Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/14
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience is undergraduate students majoring in agriculture and having an interest in sustainable agriculture. These included paid and unpaid research interns and students enrolled in sustainable agriculture and independent study classes. More than sixty percent of the interns participating in experiential research learning opportunities were from underrepresented groups. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? All interns were trained and mentored by agriculture faculty to enhance their research and soft skills. Students and faculty had opportunities to participate in professional development workshops at the different meetings attended. Graduates are hired in an area of agriculture or go on to graduate and professional schools. Other students have acquired summer internships at other agencies because of the skills they acquired. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The investigators have communicated project findings at the project directors’ meeting, NACTA meeting and other professional meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In fulfillment of objective 1, a new course, Current Issues in Sustainable Agriculture, was developed and taught by four faculty members, Lurline Marsh, Fawzy Hashem, Enrique Escobar and Mohammad Ali, from the disciplinary areas of plant science, soils science, animal science, and agricultural economics, respectively. This course and a revised introductory plant science lab course with added honors designation were approved for addition to the university’s undergraduate catalog. These curricular changes opened new opportunities for students to gain knowledge and learn about sustainable agriculture. In fulfillment of objective 2, students’ research skills and communication and problem solving skills were enhanced as demonstrated in (a) paper and poster presentations of their research findings to fellow students and faculty on and off campus and (b) through their responses to surveys they completed. Three interns won awards for their research poster presentation at the 2011, 2013 and 2014 annual meetings of the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) and two won awards at other meetings. Eight other interns made poster/paper presentations at meetings of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 UMES Research Days, 2012 Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences, 2013 Association of 1890 Research Directors Symposium, 2014 ASHS annual meeting and 2014 NOAA 7th Education and Science Forum. A total of 5 students have won awards for their research presentations. All students made on-campus presentations to faculty, staff and students. Dissemination of information on the impact of this project on students has been done at national teaching meetings and at project director’s meeting. The retention rate of these research interns in the department has been 100%. Of the 15 paid interns served by this project, 12 have graduated and are either in graduate or professional school or employed, the remaining three are successfully progressing in their senior year studies. Furthermore, several unpaid interns also gained experience working on sustainable agriculture projects through their enrollment in independent studies, internship and special problem courses. Faculty members, Marsh, Hashem, Arthur Allen and Corrie Cotton served as mentors for the students.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Marsh, L., F. M. Hashem, C. P. Cotton, A. L. Allen, B. Min, M. Clarke and F. Eivazi. 2014. Agriculture Undergraduate Interns Reflect on Their Research Internship Experiences. NACTA Journal Vol. 58, Supplement 1.
Grainger, C., F. Hashem, L. Marsh, L. Lee and B. Smith. 2014. Viability and Colonization of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza on Tomato and Cowpea Roots. HortScience 49 (9):S 290-291
"LaComb, C., C. Cotton, F. Hashem and L. Marsh. 2014. Influence of Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizae on Growth, Development and Nutrient Absorption of Sunflower.. HortScience 49 (9):S 126.
"Adams. I . and L. Marsh. 2014. Lettuce development under nutrient regimes with kelp, fish emulsion and synthetic fertilizers. 2014. NOAA 7th Education and Science Forum. P 098. Pg. 26.
