THE ASSOCIATION OF 1890 RESEARCH DIRECTORS (ARD) WILL HOST THE 20TH BIENNIAL RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM IN APRIL 2022. THE GOAL OF THIS RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM IS "TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR INTERACTIONS, KNOWLEDGE SHARING, BUILDING NETWORKS FOR EXPANDED PARTNERSHIPS, AND TO SHOWCASE THE TALENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE 1890 COMMUNITY. BY PLACING PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON STUDENT PARTICIPATION, THE ARD PROVIDES ITS STUDENTS WITH AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME EXPOSED TO THE DIVERSITY OF SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND THE SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE DISCIPLINES.BECAUSE THE STUDENTS WILL MAKE SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS, THE SYMPOSIUM ADDRESSES ONE OF NIFA GOALS OF EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF FOOD, AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND HUMAN SCIENCES, AND CONTRIBUTES POSITIVELY TO NIFA'S MISSION, "TO INVEST IN AND ADVANCE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND EXTENSION TO SOLVE SOCIETAL CHALLENGES."THE ARD RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM WILL ALSO ADDRESS THE FIVE USDA/NIFA PRIORITIES:CONTAINING THE PANDEMIC; ENSURING RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY; ENSURING FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY; REBUILDING THE RURAL ECONOMY; AND ADDRESSING THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE ATLANTA MARRIOTT MARQUIS IN ATLANTA, GA, APRIL 2 - 5, 2022. THE THEME OF THE 2022 CONFERENCE IS "THE 1890 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION AGENDA: PATHWAYS TO BUILD BACK BETTER." THE SYMPOSIUM INTERDISCIPLINARY FOCUS AREAS ARE:FAMILY, YOUTH, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTFOOD SAFETY, NUTRITION, HEALTH, AND HEALTH DISPARITIESRENEWABLE ENERGY, NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGEPLANT HEALTH AND PRODUCTION AND PLANT PRODUCTSANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS