research results to their peers. The team took two extended educational/cultural trips during the program. The first trip (2 days) brought them to Wuxi, Yixing, and the Tai Lake (Tài Hú) area. This trip was designed to help students and faculty understand bamboo ecology, the applications of bamboo in daily life, and bamboo as a biomass potential. During this trip, they visited a bamboo experimental forest and a bamboo processing plant; while at these sites, they were able to interact with researchers and workers. They also had opportunities to explore local culture and history: they watched a Chinese ballet (“The Red Detachment of Women,” ?????), performed by the National Ballet of China at the Wuxi Grand Theater, visited the Huishan Clay Figurines Museum (???????) and enjoyed tea along the streets of Zhongshan Road. The second trip (3 days) took the team to Sheyang in northern Jiangsu Province. This trip was designed to help students and faculty to understand forest ecology, applications of forest research, the value of popular forests and their impact on local economies and ecosystems, and other conservation programs in the region. During this trip, they visited several poplar tree plantations and industry base at Sheyang County. In the early 1980s, faculty from NFU helped to introduce a hybrid poplar (genus Populus, hybridized in part from eastern cottonwood originating in Mississippi), to Sheyang. Once one of the poorest counties in China because of its high human population density, shortage of natural resources, and frequent flooding, Sheyang’s economy has been transformed, and the poplar tree hybrid and the related agroforestry industry have played a major role in its economic growth. During this trip we also visited the Yancheng Dafeng National Milu Reserve (Yánchéng Dàf?ng mílù guóji? jízìránb?ohùq?, ????????????), which was established in 1983 to start a breeding program for the Père David’s deer (Elaphurus davidianus), known simply as mílù in China, which is extinct in the wild in China. In addition, the team got to view the endangered red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis), also in a breeding program at the reserve. While completing their research and collaborative lab or field work at Nanjing, the AAMU team experienced the culture, people, and a whole host of foods that they never in their lives dreamed they would eat! They explored the city by foot, bus, taxi, and subway and became intimately familiar with the city in a way that tourists almost never experience when visiting a foreign land. Students climbed Purple Mountain; visited Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum; paid tribute to the fallen victims of the massacre by the Japanese during World War II, as commemorated in the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall; posed with enormous hand-carved mythical figures at the Xiaoling Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty; celebrated the Chinese traditional Dragon Boat Festival with a big crowd of locals and foreign visitors; and visited a wide variety of stunningly beautiful gardens. Additionally, several students (Michael Kennedy, Andrew Lawhorn, Linzi Thompson, and Mercedes Bartkovich) were invited to participate in the official Youth Olympics game advertisement, resulting in their appearance in an internationally viewed ad! The team had the opportunity to visit other major cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, and Yangzhou and witnessed the effects of dramatic economic development during last 30 years. In Shanghai, we took a boat tour of the Bund on the Huangpu River and viewed the City from the top floor of the Oriental Pearl Radio and TV Tower (?????). From Nanjing, we travelled to Beijing on a high-speed train at over 125 miles per hour. There, we climbed the Great Wall at the Mutianyu (?????), walked through the halls of the (once) Forbidden City (???), maneuvered through a crowded Tiananmen Square (?????) and observed the mile-long line of people waiting to see Chairman Mao’s body, ate a wonderful homemade meal in the Lingdang Hutong district, and finished off our stay with a final Peking Duck meal that was phenomenally delicious. This year, we did things a bit different from the previous two programs, based on our experiences and the suggestions of participants. Apart from having courses taught at NFU throughout the first few weeks, we increased the stay in China to almost eight weeks (May 22-July 14), and omitted the return to AAMU for a week-long stay. Thus, students had to complete in full all of their work in China, including a research report, a cultural report, webpages, a PowerPoint presentation, and a scientific poster. We feel this was a very successful strategy and we will likely implement it in the future. Students presented their research to a full audience at NFU prior to leaving for Beijing. Overall, faculty and students in the program are still reeling from the exchange trip to China that has significantly broadened their research, educational, cultural and language experiences. This year’s program was the best yet, and we look forward to many more. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? 1. We have developed a website that include all program information, faculty mentor research areas, reports about the trip and research papers of the students. 2. A proceedings of student travel and research reports has been been published in November 2014 by the Center of Forest Ecosystem Assessment of Alabama A&M Universeity. 3. We made presentationas at various professional meetings and to general public, inculding programs on TV and radio stations. 4. Serveral students have presented their research reults and experence at different national and international meetings. 5. Serveral manuscripts are currently under preparation to be submitted to professional journals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? This is the final year of this project. However, we have been funded by a capacity grant in 2013 and will continute the program. We will be collaborating with Taskeggee Univeristy to expend our China initiatives by including more research fields and institutions in China.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Through the efforts of the Center of Forest Ecosystem Assessment, funded by National Science Foundation’s CREST program (Grant number HRD-1036600) , Alabama A&M University (AAMU) was awarded a three-year grant by the USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) International Science and Education Program (ISE) in 2009 (Grant number: 2009-51160-05462) to develop an international exchange program with China. The program was designed to strengthen AAMU's ability to develop globally competent students and faculty through collaborative partnerships with higher education institutions and research organizations in China. The program focuses on the fields of agricultural and environmental sciences. The exchange program also aims to enhance courses with international contexts to prepare and mentor students for international opportunities in agricultural and environmental sciences, as well as to add new dimensions to scientific research and teaching capabilities of AAMU faculty via exposure to international resources and technologies. Our primary Chinese partner for this program is Nanjing Forestry University (NFU), a comprehensive university with a tradition of forestry programs. The development and the opportunities created by this program led to a new three-year program: Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) in China, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in 2011 (Grant number: DBI-106310). In 2013, we were funded through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Capacity Grant (No. 2013-38821-21250) to further enhance our program by establishing the collaboration and involvement of students and faculty from another minority institution in Alabama: Tuskegee University (TU). This multi-institutional and multi-agency joint project have created great opportunities for many faculty and students, particularly those from minority serving or small institutions with limited research and international programs, to gain valuable research experience under a challenging, but enjoyable, international setting. In the summer of 2010 and 2011, a total of twenty-five students and faculty from AAMU participated in this program and travelled to China. In the summer of 2012, a total of twelve students from six different institutions across USA and five faculty/staff members joined the program; and in the summer of 2013, a total of thirteen students and six faculty/staff participated in the program.In the summer of 2014, eight undergraduate students from seven different institutions across the U.S. (including AAMU), three AAMU graduate students, and eight faculty/staff participated in the REUG program. These numbers include one undergraduate student and two faculty members from Tuskegee University.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Wang, Y., E. Moss, and L. Gardner. 2014. Proceedings of the student research and trip reports. Published by the Center of Forest Ecosystem Assessment, Alabama A&M University. 266p.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Wang, Y. et. al. 2014. Continue to Build Global Competence and Collaborations through Student Experimental Learning and Faculty Exchange Programs in China. NIFA PI meeting. September 16-17, 2014, Washington DC.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Wang, Y. et. al. 2014. Engaging students in experimental learning: international research and cultural experience of natural resource and environmental sciences in China. 10th Biennial Conference on University Education in Natural Resources Auburn University, Auburn, AL. March 13-15, 2014.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Wang,Y., E. Moss, and L. Gardner. 2014. International research experience for undergraduates and graduates in China. PI meeting of the NSF REU program. April 9 - 12, 2014. Washington, DC.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Wang,Y., E. Moss, and L. Gardner. 2015. International research experience for undergraduates and graduates in China. PI meeting of the NSF CREST and HBCU-UP programs. February 18-20, 2015. Washington, DC.
