Come to UVM campus June 25 – June 30 to learn with Dr. Eric Bishop von Wettberg and his team. During a (FREE!) residential week, we’ll spend time in the field and the laboratory to learn about the root systems and associated microbes of perennial agricultural systems. You will learn a variety of approaches for measuring microbial diversity and abundance, about new sustainable cropping systems, and cutting-edge tools for measuring the half of plants that occurs belowground.

Participants will examine the root systems and associated microbes of kernza, a new grain crop bred from Intermediate wheatgrass, a perennial relative of wheat. As a perennial, kernza only needs to be planted once, giving a crop in subsequent years without plowing or soil disturbance. With root systems over six feet deep, kernza is incredibly drought tolerant, able to grow with little fertilizer, and able to sequester atmospheric carbon deep into soils. At UVM we are performing trials to look at the performance of kernza in intercropping setting with alfalfa, a perennial legume that gives a protein-rich hay due to an association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules. We will provide participants tools to look at root system structure and microbial diversity in soils. Students will examine alfalfa nodules, small root organs in legumes that host nitrogen-fixing rhizobacteria. Nodules turn pink when they are physiologically active with leghemoglobin, as they exclude oxygen to facilitate the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. Participants will measure root systems using high-resolution imaging software, examine nodules microscopically and determine the influence of microbial symbionts on above-ground plant phenotypes.

Learn more about this academy from the faculty here:

Come to UVM campus to learn with Steve Kostell and his team about ways to turn agricultural waste into sustainable products and sources of income for local farmers. During a (FREE!) residential week, participants will engage in hands-on Design Thinking, a process where they can use humility, reflection and critical thinking. Together they’ll practice the skills needed to respond to community needs, and to assess an innovation’s impact (positive and negative) and revise as needed. Our emphasis will be on the human processes needed for successful design innovation across approaches of waste-to-value bioproducts.

Learn more about this academy from the faculty here:

Precision Agriculture Academy

Come to the University of Vermont campus to learn with Scott Merrill and the Social Ecological Gaming and Simulation (SEGS) laboratory team about precision agriculture and how new computer tools can be used to provide decision support for farmers and the community. Spend a week (FREE!) in residence at the University of Vermont where you will have a chance to create your own maps and computer models like three dimensional maps of farms (even your own), where you may decide to add in design components or designate future management practices. Learn about the exceptional promise of precision agriculture and how different farm management designs will help improve yield and reduce negative impacts on our environment. Experience serious games, augmented reality, artificial intelligence and other ways that scientists in the SEGS lab are studying human behavior and helping to make social-ecological systems more resilient. Explore novel ways that computers can be used to help decision making and overcome barriers to responsible innovation in farming. By the end of the week participants will have a chance to create representations of farm landscapes that they can virtually “fly through” and that can be used to help farm management or precision agriculture design.

Learn more about this academy from the faculty here:

What is the program?

A week-long residential experience on UVM campus June 23 - June 29, 2024, followed by group work and research and then required participation in the AgroTek Slam.

How much will it cost?

Thanks to funding from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, the program is completely free for participants.

What will students be learning?

In the "Culturing Cells for Healthier Soils" Summer Academy, students will spend the week with Dr. Eric Bishop von Wettberg and his team. They’ll head into the lab and into the field to learn about the root systems and associated microbes of the “three sisters,” beans, squash, and corn, which are the foundation of much Indigenous agriculture. And they’ll learn valuable laboratory skills, including a variety of histochemical approaches and how to extract microbial DNA and evaluate a greenhouse experiment with diverse accessions of beans, to assess variation in root traits and rhizobial association.

In "Shifting the Waste to Value Paradigm," the group will spend the week with Steve Kostell and his team to learn about ways to turn agricultural waste into sustainable products and sources of income for local farmers.  Participants will engage in hands-on Design Thinking, a process where they can use humility, reflection and critical thinking. Together they’ll practice the skills needed to respond to community needs, and to assess an innovation’s impact (positive and negative) and revise as needed. Our emphasis will be on the human processes needed for successful design innovation across approaches of waste-to-value bioproducts.

In “More Precise Agriculture”, students will spend the week with Scott Merrill and the Social Ecological Gaming and Simulation Laboratory team, exploring  how computer tools can be used to make decisions for both farmers and in a community. Spending time in a computer lab as well as out on a farm, participants will experience how to apply tools like augmented reality, artificial intelligence and more while also applying these tools in an agricultural setting to support societal resiliency, farm management and more. Interested in figuring out ways to mitigate the agricultural challenges brought on by climate change, this academy is for you!

What about equity and inclusion? 

Our goal is an event in which young people can experience fun, learning and a sense of belonging. We will focus on safety and comfort, community-building, and plenty of downtime for students to get to know each other and to take care of themselves. Depending on the group, we will offer affinity space for any who might wish it.

How will they spend their time?

Each day will include meals together, group activities in the lab or in the field, some down time, project work and an evening program.  (See the draft)

What are the sleeping arrangements?

Our plans are for each student to have either a single or double room in a UVM dormitory.

Who will be supervising the students?

Professional, trained 4-H staff who have all undergone background checks, in addition to UVM teaching faculty and their graduate students.

My student would benefit from disability-related accommodations or has other needs to be able to fully participate and succeed.  Who can I talk to about accommodations?

We will do everything we can to help all participants have a successful and fun experience. Contact Liz Kenton to set up a time to discuss your family's needs.

What's the application deadline?

April 5, 2024

What is the total time commitment for the students and their families?

In addition to the full week June 23 - June 29, students will engage in virtual group work and then  return to campus for the AgroTek Slam to present their projects. These are all part of the program and required for participants.

What about Covid safety?

Residential participants will need to be fully vaccinated. If a medical or religious exemption is desired, please email sarah.kleinman@uvm.edu. We will follow state and campus guidelines and make any necessary pivots to keep our participants, instructors and staff safe. 

We're interested but would like to learn more before committing. What's a good way to learn more about these topics?

Check out the recordings of the VTeen Science Cafes (Cells to Society from 1/27/22 here, and Waste to Value from 2/9/22 here) to learn more about the topics and what will be offered.