- Author: Jennifer Caron-Sale
Would you like to be a mentor for a UC Berkeley graduate student interested in gaining experience in Cooperative Extension?
The Graduate Students in Extension (GSE) Pilot at UC Berkeley has been extended for one year. The Request for Applications for 2018-2019 fellows at UC Berkeley is open, and student applications are due on March 30, 2018.
One of the goals of the GSE pilot is to facilitate greater interaction between graduate students and Cooperative Extension employees. As such, applicants must identify Cooperative Extension mentors who will assist in advising their project and introduce them to Extension work. Prospective students have been encouraged to identify possible mentors through the ANR Directory, so students might reach out to ANR academics directly in the coming month to inquire about their interest in being a mentor.
Students have an option of completing a fellowship during the summer (Summer 2018), an academic semester (Fall 2018 or Spring 2019), an academic year (Fall 2018–Spring 2019), or a calendar year (June 2018–June 2019). Mentorship teams are required to cover 25 percent of the costs for the fellow. More information about this pilot and requirements for students and mentors can be found at http://ucanr.edu/sites/GGCE/.
Academics who are interested in being a mentor, whether you have a project in mind or are open to working to develop a new project with a fellow, please contact Jennifer Caron-Sale in ANR's Program Planning and Evaluation Office at jennifer.caron-sale@ucop.edu or (510) 987-0214 to be connected with prospective applicants.
- Author: Julie Van Scoy
In 2013, a group of graduate students in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (ESPM) at the University of California, Berkeley sought out faculty support and successfully collaborated with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) to launch the Program for Graduate Students in Extension (GSE). Participants receive up to a year of funding to conduct applied research and outreach to California communities, coordinate workshops and training events, and co-author materials with ANR academics. Over the course of the three-year pilot program, 14 students from across the College of Natural Resources at UC Berkeley have participated.
“There's really no program quite like this, where students can gain hands-on, graduate-level training in extension and outreach,” says ESPM professor John Battles, who chaired the program's steering committee. He adds, “We're grateful to all the UC ANR advisors and specialists who have offered invaluable mentorship to student fellows.”
Sustainable Food Systems and Climate Education
Alana Siegner (Energy and Resources Group, 2016–17 fellow) believes that to ensure the environmental sustainability of agricultural landscapes and to improve health outcomes for young people, it's important that students understand the scientific and social causes and consequences of climate change as it plays out in the U.S. food system. During her fellowship, she adapted existing climate change curricula to fit within farm-to-school programs, integrating food- and farming-specific examples into general lessons on climate adaptation and mitigation. The lessons, designed for students in grades 8 through 10, are hands-on, interdisciplinary, and solutions oriented, unfolding in both the classroom and the school-garden environments. Siegner piloted the curricula and other professional development resources with teachers at schools in Oakland and in Washington State's San Juan Islands.
Climate-Resilient Agriculture
Despite several advances in modeling techniques, climate projections are not widely used in agricultural decision-making. Kripa Akila Jagannathan (ERG, 2015–16 fellow) wanted to bridge this gap between climate science and decision-making needs by improving the understanding of what farmers consider relevant climate information. She interviewed almond growers in California about how they'd previously used climate information, what climatic variables were most relevant to them, and the content and communication methods that could make information on future climate more usable. Jagannathan's interviews showed that almond growers have experienced changes in climate over the past few decades that have affected plant growth. She hopes that providing growers with appropriate information on past trends and future projections can help them to make decisions that are better adapted to future climate.
Forestry and Ecosystem Education
Stella Cousins (ESPM, 2014–15 fellow) collaborated with the Forestry Institute for Teachers, a free program that provides K–12 teachers in California with knowledge and tools for teaching their students about ecosystem science and forest resource management. In addition to presenting current research to participating educators, she shared do-it-yourself miniature microscopes that can help learners of all ages explore seeds, cells, fur, and other tiny wonders. Magnifying tree-core samples from the Sierra Nevada as an example, she demonstrated how a lesson in dendrochronology can facilitate classroom learning on the ways forests grow and are shaped by climate. Cousins says, “I hope that this project will support existing efforts to make sound and sustainable ecosystem-management choices, and also help foster lifelong curiosity in California's youth about the natural world.”
