** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROPOSAL AIMS TO DEVELOP A SELF-SUSTAINING TRAINING PROGRAM IN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION WITH A FOCUS ON CROP RESILIENCY TO HEAT AND DROUGHT. THE MAIN OBJECTIVES ARE: (I) CREATE AN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CURRICULUM FOR UNDERGRADUATES THAT INTEGRATES CROP BIOLOGY WITH EXTENSION; (II) PROVIDE TRAINING IN CRITICAL THINKING, PROBLEM SOLVING, DIGITAL COMPETENCY, AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS; (III) INCREASE PARTICIPATION OF UNDERREPRESENTED AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS IN CROP RESEARCH AND EXTENSION; (IV) PROMOTE CAREERS IN CROP SCIENCES AND EXTENSION BY EDUCATING UNDERGRADUATES ABOUT DIFFERENT CAREER PATHS AND BY HELPING THEM TO ESTABLISH PROFESSIONAL CONTACTS WITH PEERS, MENTORS, AND STAKEHOLDERS; (V) GENERATE NEW KNOWLEDGE ON CROP ADAPTATION MECHANISMS TO HEAT AND DROUGHT; AND (VI) STRENGTHEN THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY AND NEIGHBORING PUIS LEWIS-CLARK STATE COLLEGE, EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, AND GONZAGA UNIVERSITY FOR TRAINING UNDERGRADUATES IN CROP RESEARCH AND EXTENSION. THE MAIN TRAINING ELEMENT OF THE PROGRAM IS A SUMMER INTERNSHIP. A TOTAL OF TEN INTERNS WILL BE RECRUITED FROM THE PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS. EACH INTERN WILL ROTATE BETWEEN TWO LABORATORIES TO LEARN THE METHODOLOGIES OF BOTH FOUNDATIONAL AND APPLIED DISCIPLINES IN CROP SCIENCES INCLUDING BIOCHEMISTRY, GENETICS, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, AND PHYSIOLOGY. EXTENSION SPECIALISTS WILL ENGAGE STUDENTS IN FIELD TRIALS AND ORGANIZE WORKSHOPS, FARM VISITS, AND MEETINGS WITH THE REGIONAL COMMODITY COMMISSIONS. COLLECTING AND ANALYZING DATA FROM THE LABORATORY AND FIELD TRIALS WILL PROVIDE TRAINING IN DIGITAL COMPETENCY. PREPARING POSTERS AND ONLINE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ABOUT THEIR WORK AND PRESENTING THESE MATERIALS TO EACH OTHER, MENTORS, AND STAKEHOLDERS WILL FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS.