8:11 a.m., March 5, 2009----Through a new Summer Institute scheduled from June 7-July 3, ten undergraduate students from underrepresented populations will have the opportunity to explore the wealth of graduate programs offered by the University of Delaware's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at UD's main campus in Newark.

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Undergraduate students at other institutions, as well as current UD undergraduates, are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to students who are completing their junior year. The deadline for applications is Monday, March 16.

Students selected for the program will work side-by-side with researchers on projects ranging from avian flu to food safety, biofuels, rice genomics, stormwater ecology, landscaping to reduce our carbon footprint, declining black duck populations and other topics. They also will go on field trips and participate in workshops, seminars, and social activities with other UD undergraduate students, including trips to nearby cities and other locations of interest.

“The Summer Institute is designed to introduce students to the exciting graduate opportunities in the UD College of Agriculture and Natural Resources,” says Tom Sims, associate dean for academic programs and research and T. A. Baker Professor of Soil and Environmental Chemistry.

“Feeding the world and having an adequate food supply is now more important than ever, as the land available to agriculture is shrinking and there is increasing global competition to produce food,” Sims notes. “Producing energy in a sustainable way through biological sources also is a growth industry, demanding a whole new way to produce crops. And adapting how we produce food, manage nutrient issues, and improve and protect water quality, wildlife habitat, and other natural resources that contribute to our quality of life is critical to our future.”

Currently, the college offers graduate programs in these areas:

• Animal Health and Production Systems
• Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Ecology and Natural Resources
• Food Science and Safety
• Markets and Trade
• Molecular Biology and Genomics
• Longwood Graduate Program in Public Horticulture
• Plant Science and Horticulture
• Quantitative Analysis
• Resource Economics and Sustainable Development

Besides participating in ongoing research projects guided by faculty mentors, students in the program will meet graduate students in the college, learn about the qualifications needed to be admitted and succeed in graduate school at UD, and meet professionals in industry, government, and non-profit organizations with successful careers in agriculture and natural resources.

Travel expenses and housing costs will be covered; housing will be provided in University residence halls, and transportation from residence halls to the college's facilities will be provided.
Download the application from the Summer Institute Web site. The application deadline is March 16.

Article by Tracey Bryant