Inside this issue...
Letter from the Associate Dean
Letter from the Associate Dean
Dear AGNR Community,
CASE Institute
page 1
page 1 & 2
AgDiscovery
page 3
Haley Moss
page 4
Anand Gupta
page 5
Merrill Scholars
page 6
Layout and articles by Kirsten Petersen Edited by Tim Lapanne and Harper Wayne
Welcome to a wonderful new year at the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Maryland. Please take a few moments to read about the fantastic things that happened within the AGNR community this summer and be sure to update your calendar with the important dates listed in this newsletter. I would also like to welcome our new cohort of international students, which includes 22 new 2+2 students from the China Agricultural University and one student from the Ecole Supérieure
d’Agriculture in Angers, France; I know the entire AGNR community will welcome them as a part of our family here at UMD. I hope you enjoy reading our publication. If you would like to be included in the next newsletter or be featured on our website please contact Tim Lapanne (tlapanne@umd.edu) with your information. Have a great semester and a successful year. Sincerely, Leon Slaughter Associate Dean for Academic Programs
IAA, AGNR Host CASE Institute at UMD Working in pairs, students crush clumps of dirt and pore over the particles, attempting to discern silt from sand. Wet clay is haphazardly slathered on each finger like a creamy paste. Conversation and laughter is sporadic, but the clicks and clacks of laboratory equipment are the predominant noises sputtering in the space.
This is not a high school classroom, but soon will be. These students, who are high school teachers, will be replicating this lab assignment in their own classrooms across the country. Under the leadership of IAA Director Glori Hyman and IAA Instructor Roy Walls, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources hosted its first
Teachers of CASE Institute. Photo by Edwin Remsberg
Curriculum for Agricultural Science and Education (CASE) Institute. From July 17-28, 2011, secondary education teachers learned how to teach the “Introduction to Agricul-
ture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR)” curriculum, designed to introduce students to a variety of agricultural careers, sciences and cultural issues. continued on page 2
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AGNR Community Newsletter
Educators master new applied agriculture curriculum continued from page 1 Twenty-three teachers from states including Maryland, Iowa, and Pennsylvania completed 165 days of units and lessons over the course of two weeks. Some teachers found the coursework to be challenging, especially with the time constraints of the two week workshop. “[I try] to get my homework done as soon as I can—otherwise it’s overwhelming,” said Dave Bowman, a vocational agriculture and science teacher from Hampton, Iowa. Nicole Marinos, an agricultural science teacher from Elverson, Pa., had previously completed the “The Principles of Agricultural Science—Plants” CASE curriculum workshop. “I knew what to expect, whereas a lot of people were sort of shellshocked the first day—but it’s a marathon,” Marinos said. The AFNR workshop was led by two lead teachers—Melanie Bloom of Sioux Rapids, Iowa and Leslie Fairchild of Columbus, Ohio. Both certified CASE instructors and secondary education teachers
themselves, Bloom and Fairchild Marion, Iowa. “Then I feel like I directed each lesson and challenged have more time to interact with the the educators to evaluate their students.” teaching. “I think it’s really going to “It takes teachers a while to ad- enhance what we’re already doing,” just to a new style of teaching,” said added Marinos. Bloom. “So the two week institute is almost like a boot camp because we’re really challenging teachers to get out of their comfort zones and try something different.” With the support of a fully prepared curriculum and the experience of the AFNR workshop, educators believe CASE will reinvigorate their teaching. “The biggest thing will be less teaching preparation because [CASE] provides the PowerPoints and they provide the assessment tools,” said Barb Lemmer, an agricultural science and agribusi- Teachers complete a lab assignment that they will use ness teacher from in their classrooms this fall. Photo by Edwin Remsberg
All About Angela
Angela Mazur is the new Coordinator of Undergraduate Academic Programs in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Angela is the primary contact for all student services, assisting with 60-credit core audits, schedules, registration and graduation. She also organizes programs such as orientation, Ag Day and commencement. Angela studied international and higher education at UMD and worked previously for the Graduate School and the Office of International Services. Contact Angela at 301-405-7761 or by email at abm13@umd.edu.
Welcome Back, Terps!
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Another Great Year of AgDiscovery!
