Performing Department
Civil Engineering
Non Technical Summary
The Center for Sustainable Futureswithin the School of Engineering along with the School of Architecture at Morgan State University (MSU) propose to host a conference to share findings from research being conducted by an MSU faculty and students on Geological Agriculture (GeoAg) within the disciplines of architecture and engineering. GeoAg is defined as the study of cultivating vegetation in geological formations without the use of soils and fertilizers. As described in the book, River Stones Grow Plants by Richard Campbell (2017), under the appropriate conditions, rocks release beneficial minerals for plant cultivation. Mr. Campbell holds the patent (#9,119,351) for this new agricultural approach. Evidence in this book suggests that plants may have higher nutritional value when grown in geological environments with some growing faster in rock environments than in soil environments. Building on preliminary findings of a GeoAg pilot to address food desert issues in Atlanta (Miller, 2019). MSU has been conducting alternative sustainable engineering and architectural solution for green space access during the pandemic, investigating GeoAg theories with Mr. Campbell and his company consultants from To Soil Less. MSU is an HBCU that is loacted in the inner city of BaltimoreThe objectives of the proposed conference are aligned to those in the a. Engineering for Agriculture Production Systems. Program Area Priority Code: A1521. Key Objectives:1. Share with the MSU faculty and other GeoAg research community faculty has been conducted to date2. Explore impact that GeoAg has on bioprocessing and bioengineering3. Evaluate GeoAg aerospace engineering and landscape engineering systems4. Assess potential this research holds for minorities in STEM, architecture and sustainability5. Share research and work of students who have engaged in GeoAg research.This proposal is submitted in response to area of Engineering for Agriculture Production Systems
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
60%
Developmental
20%
Goals / Objectives
Project Objectives. The objectives of the proposed conference are aligned to those in the a. Engineering for Agriculture Production Systems. Program Area Priority Code: A1521. Key Objectives:Share with the Morgan State University faculty and other GeoAg research community faculty has been conducted to dateExplore impact that GeoAg has on bioprocessing and bioengineeringEvaluate GeoAg aerospace engineering and landscape engineering systemsAssess potential this research holds for minorities in STEM, architecture and sustainabilityShare research and work of students who have engaged in GeoAg research
Project Methods
The method or announcement or invitation that will be usedIn Person InvitationPresenter Marketing - Each of the 10 presenters may bring 2 guests (20 total) to attend the conference online. Invitations will be emailed, and followed up by personally by each presenter.Students - MSU faculty will each select 2 students each (10 total) to participate, present, and/or support the conference as registrations, ushers, and/or researchers, as appropriate.MSU and Other Faculty -With more than 15 GeoAg faculty and 150 faculty across HBCUs and African University, Spillover from these outreach tactics can participate via the conference livestream.MSU Support - On-site support will be provided by the MSU events team and the audio-visual team, which will have one representative and two people on-site, respectively. MSU's marketing department will be on site to respond to media, update social media, and write follow-up press releases.In Person Press / Media OutreachMedia Marketing - MSU Communications department will send a press release to MD area and United States press outlets to promote the conference and its presenters, field phone inquiries, and arrange for press to attend online or in-person.Online Viewing AudiencePartnership Marketing - Local partners will help to promote the event within their communities and may additionally host viewing parties at their facilities. Partners include the local K12 public schools, 3M, and the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity which is based in the Baltimore. Additionally, the four presenters who are not from MSU schools will promote the conference on their campuses, where viewers will be able to watch a live stream of the eventThis conference will integrate the following methods of outreach and execution to meet the objectives of the conference:Outreach MethodsDr's Owalabi and Kirshner, and Mr. Campbell - along with MSU staff and stakeholders appropriate - will use email, special invitations, partnership marketing, and campus marketing to engage stakeholders and ensure a primary viewing audience of 75 and an online audience of 250+. The method of announcements will be public postings, press release, invitations and digital invitations. These will be supported by social media posts.Execution MethodsMSU planners will collaborate with internal staff, consultants and speakers to coordinate and plan the event.