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Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Based on last two year experience, this year we made several modification: 1) leveraged the funds from National Science Foundation to establish a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU); 2) enhanced the pre-departure program by including new components for the workshops to train participants about various aspect of the trip including language, culture, customs, daily schedule, trip details, and many little but important details such as phone and internet communication before going on the trip; 3) further developed the handbook that included comprehensive information such as transportations, communication, safety tips, etc. about the trip; 4) with the NSF funding, we extended the program period from 4 weeks to 9 weeks so that the students and faculty had more time to conduction collaborative research and education activities; 5) enhanced language training by including more contact hours; 6) enhanced student-student interaction by including more meetings of students and student organized parties; 7) with the NSF leverage funding, we were able to include more students and faculty for this year's program: 5 faculty and staff, 4 graduate students and 8 undergraduate students, representing a diverse research expertise and ethnic backgrounds, some were from other universities in the nation; 8) enhanced student management by including a staff member for the team to assist students in China for their daily living and research activities; and 9) developed a proceeding which included two reports from each student: travel report and research report. PARTICIPANTS: Undergraduate Students Erin Brechbiel: Ms. Brechbiel is currently a senior majoing in Biology at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. Joanna Kukla: Ms. Kukla is currently a junior majoring in Physiology at Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan. David Farris: Mr. Farris is currently a senior majoring in Ecology at the University of Connecticut in Hartford, Connecticut. Calvin Means: Mr. Means is currently a senior majoring in Biology a AAMU. Rakeyta Scales: Ms. Scales is currently a senior majoring in Environmental Science at AAMU. Nara McCray: Ms. McCray is currently a senior imajoring in Environmenta Science at AAMU. Iwo Gross: Mr. Gross is currently a senior in Biotechnology at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. Dustin Mielke: Mr. Mielke is currently a senior in Biotechnology at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Graduate Students Rashidah Farid: Ms. Farid is a Master of Science candidate under the guidance of Dr. Khairy Soliman, at AAMU. Emily Summers: Ms. Summers is a Master of Science candidate under the guidance of Dr. Xiongwen Chen, at AAMU. Kevin Messenger: Mr. Messenger is a PhD candidate under the guidance of Dr. Yong Wang, at AAMU. Jonjala Jackson: Ms. Jackson is a Master of Science candidate under the guidance of Dr. Elica Moss. Participating Mentors Alabama A&M University Mentors Dr. Yong Wang: Dr. Wang is professor of biometry, statistics, and wildlife ecology at AAMU. Dr. Elica Moss: Dr. Moss is an assistant professor of environmental microbiology. Dr. Xiongwen Chen: Dr. Chen is professor of landscape ecology, ecological processes, forest fire ecology and management, and aerial photogrammetry. Dr. Khairy Soliman: Dr. Soliman is professor of plant molecular biology. Dr. Jianqiang Li: Dr. Li is a post-doctoral fellow at AAMU. Nanjing Forestry University Mentors TARGET AUDIENCES: Faculty and students of Alabama Agricultural and Mechnic University Faculty and students of Nanjing Forestry University and other universities in USA and China. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: nothing significant to report
Impacts
Faculty and students had better understanding of China's educational and research environment and high education system. We are developing new activities based on the MOU, which include faculty and student exchanges, developing joint programs, and enhancing collaboration in education and research between the two institutions. The faculty members of this year's program are disseminating their experience through their teaching and interactions with other faculty members and students. Our program has good exposure through AAMU's media. Two new courses (International Experience in Agriculture and Environmental Science), one undergraduate and one graduate, has been approved by the University and student will be able to sign up in the summer of 2013. The new proposal to National Science Foundation to develop a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) project in China has been funded, which allowed us to expending the program period and include more students and faculty. We have also been funded through a capacity building grant to develop a similar program in Cost Rica and Brazil for similar international experience. The short term impacts include (1) enabling AAMU to provide the quality of education necessary to produce baccalaureate or higher degree level graduates; (2) complementing the national efforts to increase minority presence and participation in sciences as to enhance diversity of the US employment base; (3) producing students and faculty with greater global competence; (4) developing courses with international perspectives /contents/contexts; (5) attracting students into agriculture related fields; and (6) enhancing educational and research collaborations with China in agriculture and natural resource sciences. The longer-term impacts: (1) international agricultural, environmental and natural resource programs at our two institutions becoming more efficient in attracting and producing more students with interest in working internationally, thus enhancing recruitment and retention in agriculture, environmental, and natural resource disciplines. Thus, more minority students will be available to meet USDA personnel needs to serve at home or overseas in scientific exchange, technical assistance, and technology transfer; and (2) fostering the formation of new links to include other 1890 institutions and strengthening existing ones. Finally, the project provides us the opportunities through these collaborative partnerships to achieve USDA-NIFA six strategic goals and objectives through human capacity development.
