Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** hispanic undergraduate (UG)…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** hispanic undergraduate (UG) students at interamerican university of puerto rico - metropolitan campus (IAUPR-MC) lack opportunities to learn about agriculture, agroecology, and the importance of biodiversity in farming systems. They also lack opportunities to develop research skills and receive mentoring that prepares them for careers in fanh-related disciplines. PR-field will increase hispanic UG students' knowledge and skills in agroecology, biodiversity conservation for agriculture, and how to become agricultural entrepreneurs. This will be achieved through the revision and redesign of existing courses to include experiential learning and research activities that incorporate agroecology and the importance of biodiversity in agriculture. PR-field will develop workshops, host scientific research seminars, and research experiences for hispanic UGS at IAUPR-MC. Students will be mentored to pursue careers in fanh-related disciplines and will provide outreach and educational opportunities for high school students. Ultimately, PR-field will lead to an increased retention and graduation rates of the biology, microbiology, and natural sciences programs at IAUPR-MC. PR-field will meet these objectives during a four (4) year period to impact a minimum of 460 students and four (4) faculty members