** 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 ONGOING GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGESHAVE CAST LARGE UNCERTAINTIES FORTHE FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY OF AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL SYSTEMS. PROGRAMS ARE NEEDED TOPROVIDE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH ADDRESSING THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES THAT AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL SYSTEMS FACE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND CHANGE. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES OFTHESE PROGRAMS IS A SHORTAGE OF STUDENTS WITH QUANTITATIVE SKILLS IN MODELING, GIS, AND REMOTE SENSING, WHICH IS PARTICULARLY CRITICAL IN MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS OR MEDIUM-TO-SMALL INSTITUTIONS THAT TRADITIONALLY LACK OF SUCH RESOURCES.THIS PROJECT AIMS TO STRENGTHEN RESEARCH CAPACITY IN GEOSPATIAL DATA SCIENCE BY PROVIDING HISPANIC UNDERGRADUATESSYSTEMATIC EXPERIENTIAL LEARNINGOPPORTUNITIES VIA NEW GEOSPATIAL DATA SCIENCE MODULES, NEW RESEARCH COURSE, AND SUBSEQUENT SUMMER INTERNSHIP. THEOBJECTIVESARE: 1) TO ENHANCE GEOSPATIAL DATA SCIENCE SKILLS OF HISPANIC STUDENTS WITH HANDS-ON RESEARCH EXPERIENCES; 2) TO ENHANCE CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS IN APPLICATION OF GEOSPATIAL DATA SCIENCE TO RESEARCH ADDRESSING CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND CHANGE VIA MENTORING; 3) TO ATTRACT/SUPPORT HISPANIC STUDENTS FOR PREPARATION OF CAREERS IN AGRICULTURE/NATURAL RESOURCES OR GRADUATE SCHOOL; AND 4) TO SELF-SUSTAIN THE SYSTEMATIC RESEARCH TRAINING AND TO STRENGTHEN LONG-TERM COOPERATIVE CONSORTIUM AMONG HSIS, USDA, AND STATE GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES BEYOND THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION. THEACTIVITIESARE: 1) TO DEVELOP MODULES OF GEOSPATIAL DATA SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND OFFER IN COURSES OF GIS, REMOTE SENSING, AND STATISTICS; 2) TO DEVELOP AND OFFER A NEW RESEARCH COURSE ON APPLICATIONS OF GEOSPATIAL DATA SCIENCE TO RESEARCH OF AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES; 3) TO PROVIDE SUMMER INTERNSHIPS AT PARTICIPATING USDA, STATE GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY, AND HSIS; 4) TO PROVIDE COMMUNICATION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER ADVISING; AND 5) TO RECRUIT, RETAIN, AND KEEP TRACK OF PARTICIPATING STUDENTS BEYOND THE PROJECT.STUDENTS TO BE RECRUITED: 25 SUMMER INTERNS, 50 PARTICIPATING THE RESEARCH COURSE, 50 MORE BENEFITING FROM GEOSPATIAL DATA SCIENCE MODULES.INTENDED IMPACTS: THE PROJECT WILL LEADTO ENHANCED RESEARCH CAPACITIES IN GEOSPATIAL DATA SCIENCE, SYSTEMATIC EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, ENRICHED CURRICULA, SUSTAINABLE COOPERATION AMONG HSIS, USDA, AND STATE AGENCIES, AND ATTRACTING/ RETAINING OF HISPANIC STUDENTS.