Conservation and Land Easements
Conservation easements are currently one of the primary channels for protecting private land. Since easements restrict development for both current and future owners, resale value is presumably diminished, and landowners are typically compensated with a one-time payment from a conservation group. Reid Johnsen (Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2016–17 fellow) wanted to explore the relationship between rancher identity, community, and potential preferences for alternative payment structures. He surveyed landowners in Marin and Sonoma counties to gauge their support for different options, including leases and annual payments for ecosystem services. He also constructed an economic model of stakeholder behavior to help assess which payment structure delivers the greatest combined welfare to landowners, conservation groups, and the public.
Hunting and Conservation
Luke Macaulay (ESPM, 2014–15 fellow) surveyed private landowners and land managers in California to determine how recreational hunting may influence decisions regarding land-use and conservation practices. He regularly spoke on his survey findings and ran a workshop in Montana to encourage cooperative conservation efforts between hunters and environmentalists. “The feedback from the advisors on my mentorship team was invaluable in improving the quality of my research,” he reflects. The experience also had an impact on his career: In 2016, Macaulay was hired by CNR as a Cooperative Extension specialist in rangeland planning and policy.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
The Graduate Students in Extension invite all UC Cooperative Extension advisors and specialists to an Extension Showcase on Thursday, Jan. 26, at UC Berkeley. The aim is to connect graduate students who are interested in working for UCCE with UCCE academics who are interested in mentoring them. The event will be held in 103 Mulford Hall at 3p.m., with presentations from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and a networking reception from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
UCCE academics are invited to give a lightning talk on their work or prospective research and to meet with interested students.
UCCE advisors Andrew Sutherland, Stephanie Larson and Rob Bennaton are mentoring graduate students they met at last year's Extension Showcase. Doctoral student Laura Ward is working with Sutherland on pollinator-friendly pest management for gardeners. Doctoral student Reid Johnsen is working with Larson on a conservation easement study. Doctoral student Laney Siegner is working with Bennaton on a climate-change curriculum pilot project with Oakland Unified School District. Details about their projects are at http://ucanr.edu/sites/GGCE/Current_Graduate_Student_Researchers_317.
GSE program
The Graduate Students in Extension (GSE) pilot program at UC Berkeley facilitates Cooperative Extension advisors and specialists to mentor current graduate students to conduct applied research and develop extension products. The three-year pilot program, currently under review, is intended to train graduate students for careers in extension research and outreach.
This year, while the pilot is being evaluated, the 25 percent mentor group contribution will be subsidized by ANR and CNR for the summer 2017 term only. Normally, these GSE positions are funded 50 percent through UC ANR, 25 percent through the student's home department, and 25 percent through their mentorship group. The impetus for holding a special summer GSE program is to continue providing Cooperative Extension learning opportunities for students while GSE administration conducts an assessment of the pilot. A major goal of the summer-only program with no mentor matching requirement is to broaden opportunities.
ANR academics from across the state are encouraged to consider participating as a mentor. First-year graduate students interested in assisting academics to learn more about extension and outreach, as well asmore seasoned graduate studentswho have research underway, are encouraged to apply.
The GSE program is available to graduate students in all departments within the College of Natural Resources at UC Berkeley, which includes students in Environmental Science Policy & Management (ESPM), the Energy & Resources Group (ERG), Nutritional Science & Toxicology (NST), Agricultural Resources & Economics (ARE) and Plant Microbiology (PMB).
Getting involved
To RSVP for the Extension Showcase, please email Alana “Laney” Siegner at asiegner@berkeley.edu. If you are unable to attend the Jan. 26 showcase but would like to connect with students, please send a paragraph to asiegner@berkeley.edu describing your work and potential research so it can be included in the literature for the event.
Travel support may be available for CE advisors and specialists to travel to Berkeley for the event. In your RSVP, please note if you need travel support.
To view the summer 2017 RFP, please visit http://ucanr.edu/sites/GGCE/files/253806.pdf. For more information about the Graduate Students in Extension pilot program, visit http://ucanr.edu/sites/GGCE or contact Vanessa Murua at Vanessa.murua@ucop.edu.
View or leave comments for ANR Leadership at http://ucanr.edu/sites/ANRUpdate/Comments.
This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.
