Progress 01/15/13 to 01/14/18
Outputs
Target Audience:Graduate Students of Minority background, undergraduate students, local community of schools and farmers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During the entire project period, our program focused on emphasizing experiential and experimental learning, thesis research, peer mentoring, professional and technical training. We offered existing and new courses, colloquia, agri-science major, Agroecology Certificates, workshops, modules, field courses, and other research and educational training opportunities. One hundred percent of the students recruited have been engaged in research experiential learning activities. We have graduated four students, two in 2015, two in 2016, and current year two will be graduating by the end of the this summer. Nearly all of the students participated in some form of experiential learning mentoring. We find that one of the most influential aspects in the students' success in the project is the experiential learning that they are exposed to. The students benefit greatly through internships, peer mentoring, undertaking research, and others; all of our students are able to take advantage of these opportunities in this program. Students report the variety of experiential learning opportunities have improved their connection to the school and the surrounding community. Peer mentoring has built camaraderie and provided leadership. Experiential learning activities has shown them different paths that they may follow after graduation. Their participation in the project is helping them to visualize themselves in other opportunities besides medicine and engineering, which most students know. The program students also have involved themselves in several community engagement activities. In addition, the program students made several poster or oral presentations at different national and regional conferences. Almost all of the students had opportunity to take part in the same workshops or conferences. These conferences allowed students to network with students of other colleges and universities, USDA agencies, graduate schools and industry representatives. Throughout the project period, we also conducted 12 online and 50 in-person professional technical workshops on campuses. The topics covered in the professional workshops and symposia included: business etiquette, resume building, internship application workshop, interviewing skills, and navigating the federal government. Technical workshops and symposia included tissue culture, pollinator insects, identification of plant diseases, plant propagation, and multiple topics on Soils. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The NNF students have presented in local, regional, and national events sharing their research experiences in agriculture, environmental sciences, and biology. The opportunity for all our students to present their work in their specific research or internship experience is fundamental towards fomenting a scene of pride and long-lasting engagement in the area of agriculture. Presentations are among the most difficult of activities for most of our students. However, after they are done, they feel that they accomplished a great step in their career. One hundred percent of our students so far have completed at least two presentations through the project and they now feel better about their communication skills. NNF students have participated in about 40 different community engagement activities during the project period. The program has worked to provide K-12 and general community outreach through school visits, tours, presentations, and educational activities. Besides symposia, conferences, publications, NNF program activities disseminated through agroecology website, social media - agroecology face book, and our own CULTIVATOR newsletter. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This NNF grant program has enabled us to engage under-represented students in biological, environmental, and soil and plant sciences at our institution. One hundred percent are of minority background. In general, we have engaged more than 1000 students (both grant-funded and unfunded and K-12 students), in various grant-related events, including research symposiums, campus garden tours, summer internships, presentations, educational activities, courses, internships, and travel opportunities offered by the NNF. In 2013-2018, we also conducted our usual annual Agroecology Symposiums at FIU. These scholarly activities, along with the interactive sessions with area government and non-governmental agricultural institutions and visits to local farms and agri-businesses have expanded participating faculty's expertise in offering training and advice to college and high school students on issues related to local and national agriculture and environmental management. We have graduated four students from this grant and two students are making progress for completion and will graduate this summer. Total of six graduate students funded and completing their studies. Two of them pursuing PhD. Two of them employed by USDA.
Publications
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Ramon Salazar. 2015. Leaf functional traits and forest structure of tropical dry forest species along a rainfall gradient in Florida and Puerto Rico
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Herma Pierre. 2015. Mangiferin as a biomarker for mango anthrocnose resistance.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Ariel Freidenreich. 2016. Effect of pesticides on soil biology of okra: a comparison between organic vs conventional systems
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Brittany Hariis. 2016. Effect of mosquito control chemicals on native plants pollinators in Florida Keys.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Meghan Lenahan. 2018. Effect of organic pesticides on insect biology of snap beans in Florida.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Erich Duetel. 2018. Sea level raise and salt water intrusion on tropical fruit production.