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Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience is undergraduate students majoring in agriculture and having an interest in sustainable agriculture. These included paid and unpaid research interns and students enrolled in sustainable agriculture and independent study classes. Seventy-five percent of the interns participating in experiential research learning opportunities were from underrepresented groups. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Students and faculty had opportunities to participate in professional development workshops at the different meetings attended. Graduates are hired in an area of agriculture or go on to graduate school. Other students have acquired summer internships at other agencies because of the skills they acquired. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The investigators have communicated project findings at the project directors’ meeting and the NACTA meeting. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Plans are to complete the training of four current students, update survey results, and disseminate information on the effectiveness of the internships on the students’ communication and critical thinking skills.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In fulfillment of Objective 1, a new course, Current Issues in Sustainable Agriculture, was developed and revised for online instruction in fall 2013. It is being taught by the PI with guest lecturers from three other faculty from the disciplinary areas of plant science, soils science, animal science, and agricultural economics, respectively. Decision cases have been incorporated in the sustainable agriculture course to help students develop their problem-solving and communication skills. In fulfillment of Objective 2, the research skills and communication and problem solving skills of the students were enhanced, as demonstrated in paper and poster presentations of their research findings to fellow students and faculty on and off campus. Dissemination of information on the impact of this project on students has been done at national teaching meetings and at the project director’s meeting. The sustainable agriculture course and a revised introductory plant science lab course with an added honors designation were approved for addition to the university’s undergraduate catalog. Four interns made poster/paper presentations at the 2013 UMES Research Day, the 2013 Association of 1890 Research Directors Symposium, and the 2013 annual meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS). All research interns made on-campus presentations to faculty, staff, and students. Four faculty members served as mentors for the students. These curricular changes opened new opportunities for students to gain knowledge and learn about sustainable agriculture. Two interns won awards for their research presentations.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Marsh, L. E., F. Hashem, A. Allen, and C. Cotton. 2012. Building critical thinking and communication skills of undergraduates through sustainable agriculture experiences. USDA NIFA PD Conference/Workshop, Alabama A& M University, AL., September 16-19, 2012.
Marsh, L. E., F. M Hashem, C. P Cotton and A.L Allen. 2013. Undergraduate Research Experiences in Sustainable Agriculture: Students and Mentors Perceptions of Interns Skills. NACTA Journal, Vol. 57, Supplement 1.
Bottone, I., L. C. Kibet, A. L. Allen, F. M. Hashem, L. E. Marsh, R. B. Bryant, and E. B. May.
2013. Determining Urea Persistence in a Coastal Plains Soil: An Incubation Study. 17th ARD Biennial Research Symposium Program Pg.213.
Hudson, K.D., C. Cooper, L. Marsh, and B. Smith. 2013. Germination and Growth of Fall Cover
Crops Following Organic Tomatoes. 17th ARD Biennial Research Symposium Program Pg 196.
Goodman, E. L. , L.E. Marsh, and B.D. Smith. 2013. Vermiculture of Poultry Waste and Paper for Sustainable Agriculture. 17th ARD Biennial Research Symposium Program Pg 78.
Bottone, I., L. C. Kibet1, A. L. Allen1, L. E. Marsh1, F. M. Hashem1, E. B. May, and R. B. Bryant. 2013. Persistence of Urea in a Coastal Plain Soil: An Incubation Study. HortScience 48(9):S 318.
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Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Changing consumer preferences, food safety concerns, climate change, and the need to balance the environment and agriculture are pressing issues today. There is an urgent need to tackle these problems, using a multifaceted disciplinary approach, and to prepare students to be a part of a workforce that will contribute to solutions. Employers complain, however, that graduates are deficient in some skills, including problem solving and communication. This proposal seeks to enhance student problem solving and communication skills to prepare them for the workforce while building capacity in sustainable agriculture. The objectives are to (1) develop and revise curriculum to include current sustainable agriculture issues, and (2) infuse experiential learning activities in sustainable agriculture and related courses and activities to strengthen communication and problem solving skills. Outputs achieved the second year include a new course, Current Issues in Sustainable Agriculture, which was developed and taught in fall 2011; continuation of updated classrooms and field sites for experiential learning related to sustainable agriculture; paid internships for another four students in current research with faculty; assessment tools to measure the effectiveness of the students' communication and problem solving skills; four research projects conducted by students; interns' research presentations at local and national meetings, investigator's project presentation at national teaching meeting; and opportunities for students enrolled in special topic courses, independent study courses, and internship courses to conduct sustainable agriculture research. PARTICIPANTS: This project involved six faculty members, two research technicians, and the four undergraduate students from the university. The following faculty served as research mentors for the interns and/or in the development of the sustainable agriculture course: Drs. Marsh, Hashem, Allen, Ali, and Escobar and Corrie Cotton; they were from two academic departments and had appointments in research, teaching, and extension. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience is undergraduate students majoring in agriculture and having an interest in sustainable agriculture. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
New opportunities were developed for gaining knowledge and learning about sustainable agriculture through the new sustainable agriculture course that was developed and taught and through the internship opportunities. Students' research skills and communication and problem solving skills were enhanced as demonstrated in the paper and poster presentations of their research findings to fellow students and faculty on and off campus. One intern won a second place award for her research poster presentation at the 2011 annual meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science. Two other interns made poster presentations at meetings of the 2012 UMES Research Day and Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences. All students made on-campus presentations to faculty at the end of their study. A presentation on the assessment of critical thinking of the research interns was presented at a national teaching meeting. Similarly to year one, another intern completed her undergraduate degree and was admitted to graduate school.
