**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE SUPERDAR 2 (SUPPORTING UNDERGRADUATES BY PROMOTING EDUCATION, EXTENSION, RESEARCH, DIVERSITY, AND AGRICULTURAL RESILIENCE) PROJECT ADDRESSES TWO MAJOR ISSUES CONFRONTING TODAY'S SOCIETY. FIRST, AGRICULTURAL INTENSIFICATION (E.G. OVERUSE OF FERTILIZERS, PESTICIDES, WATER, MONOCULTURE CROP PRODUCTION) AND DESTRUCTION OF NATURAL HABITATS RESULT IN LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY, INCREASED POLLUTION, GROUND-WATER TOXICITY, AND OTHER NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. LIKEWISE, CHANGES IN THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STRUCTURES NECESSARY TO SUPPORT INTENSIVE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS RESULT IN POOR QUALITY OF LIFE FOR FARMWORKERS, THEIR CHILDREN, AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. SECOND, MOST SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS LACK EXPERIENTIAL, OR HANDS-ON LEARNING AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES THAT PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE WORKFORCE. MOREOVER, FEW UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS (OR STUDENTS OF COLOR) PURSUE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES AS UNDERGRADUATES OR GO ON TO GRADUATE PROGRAMS AND CAREERS IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE. TO SOLVE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE, WE MUST BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND AQUACULTURE AND CONNECTIONS TO AGRICULTURAL POLICY AND FOOD JUSTICE AND MUST ALSO DEVELOP A MORE PREPARED AND DIVERSE WORKFORCE.TO ADDRESS THESE TWO PROBLEMS, WE WILL CONTINUE A SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH AND MENTORING PROGRAM FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, PRIMARILY UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS, AT U. OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ (UCSC). UCSC IS A LEADER IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE EDUCATION AND SUPPORTS RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND JOB PLACEMENT FOR UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE REGIONAL AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY. WE ALSO SUPPORT CALIFORNIA'S ONLY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SPECIALIST IN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE. OUR RESEARCH OBJECTIVE IS TO ADVANCE INTERDISCIPLINARY SOLUTIONS TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, AQUACULTURE, AND FOOD JUSTICE. OUR EDUCATION OBJECTIVE IS TO BROADEN STUDENT EXPERIENCE WITH A RESEARCH AND MENTORING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOR UNDERREPRESENTED UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL-RELATED FIELDS. OUR STUDENTS WILL WORK WITH FACULTY MENTORS TO CONDUCT INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ON THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL AND AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT BIODIVERSITY, NATURALLY CONTROL PESTS AND DISEASES, AND MITIGATE AND ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE. OUR STUDENTS WILL ALSO RESEARCH HOW AGRICULTURE POLICY AND POLITICAL ECONOMIC ANALYSIS CAN SUPPORT FARMS, FARMWORKER, AND CONSUMER COMMUNITIES. STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS TO DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND WILL LEARN VALUABLE SKILLS IN RESEARCH, SCIENCE COMMUNICATION, AND IN OUTREACH AND EXTENSION TO FARMERS AND GROWERS IN OUR REGION. WE WILL WORK WITH UCSC ENTITIES AND REGIONAL PARTNERS TO ENHANCE STUDENT SUCCESS AND RETENTION, AND WILL SUPPORT MENTORING ACTIVITIES, WORKSHOPS, AND FIELD TRIPS FOR FELLOWS. IN SUM, OUR PROJECT WILL ADVANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND AQUACULTURE AND WILL PROVIDE AN ARRAY OF EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO STUDENTS WITH THE GOAL OF INCREASING THE INTEREST AND PREPAREDNESS OF UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL AND CAREERS IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND AQUACULTURE.