** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** BUILDING ON PAST SUCCESSES, THE APPLIED PLANT SYSTEMS 2 PROGRAM (APS.2) WILL IMPLEMENT AND EVALUATE AN UNDERGRADUATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AIMED AT ENHANCING STUDENTS' ABILITIES TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UTILIZE RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS GAINED IN THE PROGRAM TO ADDRESS AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES CHALLENGES. DURING THE SUMMER, STUDENTS WILL ENGAGE IN INTERNSHIP RESEARCH AND/OR EXTENSION ACTIVITIES ALIGNED WITH THEIR CAREER INTERESTS. THEY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE FROM A RANGE OF OPTIONS PROVIDED BY A NETWORK OF RESEARCH AND EXTENSION MENTORS.MOREOVER, THE APS.2 PROGRAM WILL INCORPORATE SEVERAL KEY COMPONENTS:INTEGRATION OF A STRUCTURED TEAM-BUILDING WORKSHOP.FACILITATION OF COGNITIVE ENGAGEMENT ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI).PREPARATION OF PARTICIPANTS TO LEAD A HALF-DAY EXPERIENTIAL SESSION AT A YOUTH AGRICULTURAL CAMP.GUIDING OF PARTICIPANTS TO DEVELOP AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES LEARNING/TEACHING TOOLS FOR HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHERS.WE ANTICIPATE THAT PARTICIPATING INTERNS WILL DEVELOP EXCEPTIONAL SKILLS IN SCIENCE EFFICACY, SYSTEMS THINKING, EFFECTIVE AND INCLUSIVE TEAMWORK, AND A STRONG INTEREST IN AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES OUTREACH AND EXTENSION.