Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Smart farming is a key to developing sustainable agriculture. The advances in smart farming require skills in innovative agricultural technologies. In this project, we will prepare students to serve as the next-generation workforce in agriculture with exceptional skills in innovative agricultural technologies. Our specific objectives are as follows: 1) develop undergraduates' knowledge of and skills in the Internet of Things (IoT), Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), and geospatial data analytics for smart farming; 2) train students with extension experience and professional development through government agencies and industry partners; 3) inspire curiosity and confidence in STEM students to pursue graduate study and enter the agricultural workforce. This program will support 40 students over 5 years (8 students/year) for a 25-week (17-week Spring/Fall semesters virtually and 8-week summer internship) hands-on team-based project-focused research experience. We will recruit students entering their junior year and senior community college students, especially Hispanics and women in STEM and agriculture fields, from three Hispanic Serving Institutions in South Texas. Successfully trained participants will have opportunities to attend and present at conferences. The intended impact of this project is to educate and empower undergraduates with these innovative agricultural technologies, thereby preparing qualified and passionate professionals to enter the agricultural career pipeline.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
60%
Developmental
30%
Goals / Objectives
1. To provide undergraduate students with experiential learning research and extension experiences in innovative agriculture technologies for sustainable agricultural intensification through IoTs, UAS, and geospatial data analytics.2. Todevelop career pathways by offering experiential learning for undergraduates, especially Hispanics and women, that equips them with the technical skills in innovative agricultural technologies for employment in the agricultural sector or graduate study.
Project Methods
For this REEU program, we will build a student-centered active learning environment through immersive, hands-on research and extension experiences. We have specifically designed four interrelated research topics for this program, along with a series of seminars, short courses with hands-on activities, team projects, and extension activities led by a multidisciplinary team of faculty mentors.The proposed evaluation will employ a rigorous examination across the entire project spectrum (process, implementation, outcomes, and sustainability) and will include both formative and summative evaluation activities.Evaluation activities will examine grant implementation and outcomes, compare actual grant outcomes to targeted outcomes, and identify lessons learned on a continuous basis. Grant strategy implementation will be evaluated to determine the extent to which program activities are implemented with fidelity and/or modified to fit local context and culture.