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Progress 01/15/15 to 01/14/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Graduate Students of Minority background, undergraduate students, local community of schools and farmers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During the reporting year, our program focused on emphasizing experiential and experimental learning, thesis research, peer mentoring, professional and technical training. We offered existing and new courses, colloquia, agri-science major, Agroecology Certificates, workshops, modules, field courses, and other research and educational training opportunities. One hundred percent of the students recruited have been engaged in research experiential learning activities. We have graduated four students, two last year and two in current year and two will be graduating by the end of the project year. Nearly all of the students participated in some form of experiential learning mentoring. We find that one of the most influential aspects in the students' success in the project is the experiential learning that they are exposed to. The students benefit greatly through internships, peer mentoring, undertaking research, and others; all of our students are able to take advantage of these opportunities in this program. Students report the variety of experiential learning opportunities have improved their connection to the school and the surrounding community. Peer mentoring has built camaraderie and provided leadership. Experiential learning activities has shown them different paths that they may follow after graduation. Their participation in the project is helping them to visualize themselves in other opportunities besides medicine and engineering, which most students know. The program students also have involved themselves in several community engagement activities. In addition, the program students made several poster or oral presentations at different national and regional conferences. Almost all of the students had opportunity to take part in the same workshops or conferences. These conferences allowed students to network with students of other colleges and universities, USDA agencies, graduate schools and industry representatives. Throughout the year, we also conducted four online and 21 in-person professional technical workshops on campuses. The topics covered in the professional workshops and symposia included: business etiquette, resume building, internship application workshop, interviewing skills, and navigating the federal government. Technical workshops and symposia included tissue culture, pollinator insects, identification of plant diseases, plant propagation, and multiple topics on Soils. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The NNF students have presented in local, regional, and national events sharing their research experiences in agriculture, environmental sciences, and biology. The opportunity for all our students to present their work in their specific research or internship experience is fundamental towards fomenting a scene of pride and long-lasting engagement in the area of agriculture. Presentations are among the most difficult of activities for most of our students. However, after they are done, they feel that they accomplished a great step in their career. One hundred percent of our students so far have completed at least one presentation through the project and they now feel better about their communication skills. NNF students have participated in about 13 different community engagement activities during the year. The program has worked to provide K-12 and general community outreach through school visits, tours, presentations, and educational activities. Besides symposia, conferences, publications, NNF program activities disseminated through agroecology website, social media - agroecology face book, and our own CULTIVATOR newsletter. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are on track and making progress. One of the two students will be defending his thesis work in Fall 2017. The second student is making progress on her thesis work. We conduct biweekly meetings, review progress and address any issues. We plan to continue to engage students in professional and academic activities in the final year. We will review students theses and prepare them for peer-reviewed publications. We will be submitting final report.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This NNF grant program has enabled us to engage under-represented students in biological, environmental, and soil and plant sciences at our institution. One hundred percent are of minority background. In general, we have engaged more than 500 students (both grant-funded and unfunded and K-12 students), in various grant-related events, including research symposium, campus garden tour, summer internships, presentations, educational activities, courses, internships, and travel opportunities offered by the NNF. In 2017, we also conducted our usual annual Agroecology Symposium at FIU. These scholarly activities, along with the interactive sessions with area government and non-governmental agricultural institutions and visits to local farms and agri-businesses have expanded participating faculty's expertise in offering training and advice to college and high school students on issues related to local and national agriculture and environmental management. We have graduated four students from this grant and two students are making progress for completion.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Krish Jayachandran. National Needs Fellowship Program and Tips for New Investigators. USDA-NIFA Competitive Funding Opportunities Workshop.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Krish Jayachandran. Experiential and Experimental Learning Approaches for Multicultural Scholars in Agroecology. PDs Conference, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Bhat, M.G., K. Jayachandran, K. Shetty, A. Khoddamzadeh and Eric Betancourt. FIU Agroecology Program: Innovative Curriculum for Student Academic and Career Success. Poster presented at the Inaugural Faculty Innovations for Student Success Showcase, Sponsored by FIU Faculty Senate and Office of the Provost, March 2017.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Krish Jayachandran, Mahadev Bhat, and Kateel Shetty. 2016. Experiential and Experimental Learning Approaches in Agriculture Sciences at Florida International University. Poster presentation at NACTA Annual Conference, June, 21-24, Honolulu, Hawaii.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Krish Jayachandran. Experiential and Experimental for graduate and undergraduates in Agroecology.Knowledge Exchange for STEM Education. The White House Office of Science and Technology, USDA, NSF, Alexandria, Washington DC.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Brittany Harris. Effect of Pesticides on Pollinators.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Thais Thiesan. A framework for assessing alternative agroecosystems in urban Miami.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Ari.el Freidenreich. Organic vs Synthetic pesticides on soil biology
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