Young agricultural enthusiasts from across the culture and current issues. Topics included plant and nation came together July 10-29, 2011 to learn about animal science, entymology, food science and landcareer opportunities and experience college life durscape architecture. Students also engaged in hands-on ing AgDiscovery, a three-week educational program activities and visited research and government facilihosted by the University of Maryland. ties on field trips. AgDiscovery is sponsored by the USDA Animal Emmaline Perisho, a freshman homeschooled stuand Plant Health Inspection Service and AGNR. dent from Terre Haute, Ind., enjoyed AgDiscovery’s Students in the program live on campus and are classroom activities. enrolled in a 3-credit “I really liked the course, “AgDiscovery: economics classes and An Educational Odysthe landscape architecsey Exploring Food, ture, and these are things Culture, and the Envithat I’d never be able to ronment” (AGNR100). learn about if I didn’t Twelve universities come here,” she said. sponsor two-week Field trip destiAgDiscovery programs, nations included the but the University of USDA, the National Maryland program is the Zoo, Capitol Hill and the only one that lasts three DuPont Research Laboweeks and is integrated ratory in Dover, Del. with the Young Scholars Eli Hugghis, a junior Students and staff of AgDiscovery 2011. Photo by Edwin Remsberg Program. high school student from The goal of AgDiscovery is to give students a Fort Washington, Md., was introduced to opportumore holistic perspective on careers and opportunities nities in plant science through a trip to Brookside in agriculture. Gardens. “It opens student’s eyes and the public’s eyes to “My favorite [field trip] was going to the Brookthe vast array of career opportunities that agriculture side Gardens because I was able to find out about presents, as well as the emerging science,” said Mark the career of horticulture, and that was one thing I’d Matovich, a second year mentor and senior ENSP really like to do, and it sounds pretty cool.” major. To learn more about AgDiscovery at UMD, click Each day, participants studied agricultural history, here.
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AGNR Community Newsletter
What did you do this summer? A
There is no better place to experience la joie de vivre than in France—just ask junior Agricultural Resource Economics major Haley Moss, who studied at the Ecole Supérieure d’Agriculture (ESA) in Angers, France this summer. From June 1 to July 1, 2011, Moss participated in the ESA’s summer program for foreign students and took classes in English that focused on sustainable agriculture. Students attended lectures at the school and visited educational and cultural destinations on field trips. As a final project, groups of students visited an agribusiness company, evaluated its sustainability practices, and presented their observations to their class. “I really didn’t know what to expect,” said Moss, who had never travelled abroad by herself before this summer, “but at the end of the day I really came out of there with such a great experience and met so many nice people—that was my favorite part.” Moss described the Ecole Supérieure
d’Agriculture as a “lowkey version” of the University of Maryland; with a population of 3000 students and a strong specialized agriculture program, it is a small school with the resources of a large research university. “It’s a great program. They really take care of you and act as if you are family and that’s important,” Moss said. Before beginning the course, the students spent five days sight-seeing in Paris. They visited Normandie, Mont SaintMichel, and Saint-Malo on class field trips and Moss travelled with two classmates to Brussels, Belgium as a special excursion. Moss felt that Angers, which is located in western France, had a quieter, more traditional atmosphere than the other destinations, especially the fast-paced Paris. “Angers was definitely a bit more subdued,” she said. While staying in Angers, Moss enjoyed numerous cultural experiences. On their last day at the ESA, students baked their own bread and participated in a wine tasting
Moss enjoyed beautiful vistas in France, such as the ocean here at Mont St. Michele. Photo courtesy of Haley Moss
at the school. Moss explored an all-night music festival with her host family, where performers of all ages entertained the town. “It was very special seeing everyone in the area come together and support the artists walking around,” she said. Her experiences with professors at the ESA and common people in Angers inspired her to apply French optimism and aspiration to her goals.
“One thing I learned from a couple of different professors there and people I met is to really follow your dreams and do what you want to do and be happy, and that’s what I saw in every person that owned the company or worked at the company,” Moss said. “I feel like I can really do anything now,” she added. Click here to learn more about the ESA summer program.
Did you study abroad this spring or summer? Tell us! You could be featured on the
Welcome Back, Terps!
