**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 SUPERSTAR PROJECT IS PROPOSED TO THE REEU PROGRAM BY ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE FACULTIES AT CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, BAKERSFIELD (CSUB). THIS 4-YEAR PROJECT (40 WEEKS PER YEAR) WILL ACHIEVE THE AFRI EWD PROGRAM GOAL OF DEVELOPING PATHWAYS AND COVER 4 AFRI PROGRAM PRIORITY AREAS (PLANT HEALTH AND PRODUCTION, FOOD NUTRITION AND HEALTH, BIOENERGY/NATURAL RESOURCES/ENVIRONMENT, AND AGRICULTURE ECONOMICS). THE LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO ENRICH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND DEVELOP WORKFORCE TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM (CROP HEALTH, GRAPE QUALITY, ALTERNATIVE IRRIGATION WATER, WILDFIRE, VALLEY FEVER, COW MANURE MANAGEMENT, RENEWABLE ENERGY DEMAND, WATER-ENERGY NEXUS) IN THE NATION'S LEADING AGRICULTURE REGION, CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL VALLEY. THE PROJECT ALIGNS WITH USDA AFRI GOALS, USDA SCIENCE BLUEPRINT THEMES, AND USDA AGRICULTURE INNOVATION AGENDA. CSUB (HOST INSTITUTION) WILL COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO TRAIN STEM/FANH PROGRAM UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, WOMEN, UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES, VETERANS AND FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS TO GUARANTEE DIVERSITY/EQUALITY (50% OUTSIDE STUDENTS). THE PROJECT HAS 5 OBJECTIVES: 1) ENRICH STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS OF AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY VIA EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING WITH 7 FACULTY MENTORS AT CSUB (12 STUDENT RESEARCHERS ANNUALLY, MENTOR/RESEARCHER RATIO=1/4); 2) DEVELOP SERVICE-LEARNING INTERNSHIPS AT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND BUSINESS/COMMUNITY PARTNERS WITH AT LEAST 6 INDUSTRY/GOVERNMENT MENTORS (12 INTERNS ANNUALLY, MENTOR/INTERN RATIO>1/2); 3) IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY-RELATED EDUCATION BY UPDATING CURRICULUM MATERIALS; 4) DISSEMINATE PROJECT INFORMATION THRU WEBSITE/LISTSERVS, SYMPOSIUMS AND RESEARCH CONFERENCES, AND 5) ENHANCE STUDENTS' ENTHUSIASM FOR EARNING A STEM/FANH DEGREE AND PURSUING GRADUATE STUDY. THE PROJECT WILL ULTIMATELY ENHANCE AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY, IMPROVE KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE OF FUTURE AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE, AND BUILD A TIGHT CONNECTION BETWEEN STUDENTS AND EMPLOYERS.

California State University, Bakersfield Auxiliary For Sponsored Programs Administration

Investigators