** 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 NEXT GENERATION OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS FACE IMMENSE, INTERRELATED CHALLENGES DEMANDING CROPPING SYSTEMS INNOVATION, CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE, AND SCIENCE COMMUNICATION. THESE CHALLENGES REPRESENT THE ESSENTIAL CS BECAUSE THEY ARE IMPERATIVE WORKFORCE NEEDS FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE. THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE UNDERGRADUATES WITH INTERNSHIPS COMBINING APPLIED RESEARCH COMPONENTS WITH COUNTY EXTENSION PROGRAMMING. THE EXTENSION/PLANT SCIENCES INITIATIVE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, COMBINING THE STRENGTHS OF NC STATE AND N.C. A&T, WILL PROVIDE 10-WEEK INTERNSHIPS FOR 50 UNDERGRADUATES OVER FIVE YEARS THROUGHOUT NORTH CAROLINA. INTERNS, CO-MENTORED BY COUNTY EXTENSION DIRECTORS AND RESEARCH FACULTY MENTORS, WILL DEVELOP TECHNICAL COMPETENCE IN CROPPING SYSTEMS AND CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE WHILE ENHANCING THEIR SCIENCE COMMUNICATION SKILLS. PROFESSIONAL LEARNING WILL CREATE CREDENTIALS AND COMPETENCIES THAT LEAD TO CAREER PATHWAYS. INTERNS WILL COMPLETE ONLINE MODULES IN SCIENCE COMMUNICATION AND CAREER PATHWAYS. MOREOVER, INTERNS WILL ENGAGE WITH RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS IN ANNUAL SYMPOSIA AND ANNUAL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TOURS OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATIONS, COUNTY EXTENSION CENTERS, INDUSTRIES, AND FARMS. THIS EXCELLENT EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING WILL HELP INTERNS ADVANCE TO GRADUATE SCHOOL AND CAREERS, PREPARED FOR RESEARCH AND EXTENSION LEADERSHIP. UNDERGRADUATE APPLICANTS WILL BE RECRUITED THROUGH PERSONAL VISITS AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OFFICES. OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS WILL ENCOMPASS THE STATE'S HIGHLY DIVERSE UNDERGRADUATE POPULATION WITH SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR UNDERREPRESENTED UNDERGRADUATES. AT LEAST 50% OF THE INTERNS WILL BE FROM OUTSIDE THE HOST INSTITUTION, NC STATE UNIVERSITY. THE IMPACT WILL BE HIGHLY SKILLED GRADUATES, WITH CAREER AGENCY AND OPTIMISM, WHO ADVANCE THE ESSENTIAL CS THROUGH RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CAREERS.

North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC

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