The Graduate Students in Extension invite all UC Cooperative Extension advisors and specialists to an Extension Showcase on Nov. 19 at UC Berkeley. The aim is to connect graduate students who are interested in working for UCCE with UCCE academics who are interested in mentoring them. The event will be held in 103 Mulford Hall from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Bill Frost, associate vice president, will kick off the event. UCCE academics are invited to give a lightning talk on their work or prospective research and to meet with interested students.
Advisors and specialists from all disciplines are welcome to participate regardless of whether they have an appropriate 3- to 12-month project in mind or are simply interested in getting involved. Talks will be followed by topic-specific breakout sessions and a happy hour at 5 p.m.
GSE program
The Graduate Students in Extension pilot program at UC Berkeley facilitates Cooperative Extension advisors and specialists to mentor current graduate students to conduct applied research and develop extension products. The three-year program, now in its final year, is intended to train graduate students for careers in extension research and outreach. This is also a great way for advisors and specialists to receive research assistance at a quarter of the price of a normal Graduate Student Researcher!
Students work with UCCE personnel on projects and products for a summer, one or two semesters or a full calendar year. To support the student, ANR provides 50%, UC Berkeley's College of Natural Resources provides 25%, and CE advisor/specialist or other mentors are responsible for the remaining 25% (For details on the funding structure please refer to this year's Request for Applications on the GSE website). However, if a UCCE advisor does not have funds to cover 25%, there is an opportunity this year for advisors to apply for funds that will cover this portion.
The GSE program is available to graduate students in all departments within the College of Natural Resources at UC Berkeley, which includes students in Environmental Science Policy & Management (ESPM), the Energy & Resources Group (ERG), Nutritional Science & Toxicology (NST), Agricultural Resources & Economics (ARE) and Plant Microbiology (PMB).
Getting involved
To RSVP for the Extension Showcase, please email Matthew Shapero at matthewshapero@berkeley.edu by Nov. 6. If you are unable to attend the Nov. 19 showcase but would like to connect with students, please send a paragraph to matthewshapero@berkeley.edu describing your work and potential research so it can be included in the literature for the event.
Travel support may be available for CE advisors and specialists to travel to Berkeley for the event. In your RSVP, please note if you need travel support.
As the pilot program comes to a close, the GSE steering committee will conduct a formative assessment to propose continuation and model changes of the program to Frost. For more information about the Graduate Students in Extension pilot program, visit http://ucanr.edu/sites/GGCE or contact Vanessa Murua at Vanessa.murua@ucop.edu.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
Applications are now being accepted for the 2015-2016 academic year Graduate Students working in Extension (GSE) program. This program is geared for CE personnel and graduate students who are interested in working collaboratively and for CE academics to mentor a graduate student on a project. Mentors contribute only 25 percent of the funds for graduate student support. Applications are due on March 6 and students are starting to work on them. Now is a good time to get involved.
The original group of GSE graduate students are working to facilitate the next group by helping to connect students to potential mentors. There are several ways to get involved. On Feb. 5, there will be a Cooperative Extension Showcase at UCB. It features talks by CE specialists, advisors and program staff, but also, this year, includes sections for people with project ideas to give a short talk for interested graduate students. The event will be followed by a mixer to further facilitate networking among academics and graduate students.
If you would like to attend the Showcase or if you cannot make the Showcase and have a project idea, please email Kevi Mace at kmace@berkeley.edu.
Background: Recognizing that there is no formal program currently devoted to educating and training students interested in Cooperative Extension work, ANR launched this three-year pilot program in 2014 to train and recruit graduate students for careers in extension research and outreach. The program is designed for graduate students and Cooperative Extension academics to work collaboratively on projects that are relevant for all involved.
In order to apply, students need to develop a mentorship team including their academic advisor and at least one CE academic or advisor. The funding structure is 50 percent from ANR, 25 percent from the students' home department and 25 percent from the mentorship team. The positions are known as Graduate Student working in Extension (GSE), or Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) in Extension.
The first set of graduate students received funding during the 2014-2015 academic year. These students developed their projects with their mentorship teams and have been achieving exciting results in both research and extension. Their projects are listed at http://ucanr.edu/sites/GGCE/Current_Graduate_Student_Researchers. You can find updates on their research and extension efforts at http://ucanr.edu/sites/GGCE/Research_Updates.