Publications
- Goodman E., L. Marsh, and B. Smith. 2012. Using different waste materials as substrates in vermiculture. 2012 MANRRS meeting in Atlanta, GA.
- Marsh, L., F. Hashem, C. Cotton, and A. Allen. 2012. Assessing critical thinking and communication skills of undergraduate research interns in sustainable agriculture. NACTA Journal, Vol. 55, Supplement 1.
- Dorman, M. H., C. P. Cotton, and F. M. Hashem. 2011. Azospirillum and vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae use in ornamental crop production. http://ashs.confex.com/ashs/2011/webprogram/Paper6844.html Accessed 10/17/2012.
- Bottone, I. and A. Allen. 2012. Subsurface transport of urea nitrogen in a coastal plain soil. Poster presented at UMES 2012 Graduate Research Symposium.
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Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Changing consumer preferences, food safety concerns, climate change, and the need to balance the environment and agriculture are pressing issues today. There is an urgent need to tackle these problems, using a multifaceted disciplinary approach, and to prepare students to be a part of a workforce that will contribute to solutions. Employers complain, however, that graduates are deficient in some skills, including problem solving and communication. This proposal seeks to enhance student problem solving and communication skills to prepare them for the workforce while building capacity in sustainable agriculture. The objectives are to (1) develop and revise curriculum to include current sustainable agriculture issues, and (2) infuse experiential learning activities in sustainable agriculture and related courses and activities to strengthen communication and problem solving skills. Outputs achieved the first year include a new course, Current Issues in Sustainable Agriculture, which was scheduled to be taught in fall 2011; updated classrooms and field sites for experiential learning related to sustainable agriculture; paid internships for four students in current research with faculty; various assessment tools developed to measure the effectiveness of the students' communication and problem solving skills; four research projects conducted by students; and opportunities for students enrolled in special topic courses, independent study courses, and internship courses to conduct sustainable agriculture research. PARTICIPANTS: This project involved six faculty members, two research technicians, and the four undergraduate students from the university. The following faculty served as research mentors for the interns and/or in the development of the sustainable agriculture course: Drs. Marsh, Hashem, Allen, Ali, and Escobar and Corrie Cotton; they were from two academic departments and had appointments in research, teaching, and extension. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience is undergraduate students majoring in agriculture and having an interest in sustainable agriculture. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
New opportunities were developed for gaining knowledge and learning about sustainable agriculture through the new sustainable agriculture course that was developed and the internship opportunities. Students' research skills and communication and problem solving skills were enhanced as demonstrated in the paper and poster presentations of their research findings to fellow students and faculty on and off campus. An abstract of one intern's research was submitted and accepted for a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science. Another intern was awarded a summer internship based on the experience he had gained working on his sustainable project. A third intern completed his undergraduate degree and was admitted to graduate school.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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