Page 5
Students share adventures abroad Anand Gupta, a sophomore environmental science and policy major, represented his home country of India at the South Asian Youth Conference this summer. From May 23-29, 2011, Gupta attended the SAYC in Bangalore, India. Seventy-five teenagers and young adults from South Asian
velopment, to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 2012. Participants listened to seminars and attended workshops at the India Institute of Management, the university that hosted the conference. During the conference, Gupta enjoyed networking with entrepreneurs from South Asian countries.
“Once you know how to think like an entrepreneur, you can do almost anything entrepreneurial,” Gupta said. Twenty-five youth and professionals attended his workshop, comprising almost a third of the conference participants. Gupta’s friends, high school students, and even professionals praised Gupta’s workshop. “At the end of the workshop [a professional] comes up to me and says ‘Yeah, you know what? I had something to take away from this.’ It was kind of encouraging from that point of view,” he said. Although Gupta has attended other youth conferences in India and a Children’s Climate Forum in Copenhagen, Denmark, he prefers environmental business conferences, such as the Business for the Environment (B4E) Conference, which was held in London from September 12-13. “The London conferGupta, center, smiles with SAYC participants at the conference. Photo courtesy of Anand Gupta ence, it’s about these industry nations, including India, Pakistan, “For me personally, it was all leaders and experts gathering to Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka parabout meeting the people there,” actually discuss practical ideas ticipated in the conference. Gupta said. “You get to meet a and issues,” said Gupta. The SAYC focused on devel- lot of interesting people from that In April, Gupta plans to attend oping personal, communal, and particular region.” the B4E conference in Berlin, environmental peace. This conferAs a participant, Gupta was Germany. ence is one of many environmen- encouraged to create his own “When you attend these tal youth conferences leading up workshop. He led a dialogue for conferences, the perspectives and to Rio + 20, the United Nations young people about developing people combined give you a lot to Conference on Sustainable Dean entrepreneurial mindset. learn,” he said.
AGNR Study Abroad Website. Email Tim Lapanne at tlapanne@umd.edu to learn more.
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AGNR Community Newsletter
Peng, Baldwin recognized by Merrill Scholars The College of Agriculture and good knowing that my advisor was still thinking about me [while I Natural Resources congratulates was] abroad.” senior Diane Peng and Dr. Andrew Baldwin, Associate Professor of Wetland Ecology, for their recognitions by the Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars Program. Peng, who is majoring in Environmental Science and Technology and General Biology, was selected as the 2011-2012 Merrill Presidential Scholar for AGNR. As an award recipient, Peng identified Dr. Baldwin as the university professor who impacted her undergraduate education the most. Kimberly Monahan, the ENST undergraduate programs coordinator and Peng’s advisor, nominated Peng for the award because of her academic achievements and extensive campus involvement. “The recognition is prestigious. Senior ENST and General Biology major DiWe’re proud of Diane and we’re ane Peng. Photo courtesy of Kintija Eigmina excited to see her hard work and ambition pay off with such a high After taking a course with Dr. profile honor,” Monahan said. Balwin, Peng began to work with Peng was studying abroad in graduate students in his Wetland Oslo, Norway when she received Ecology and Engineering Lab. In an email from Monahan about the the classroom and in the lab, Peng achievement. has enjoyed getting to know Dr. “I was really surprised when I Baldwin as a professor and as a found out,” she said. “It was pretty friend.
Check out the office hours of our Peer Mentors! Visit Alexandra, Hanum, Kylie, Jason, Anna, Erin or Stephanie today in 0100 Symons Hall. To learn more, click here!
“I’ve worked in his lab for the past year, so he definitely had the most influence on me,” Peng said. “It’s not too much of a ‘he’s my boss’ situation,” she added. “He comes out to dinner with us [and] he’ll hang out with all of the grad students, so it’s not too serious.” Dr. Baldwin, who also serves as the Director of the ENST Undergraduate Program, was honored to be recognized as an inspirational instructor. “I was pleased and surprised that she felt that I had been influential in shaping her academic career,” added Dr. Baldwin. In addition to her work at the lab, Peng has participated in internships at John Hopkins University and served in leadership positions in her sorority, Sigma Kappa, and the Terp Runners Club. Peng plans to spend her senior year applying to medical schools, completing an internship and studying wetland plants in Dr. Baldwin’s lab. After medical school, she hopes to become a doctor and focus on issues of environmental health. “I am honored to have gotten this award,” she said.