AGRI-SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ARE ADVANCING AT AN ACCELERATED PACE TO ADDRESS THE URGENT NEED TO PROVIDE FOOD, FIBER, AND FUEL TO A GROWING GLOBAL POPULATION. IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE NEW KNOWLEDGE AND DEVELOP WAYS TO EDUCATE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOUT AFRI'S PRIORITY AREA OF 'AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY' AND THE INCREASING COMPLEXITIES OF FOOD, FIBER AND FUEL SYSTEMS, EXCITE THEM ABOUT THE SCIENTIFIC FIELDS IN AGRICULTURE AND EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE MODERN TECHNOLOGIES IN FEEDING A GROWING GLOBAL POPULATION.NATIONAL AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM ORGANIZATION (NAITCO) AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR LISA GASKALLA PROPOSE HOLDING EIGHT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS (FOUR PER YEAR OVER TWO YEARS) CALLED 'STEP UP SCIENCE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL' AT LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES AND USDA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE (ARS) STATIONS FOR HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHERS, SCHOOL DISTRICT CURRICULUM SPECIALISTS AND UNIVERSITY-LEVEL TEACHER EDUCATORS. THEY WILL LEARN HOW THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS WORKS USING THE LATEST IN PLANT AND ANIMAL SCIENCE RESEARCH IN THE FIELD AND LABORATORY FROM PHD-LEVEL SCIENTISTS.TEACHERS WILL OBSERVE THESE SCIENTISTS IN ACTION AT EIGHT, TWO-DAY WORKSHOPS (FOUR PER YEAR) AROUND THE UNITED STATES IN THE SUMMER OF 2021 AND 2022. TWO HUNDRED TEACHERS (25 PER WORKSHOP) WILL BE SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS. SIXTEEN RESEARCHERS (TWO PER WORKSHOP) WITH THE MOST INNOVATIVE PROJECTS WILL BE SELECTED. VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS WILL REPLACE IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS IF NECESSARY.UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY'S DR. DEBRA SPIELMAKER, AN EXPERT EVALUATOR OF PRE-KINDERGARTEN-12TH GRADE AGRICULTURAL LITERACY PROJECTS, WILL EVALUATE WHAT EDUCATORS LEARN AND TAKE BACK TO THEIR CLASSROOMS.