** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** PREPARING RESEARCHERS, EXTENSIONISTS, AND EDUCATORS FOR WATER SUSTAINABILITY (PREE H2O) WILL ADDRESS CRITICAL WATER AND AGRICULTURE ISSUES IN THE WATER-STRESSED PASO DEL NORTE REGION, TEXAS. 100 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO (UTEP) AND EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE (EPCC) WILL ACQUIRE A TRANSDISCIPLINARY AND TRANSBORDER UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTERCONNECTED ISSUES THAT IMPACT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF WATER AGRICULTURE IN THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE BASIN.OUR GOAL IS TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO SEEK REWARDING CAREERS IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION, THUS DIVERSIFYING THE BASE IN TERMS OF DISCIPLINARITY AND ETHNICITY. STUDENTS WILL BE RECRUITED FROM NATURAL, HEALTH, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES; ENGINEERING; AND TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS, TO JOINTLY ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH TRANSDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES IN THE TRANSBORDER ENVIRONMENT SERVED BY UTEP AND EPCC, BOTH HISPANIC-DOMINATED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.