Publications
- Senwo, Z., J. Bukenya, Y. Wang, C. Bonsi, R. Ankumah, E. Bonsi, O. Bolden-Tiller, P. Doamekpor, R. Zabawa. 2012. Stengthening faculty and students global competence and experiential learning in agriculture, natural resource management and conservation. USDA NIFA PD Conference and Workshop, September 16 to 19, 2012. Huntsville, Alabama.
- Wang, Y., Z. Senwo, X. Chen. 2012. Strengthening International Competence of the Faculty and Students at Alabama A&M University through Education and Research Collaboration with China. USDA NIFA PD Conference and Workshop, September 16 to 19, 2012. Huntsville, Alabama.
- Wang, Y., Z. Senwo, X. Chen. 2012. Strengthening Minority Global Perspectives: Collaborative Partnerships with China in Agricultural Research and Education. International Science and Education Program Project Directors Meeting, May 16, 2012. Washington, D. C.
- Wang, Y., E. Moss, L. Gardner. 2012. Program of Research Expereince for Undergraduate (REU) and graduates at Alabama A&M University and Nanjing Forestry University, proceedings of the student research and travel report. August 2012. Center for Forest Ecosystem Assessment at Alabama A&M University.
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Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: 1)Enhanced the program by conducting a 3 day workshop to train participants about various aspect of the trip including language, culture, customs, daily schedule, trip details, and many little but important details such as phone and internet communication before going on the trip; 2) developed a handbook that included comprehensive information such as transportations, communication, safety tips, etc. about the trip; 3) extended the program from 3 weeks to 4 weeks so that the students and faculty had more time to conduction collaborative research and education activities; 4) enhanced language training by including more contact hours; 5) enhanced student-student interaction by including meetings of students and student organized parties; 6) included two more universities for collaborations: Northwest Agricultural and Forest University and Anhui Normal University. PARTICIPANTS: Yong Wang, Principal Investigator, Professor, Wildlife Ecology and Biometry (2010, 2011). Zachary Senwo, Co-investigator, Research Director of School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Professor of Soil Microbial Biochemistry & Environmental Toxicology (2010). Xiongwen Chen, Co-investigator, Assistant Professor, Forest Ecology (2010, 2011). Robert W. Taylor, Dean of School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Professor of Environmental Soil Chemistry (2010). Govind C. Sharma, Professor, Plant Biology (2010). Wubishet Tadesse, Associate Professor, GIS and Remote Sensing (2010, 2011). Regine Mankolo, Research Assistant Professor, Soil Chemestry (2010). Dawn Lemke, PhD graduate student and Research Associate, GIS and Remote Sensing (2010). Kathleen Roberts, Ph.D. graduate student, Ecosystem (2011). Kevin Messenger, Ph.D. graduate student, Wildlife (2011). Stephanie Whitaker, MS graduate student, GIS and Remote Sensing (2011). Douglas Allen Washington, MS graduate student, Soil Science (2011). Stefanie Gresham, Undergraduate, GIS and Remote Sensing (2011). Kaisha Bellingheri, Undergraduate student, Animal Science (2011). Jasmine Mitchell, Undergraduate student, Management Information Systems (2010). Na-Asia Ellis, Undergraduate student, Environmental Science and Civil Engineering (2010). Major Chinese Collaborators: Dr. Fuliang, Cao, President and Professor of Forestry Dr. Jianhui Xue, Vice President and Professor of Forest Ecology Dr. Hao Wang, Dean and Professor of Landscape Architecture Dr. Zhang Qing Ping, Associate Dean and Professor Dr. Yulong Ding, Dean and Professor Dr. Suyan Chen, Human Ecology Dr. Guo Hui, Philosophy Ms. Qingyu Wang, Director Dr. Shi Dongrong, Deputy Director Ms. Chin An Hou, Administrative Assistant Dr. Jin Chi Zhang, Dean and Professor Dr. Yan-Ming Fang, Associate Dean and Professor of Botany Dr. Zhou Jian, Associate Dean and Professor Dr. Shengzuo Fang, Professor of Silviculture and Associate Dean Dr. Zhuge Qiang Professor Dr. Yuanchun Yu, Professor of Forest Soils and Environmental Sciences Dr. Yongbo Wu, Forestry and Ecological Engineering Dr. Tongming Yin, Professor of Molecular Biology Ms. Bo Zhang, Undergraduate student (soil loss mitigation in Dabie mountains) Dr. Mingshi Li, GIS and Remote Sensing Mr. Lin Cao, Instructor of GIS and Remote Sensing Dr. Feng Meo Chen, Professor of Nematology Dr. Lin Huang, Nematology and Microbiology Dr. Luozhong Tang, Associate Professor of Silviculture Dr. Haibo Wu, Professor of Soil, Water Conservation and Urban Forestry Ecology Dr. Yinlong Zhang, Professor of Ecology Dr. Mingyang Li, Associate Professor of Forest Management Dr. Huanchao Zhang, Professor of Soil Science TARGET AUDIENCES: Faculty and students of Alabama Agricultural and Mechnic University Faculty and students of Nanjing Forestry University and other institutions in China. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Faculty and students had better understanding of China's educational and research environment and high education system. We are developing new activities based on the MOU, which include faculty and student exchanges, developing joint programs, and enhancing collaboration in education and research between the two institutions. The faculty members of this year's program are disseminating their experience through their teaching and interactions with other faculty members and students. Our program has good exposure through AAMU's media. A new course (International Experience in Agriculture and Environmental Science) has been submitted for approval. We have submitted a new proposal to National Science Foundation to develop a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) project in China. We have also been funded through a capacity building grant to develop a similar program in Cost Rica.
Publications
- Wang, Y., Z. Senwo, X. Chen. 2011.Developing international collaboration with China in agricultural and environmental science. Abstracts of 68th Professional Agricultural Workers Conference, December 5-7, 2010, Tuskegee University, AL
- Wang, Y., Z. Senwo, X. Chen. 2011. Developing international collaboration with China in agricultural and environmental science. Abstracts of 16th Biennial Research Symposium 1890 Research: Sustainable Solutions for Current and Emerging Issues, April 9 - 13, 2011, Atlanta, GA
- Wang, Y., G. Sharma, Z. Senwo, X. Chen. 2010. Proceeding of Visit to Nanjing Forestry University and Associated Programs in the Peoples Republic of China. Published by Alabama Agricultural and Mechnic University.
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Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10
Outputs
Our first year project of 'Strengthening Minority Global Perspectives: Collaborative Partnerships with China in Agricultural Research and Education' achieved or exceeded the goals that we established. This year's program involved six faculty members, one graduate research associate, and two undergraduate students, representing a diverse research expertise and ethnic backgrounds. The project's main collaborator is the Nanjing Forestry University (NFU). The team also visited and explored collaborative opportunities at Beijing Forestry University, Beijing Normal University, Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Science, China Agricultural University, Institute of Soil Science of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Shanghai Research Institute of Landscape Gardening. The team also had opportunities of visiting several forest Industries to observe the production lines of wood and bamboo products. The team spent about three weeks at Nanjing Forestry University (6-25-10 to 7-13-10). The team had opportunities to meet and discuss with the President Fuliang Chao and Vice President for the Research and International Program, Dr. Jan Hui Xue. The team learned that the forest genetics and molecular biology and forest ecology and biodiversity are the emerging and fast growing areas in NFU. NFU has cooperation with several overseas universities and institutions that include University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of British Columbia and University of Toronto. The AAMU and NFU faculty jointly hold a seminar to introduce their research activities and expertise. The seminar topics covered a diverse backgrounds such as 'Forestry and development of poplar silviculture and utilization; ' 'People, landscape and ecological services for sustainable natural resource management;' 'Gender determination in poplars;' 'Select molecular biology approaches for cooperation;' and 'Forest soil research at NFU.' The similar was followed by faculty and students of AAMU visiting different research laboratories, which led to the development of the ideas and potentials for future collaborations. NFU also organized an excellent program to improve AAMU team's cultural and historical understanding of China through lectures on Chinese history tracing it from 2800 BC to the present and a glimpse of Chinese culture focusing on the Jia (family), the impact of the one child policy and the importance of tea among the seven essential items for sustaining life in Chinese lore - fire, wood, rice, salt, soil, vinegar and tea. The team had a three day field trip to Jiangsu and Anhui Provinces visiting field research sites and bamboo and wood production industry. A joint exit meeting was held and both parties agreed the goals of this first visit were fully accomplished. The team also had ample opportunities to explore China's cultural, history, and social backgrounds through visiting historical sites, interacting with civilian and students, and current fast economic development at several major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing. PRODUCTS: Faculty and students from AAMU were exposed to China's research and education system and collaboration opportunities. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between AAMU and NFU, which lays a foundation for future collaboration and development. Several presentations were given during the visit. We are developing the program for the 2011 team. Faculty members are exploring possibilities to develop joint proposal and research projects. NJF are preparing a team visit of AAMU at the end of this year or beginning of next year. OUTCOMES: Faculty and students had better understanding of China's educational and research environment and high education system. We are developing new activities based on the MOU, which include faculty and student exchanges, developing joint programs, and enhancing collaboration in education and research between the two institutions. The faculty members of this year's program are disseminating their experience through their teaching and interactions with other faculty members and students. Our program has good exposure through AAMU's media. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: We are updating the webpage of the project to include the trip reports from all the faculty and students who participated the trip this year. A comprehensive proceeding has been produced, which include the reports, pictures, the memorandum of understanding between Alabama A&M University and Nanjing Forestry University, has been developed and printed. We will distribute this proceeding to students and faculty members within AAMU and other institutions, particularly HBCUs and other minority serving institutions. We will give presentations at two professional conferences (Annual Conference of the Association of Research Directors of 1890 Institutions and 68th Professional Agricultural Workers Conference) about our program, accomplishment, and future plan. We are also planning to give presentation to students and faculty members in the AAMU about the program and international opportunities. FUTURE INITIATIVES: From Nanjing Forestry University perspectives: 1. Visiting professors will do more seminars 2. NFU will also expose AAMU visitors to the history of forest policy in China 3. Schedule future trips earlier in the semester; this time it overlapped the semester examination period. NFU has two 20 week semesters. The fall semester runs from September to January and spring term is from February to June. 4. Consider rudimentary Chinese language training prior to visiting China. 5. Arrange for more formal interaction between NFU students and visiting AAMU faculty. From Alabama A&M University perspectives: 1. Further enhance student exchange 2. Training of 1-2 graduate students or young faculty members from NFU at AAMU; and support for this is currently being explored on the AAMU side. 3. More defined Chinese cultural training. 4. Joint development of research grants; from the US side possibly under the Capacity Building, USDA/NIFA, or NSF. 5. A reciprocal visit by Presidents, VPs and Deans to AAMU. During which trips can also be arranged to observe the work of USDA/FS and USDA/NRCS work on campus and beyond. 6. Longer term faculty visits of 3 months to one year from both sides. 7. Offer a workshop in China on riparian or buffer zone planning. Progress in this regard is already taking place with a workshop manual being translated from English to Chinese at AAMU in cooperation with AAMU's USDA/FS partners. 8. Establish Confucius College at AAMU to promote Chinese language and cultural training at AAMU and in Alabama.
Impacts
The first year of this project already produced many impacts on AAMU campus. The students and faculty members on the trip have been developing relationships with Chinese partners for education and research. The faculty members and students in general are becoming more aware of the opportunities of this program and in China through our dissemination activities. The administrations from both institutions (NFU and AAMU) are understanding the teaching and research capacities at respective organizations much better, and the signing the MOU lays a solid foundation for future collaborations. We have refined our goals and objectives for this project based on this year's trip. The experience of running the program of this year will help us to make our program more successfully.
Publications
- Wang, Y. et al. 2010. A trip report of visiting Nanjing Forestry University and associated programs in the People's Republic of China. Alabama Agricultural and Mechnical University, Normal, AL. 44 pages.
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