Improving Student and Teacher Knowledge of Climate Change and Agricultural Science in the Inland Pacific Northwest.

The need for improved agricultural and climate change literacy among future agricultural professionals and the general population has been recognized.  One of the goals of the USDA NIFA-funded project, “Approaches to Climate Change for Pacific Northwest Agriculture” is to develop an educational network to improve agricultural and climate change education across the Inland Pacific Northwest.  The K-12 component of this project includes hands-on teacher workshops and the development and distribution of lesson plans.  A specific goal is to engage students in the study of agriculture/climate change through the development of curriculum based on regional issues.  The formation of partnerships with other education-based projects has allowed us to expand our geographic influence and the number of teachers served.  At the undergraduate level we have hosted a summer research internship program and developed a systems-based management course.  Graduate students are exposed to tools for engaging in interdisciplinary research and are required to integrate their research data into either extension or education-based products.  The combined effect of outreach to K-12 teachers, and the effective integration of research and education in the development of lesson plans and classroom activities will likely lead to greater knowledge of, and interest in, agriculture and climate change topics.