**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 ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE HAS ENABLED FARMERS TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS AND WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY YET UNDERSTANDING BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF ITS ROLE AND SAFETY IS LIMITED. THIS FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM PROVIDES HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH IN ALASKA, HAWAI'I, AND NEBRASKA WITH SKILLS NEEDED TO CREATE EDUCATIONAL VIRTUAL REALITY TOURS THAT INFORM VIEWERS ABOUT UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES, AUTOMATION, ROBOTICS, GENE EDITING, AND DATA SCIENCE TO BUILD PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE AND THE FOOD SYSTEM.THE PROGRAM INCLUDES EDUCATION ON PLANT, ANIMAL, SOIL, AND FOOD SCIENCES IN ADDITION TO A HISTORY OF TECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE AND TRADITIONAL CULTURAL PRACTICES TO PROVIDE CONTEXT FOR TODAY'S INNOVATIONS. THE 40-HOUR FLEXIBLE DELIVERY PROGRAM WILL FEATURE A FINAL PUBLIC SHOWCASE.COLLEGE STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURE MAJORS AT LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITIES WILL FACILITATE THE PROGRAMS AND UNIVERSITY FACULTY AND AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS WILL SERVE AS EXPERTSPEAKERS THAT SUPPORT EDUCATION AND CAREER PATHWAYS IN AGRICULTURE. THE LEARNING EXPERIENCES INCORPORATE POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOCUSED ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS. ACTIVITIES ARE HANDS-ON WITH PROCESS DISCUSSIONS TO DEEPEN UNDERSTANDING.CURRICULUM WILL BE DEVELOPED USING THE AGRICULTURE, FOOD & NATURAL RESOURCES STANDARDS (AFNR, 2018), WHICH HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED IN THE PATHWAY SYSTEMS OF SECONDARY AND HIGHER EDUCATION IN NEBRASKA, ALASKA, AND HAWAI'I.THROUGH PRODUCTS DEVELOPED SUCH AS VR TOURS AND VIDEOS, PODCASTS FEATURING EXPERT INTERVIEWS, EDUCATIONAL SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, AND A PUBLIC WEBSITE, TO INDIRECTLY REACH ADDITIONAL YOUTH AND ADULTS.

University Of Hawaii, Honolulu

Investigators