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The NIFA Update is a weekly compendium of news and information that may be of interest to Land-Grant and non-Land-Grant Universities, NIFA stakeholders, and other subscribers.

                                                                                                                      Nov. 8, 2017

Making a Difference

4-H Invites Students to Tag Along on Antarctic Expedition

A unique program in Maine is giving teachers around the country the opportunity to let their students tag along with a researcher in the field. The program shows K-12 students the real-life scientific journeys that a STEM-rich (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education can provide.

"Follow a Researcher" is an innovative University of Maine (UMaine) 4-H program that uses technology and social media to connect K-12 classrooms with graduate students conducting field research in remote locations. One student, Lynn Kaluzienski, is using physics and geology to study the McMurdo Shear Zone in Antarctica.

Lynn and a team of scientists, engineers, and mountaineers are conducting scientific tests to determine how stable the Ross Ice Shelf will be in the future and how Antarctic sea ice melt may affect sea level rise. "Follow a Researcher " is partially funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture through UMaine Cooperative Extension. Read the full University of Maine Cooperative Extension article.

NIFA News

Trees Could Become Auto Parts Clemson University is hoping trees become part of your automobile. Clemson researchers are hoping to turn trees into lighter, stronger, and environmentally friendly components to your car. They are focusing on the glove box and fender at this time, but applications of the research could span to a variety of automobile components like bumpers and instrument panels. Read the full Clemson University article.   Photo caption: Srikanth Pilla, right, and his research team could help make auto parts lighter, stronger, and more environmentally friendly. Image provided by Clemson University.

Deirdra Chester Honored with Mary C. Egan Award

NIFA's Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition national program leader Deirdra Chester was awarded the Mary C. Egan Award Nov. 5 by the American Public Health Association at their annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. The award is presented to public health nutritionists who pioneer fresh approaches to public health nutrition, nutrition education and those groups with special dietary needs. 

 

NIFA wants to hear from you about priorities and opportunities in agricultural sciences. This will help inform NIFA on prioritizing science emphasis areas, identifying gaps in programming, and determining which programs are redundant or underperforming. Along with input from NIFA employees, your feedback gathered throughout the initiative will be used, in the context of NIFA’s current science emphasis areas, to identify gaps in current portfolios and potential investment opportunities. Still plenty of time to submit a written comment to NIFA Listens via the input form before Dec. 1 deadline.

NIFA Director Cuts the Ribbon on Bee Mural

On Nov. 2, NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy participated in the unveiling of the Good of the Hive, bee mural, at Janney Elementary School in Washington, D.C. 

Dennis Dimick to Deliver Seaman A. Knapp Lecture National Geographic Executive Editor Emeritus Dennis Dimick will present the 2017 Seaman A. Knapp Lecture at the Nov. 12 annual meeting of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy, director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, announced. Dimick is also co-founder of Eyes on Earth and was the 2013 National Press Photographers Association’s Sprague Award recipient. The lecture is one of three presented by NIFA and APLU. Each honors a historic land-grant university figure: Justin Smith Morrill, William Henry Hatch, and Seaman A. Knapp. Nominations for this prestigious award are submitted by the Land-Grant University System, stakeholders, foundations, public interest groups, and international organizations. Read the full Seaman A. Knapp Lecture announcement.  Photo caption: Dennis Dimick Portrait by Matt Busch National Geographic.

News for You

National Conference on Cover Crops, Soil Health The Soil and Water Conservation Society will host their second national conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health Dec. 7-8 at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana. Learn the recent developments in how cover crops are being used by innovative farmers across the United States and gain insights on improving soil health from producers, conservation leaders, and scientists. If you have years of experience with cover crops or are a beginner, this program will provide you with valuable information, networking, and learning opportunities. Learn more about the conference online.

Explore EDEN's New Website If you haven’t seen the Extension Disaster Education Network’s (EDEN) new website you should stop by and explore it. You can learn to navigate its three new channels, Educate, Explore and Engage. The redesigned website will reduce your time searching for research-based resources, grant projects, and programs, or other colleagues programming in disaster education. Visit EDEN’s new website.

Grant Announcements

USDA Invests in Colleges and Universities Serving Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians, Prepares Students for Careers in Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced support for three projects to strengthen the capacity of Alaskan and Hawaiian educational institutions to reach underserved students and prepare them for careers in food, agriculture, and natural resources. These awards are made through NIFA’s Alaska Native- and Native Hawaiian-Serving (ANNH) Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program. Read the full ANNA announcement.

USDA Invests in Research to Improve Domestic Aquaculture Production

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced four grants to support the development of environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture in the United States. These awards were made through the Aquaculture Research Program authorized by the Competitive Special and Facilities Research Grants Act, administered by NIFA. Read the full Aquaculture Research Program grant announcement. 

NIFA’s mission is to invest in and advance agricultural research, education, and extension to solve societal challenges.  NIFA’s investments in transformative science directly support the long-term prosperity and global preeminence of U.S. agriculture.

Editors: Judy Rude and Kelly Sprute                                                                                       

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