Project Grant 20236703740319

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF SCIENCE IN AMERICA IS TENUOUS. THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) SCIENCE BLUEPRINT DESCRIBED A COMMUNICATION GAP BETWEEN SCIENTISTS AND NONSCIENTISTS. THE REPORT NOTED THAT DESPITE UNPRECEDENTED SCIENTIFIC AND INFORMATION PROGRESS, THERE REMAINS INCREASING DISTRUST OF SCIENCE AND POLITICIZATION OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES, IN PART BECAUSE OF PUBLIC MISUNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE, SCIENTISTS' INEFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, AND INCREASED TENDENCIES TO REPORT SELECT INFORMATION THAT CONFIRMS ONE'S EXISTING BELIEFS. SCIENTISTS AND NONSCIENTISTS CAN BRIDGE COMMUNICATION GAPS THROUGH COORDINATED EFFORTS TO MAKE SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES ACCESSIBLE AND UNDERSTANDABLE.THE USDA'S NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (NIFA) PROVIDES A SOLUTION TO LESSEN THE GAP THROUGH ITS RESEARCH AND EXTENSION EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES (REEU) PROGRAM. NIFA PROGRAM LEADERS REALIZED THAT REEU PROGRAM BENEFITS COULD BE EXPANDED EXPONENTIALLY IF GREATER AWARENESS EXISTED OF THE REEU PROGRAM. LIKEWISE, PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS FLATTEN THEIR LEARNING CURVES THROUGH COORDINATED, RATHER THAN DUPLICATED EFFORTS. HENCE NIFA ISSUED A CALL FOR AN EDUCATION COORDINATION NETWORK (ECN) FOR REEUS. THIS PROJECT FULFILLS THE USDA AND NIFA'S REQUEST TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL REEU-ECN.THE NATIONAL REEU-ECN IS A 60-MONTH PROJECT WITH GOAL TO DEVELOP AND SUSTAIN A NATIONAL COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE FOR REEU PROGRAMS. WE WILL BUILD A SECURE NATIONAL NETWORK FOR REEU PROJECTS AND PERSONNEL TO FACILITATE PROJECT ACTIVITIES, ENHANCE COLLABORATION AMONG PARTICIPANTS, OFFER COMMUNICATION SKILL ACTIVITIES, AND PROMOTE AWARENESS OF REEUS THROUGH PUBLIC EVENTS.THE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE TAKES ADVANTAGE OF CENTRALIZED NETWORK SYSTEMS FOR REEU PROJECT DIRECTORS (PDS) AND PARTICIPANTS TO INTERACT, COLLABORATE, AND INFORM OTHERS ABOUT UNDERGRADUATES' EXPERIENTIAL (RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION) PROGRAMS IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. PROJECT OBJECTIVES ARE TO: 1) ESTABLISH A REEU COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE; 2) PROVIDE A NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR REEU PROJECTS; 3) CREATE AND MAINTAIN SECURE ONLINE SPACES AND LISTSERV FOR REEU PROJECT DIRECTORS (PDS) AND PARTICIPANTS; 4) BRIDGE COMMUNICATION GAPS BETWEEN SCIENTISTS AND THE PUBLIC; 5) CREATE AND MAINTAIN A PUBLIC WEBSITE TO PROMOTE REEU PROGRAMS; AND 6) CO-ORGANIZE THE REEU PD MEETING IN COLLABORATION WITH NIFA EVERY 18-24 MONTHS.NATIONAL REEU-ECN HAS SECURE WEB HOSTING SERVICES, STORAGE, AND ADVANCED SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATION. PUBLIC INTERACTION WITH REEU PROJECTS AND PARTICIPANTS OCCURS THROUGH MULTIPLE IN-PERSON AND ONLINE ACTIVITIES. ABOUT 35 REEU PROJECTS/YEAR WILL PARTICIPATE IN VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS THAT INCREASE NON-PARTICIPANTS' AWARENESS, ENGAGEMENT, AND APPRECIATION OF REEU PROGRAMS.MORE THAN 550 REEU PARTICIPANTS/YEAR (~2,800 TOTAL) WILL GAIN AGRICULTURAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS THROUGH A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE, SCIENCE SYMP,OSIA, EXPANDED SCIENCE NETWORKS, AND PUBLIC FORUMS THAT INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE. THE OUTCOMES AND IMPACT INCLUDE A NATIONAL REEU COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE, A DIGITAL CLEARINGHOUSE, CENTRALIZED NETWORKING SERVICES, SECURE ONLINE SPACES, INTER-AGENCIES' SYMPOSIA (USDA, NSF, NIH, EPA) TO BRIDGE COMMUNICATION GAPS BETWEEN SCIENTISTS AND THE PUBLIC, AND POSITIVE INFLUENCES ON PUBLIC OPINION OF SCIENCE.