** 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 GOAL OF THE INTEGRATED INSECT-PLANT RESEARCH AND EXTENSION EXPERIENCES REEU IS TO DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION SCIENTISTS THROUGH A PROGRAM THAT (1) NURTURES INTEREST IN STEM CAREERS BY ENGAGING UNDERGRADUATES IN A COMPREHENSIVE 10-WEEK SUMMER RESEARCH AND EXTENSION EXPERIENCE, (2) DEVELOPS SKILLS IN EFFECTIVE SCIENCE COMMUNICATION THROUGH EXPERT MENTORSHIP AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES, (3) PROVIDES PRACTICE CREATING EXTENSION EDUCATION MATERIALS THROUGH INNOVATIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO REACH BROAD AUDIENCES, AND (4) SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTS THE CAREER DECISIONS OF SCHOLARS BY PROVIDING ACADEMIC RESEARCH EXPERIENCES AND FIELD TRIPS TO BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGED IN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION WITH A FOCUS ON INSECTS THAT AFFECT FOOD PRODUCTION, PLANT HEALTH, AND AGROECOSYSTEM SUSTAINABILITY. STUDENTS WILL ENGAGE IN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION OPPORTUNITIES FOCUSED ON INSECTS IN AGROECOSYSTEMS INCLUDING POLLINATORS (BEES, BUTTERFLIES), PESTS (NATURAL ENEMIES, STORED GRAIN, AND EMERGING PESTS), AND ARTHROPODS THAT TRANSMIT DISEASE TO ANIMALS (E.G., MOSQUITOES, TICKS) AND PLANTS (MITES). AS EMERGENT AGRICULTURAL ISSUES ARE COMPLEX AND INVOLVE SOCIETAL ISSUES LIKE A GROWING DISTRUST IN TRADITIONAL SOURCES OF SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION, WE SEEK TO INTEGRATE EXTENSION AND SCIENCE COMMUNICATION THEORY AND PRACTICE INTO THEIR EXPERIENCES. TO PREPARE THEM FOR SUCCESS AFTER THE PROGRAM, STUDENTS WILL ALSO RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON APPLYING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL, WORKING WITH MENTORS, SCIENCE ETHICS, SELF-CONFIDENCE, FORMING SCIENCE SELF-IDENTITY, AND OVERCOMING ISSUES LIKE BIAS THAT CAN IMPACT INCLUSIVITY AND BELONGING. THE EXPERIENCE WILL CULMINATE AT SUMMER'S END WHEN STUDENTS SHARE THEIR RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PRODUCTS AT A COMBINED REU RESEARCH FAIR.