Annual Reports
ACS - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Committee (ACS528)
2016 Annual Report
Summary
The Diversity in Agronomy, Crops, Soils and Environmental Sciences Committee (ACS528) proceeded with its main objectives to:1) increase the number of high school students attending 2016’s ASA, CSSA and SSSA meetings; 2) increase graduate student participation in the Minority Student Poster Competition. The high schools students participating in the Gateway Scholars Program (previously known as Platinum Scholars Program) of the ACS 528 enjoyed activities and displayed great interest and enthusiasm at this year’s meeting. Overall, the Diversity Committee’s activities during the Annual Meeting were a success. This report, including minutes from the Annual Meeting, highlights various activities and achievements of 2016. Acknowledgment of donors and supporters, and suggestions for improvement are also presented.
1. Mission Statement
Diversity in Agronomy, Crops, Soils and Environmental Sciences Committee (ACS528), under the auspices of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, is committed to enhancing participation of underrepresented students and professionals in the three Societies, thereby strengthening and diversifying the potential workforce in agricultural and environmental sciences. The Diversity Committee endeavors are to recruit students for careers in agriculture and environmental sciences through the Gateway Scholars Program, that sponsors the participation of local high school students and teachers at the ASA/CSSA/SSSA annual meetings, where they obtain first-hand experience on agricultural and environmental issues, cutting-edge scientific knowledge, and enhanced understanding of the role of the Tri-Societies in finding solutions to national and global problems concerning production of food, fiber, fuel, and the environment.
2. Minutes of Monthly Teleconferences and Annual Business Meetings
Teleconferences:
Teleconferences were held this five times this year to keep the members abreast with the committee’s activities and to enhance their involvement in the efforts to achieve objectives of the ACS528 committee. During these monthly teleconferences, subcommittees were created to help carry out the activities of the Diversity Committee for this year’s Annual Meeting. These activities included the Graduated Student Poster Competition Committee, identification of students for the Gateway Scholars Program, and the Gateway Scholars Program held at the Annual Meeting.
Annual Business Meeting - 2015
This year’s annual business meeting was held on November 7, 2016 at the Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, AZ. It was attended by the members of the ACS528 and other members of the societies (ASA-CSSA-SSSA) representing underrepresented groups across the world. A total of 10 people attended this year’s annual business meeting. Dr. Dedrick Davis, Assistant Professor of Soil Physics, Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL (Chair-2016), presented the 2016 Committee’s Activity Report. The Chair-elect for 2018 and secretary for 2017 were elected. Committee members and guests discussed ideas of how to improve and expand the activities of the Diversity Committee in preparation for the Annual Meeting in Tampa, FL 2017. Specifically, ways to improve early identification of Gateway Scholars were discussed. Also, possible ways to interact with other organizations such as the Soil and Water Conservation Society and MANNRS were discussed. Committee activities and efforts for the separate 2018 Annual Meetings were discussed.
3. Diversity Graduate Student Poster Competition, ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meetings, November 14-19, 2015, Minneapolis, MN.
Every year, one of the major activities of the Diversity in Agronomy, Crops, Soils and Environmental Sciences Committee (ACS528) is to recognize outstanding posters presented at Annual International Meetings of the three societies (ASA-CSSA-SSSA) by graduate students from under-represented groups. A total of 15 students belonging to underrepresented groups participated in this year’s competition. In the past, the graduate student poster competition has been held during the committee’s business meeting (6 – 8 pm), thus eliminating interaction with other society members. This year the graduate student poster competition was held in the convention center exhibit hall during the day. Posters were on display from 9 pm – 12:30 pm on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. The participants also had the opportunity to explain their research to the High School students attending the Gateway Scholars Program of the ACS 528. The interaction between the graduate students presenting posters and the ones participating in the Gateway Scholars Program was outstanding and very encouraging. It helped achieve our objective of motivating high school students to think about pursuing a career in agricultural and environmental sciences. The three award winners of the Diversity Graduate Student Poster Competition were Upasana Ghosh (North Dakota State University) Control of moisture and rhizosphere in nutrient release and plant uptake in soil types of North Dakota using ion exchange resin membrane (PRS probe) (1st), Nana Yaw Kusi (Texas Tech University) – Quantification of plant available potassium (K) at various depths in soils of the beltwide cotton production area in Texas (2nd), and Trinity Johnson (Purdue Univeristy) – Development of a cover crop residue nitrogen release curve (3rd).
4. Gateway Scholars Program, ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meetings November 8, 2016, Phoenix, AZ.
The ‘Gateway Scholars program' was initiated in 2010 under the name 'Platinum Scholars Program'. The ACS 528 committee voted for a change in the name of this initiative to align better with the Society's other programs. This program was designed to introduce high school students to the multitude of scientific disciplines in which members of ASA, CSSA and SSSA are engaged in by inviting students and teachers from local high schools to attend the annual conference. The goal is to introduce the next generation of scientists to these research areas and identify and motivate the future leaders in these sciences. This year we hosted 15 students from Phoenix Collegiate Academy Charter School. The students were welcomed by Dr. Dedrick Davis and the ACS 528 Diversity Committee. The Gateway Scholars were guided to attend graduate student poster competition and oral sessions on Impacts of Soil and Water Pollution on Food Safety Oral and Novel and Ancient Crops: Small in Acreage, Large in Value. The Gateway Scholars visited College/ University booths and vendors in exhibit hall. At the end of the program, the students attended the Gateway Scholars Motivational Program (Special Session held at 2:00 to 2:45 pm) where Dr. Shalamar Armstrong served as the speaker for the Gateway Scholars Motivational Program and provided the students with valuable information regarding their individual journeys. The students and accompanying teacher were given a survey to obtain feedback in order for Diversity Committee to make future improvements to its Gateway Scholar’s Program Activities.
5. Request for Endorsement from Societies’ Presidents of New Chair, Chair-elect and Member
ACS528 submits to the Societies’ Presidents the following names for endorsement:
2017 Chair: Dr. Terrence Gardner (North Carolina State University)
2018 Chair Elect: Dr. Candiss William (USDA-NRCS, National Soil Survey Center )
2016 Secretary: Dr. Dedrick Davis (Alabama A&M University, volunteer)
6. Acknowledgment of Supporters, Donors and Motivational speakers
ACS 528 Committee is grateful to the Agronomic Science Foundation and our own societies (CSSA-ASA-SSSA) for monetary support. The Committee would also like to thank the Noble Foundation, USDA-ARS, Alabama A&M University, University of Illinois, University of Wyoming, Yorktown State University, Prairie View A&M University, North Carolina State University, and CHS, for providing promotional gift items and other support for the Gateway Scholars Program.
We would like to thank the committee members who volunteered to serve as guides (Dr. Ramble Ankumah and Dr. Eton Codling) for the high school students. We would like to thank Mr. Forrest Radarian and students from Phoenix Collegiate Academy Charter School AP Environmental Science for attending the Gateway Scholars program.
We would like to thank Dr. Shalamar Armstrong for serving as the motivational speaker for the Gateway Scholars Program. In addition, we are grateful to the three judges who judged the graduate student poster competition (Dr. Candiss William, Dr. Xinhua Xiao, and .Dr. Jessica Ghezzi).
The Committee is deeply grateful to the ASA - CSSA - SSSA for supporting all our events.
We also thank everybody in the headquarters of all three societies, for providing assistance to the Diversity Committee. We would like to specially thank Mr. Alexander Barton for facilitating funding from Agronomic Science Foundation and Ms. Emily Fuger for serving as the Committee’s liaison with the Societies.
Items Requiring Board Attention:
Members of the Committee:
Dedrick Davis (Chair)
Noemi Guindin (Member-ASA)
Jean McLain (Member-ASA)
Justin Moss (Member-ASA)
Prasanna Gowda (Member-CSSA)
Funso Kutu (Member-CSSA)
Teshome Regassa (Member-CSSA)
Amanda Ashworth (Member-SSSA)
Yucheng Feng (Member-SSSA)
Terrence Gardner (Member-SSSA)
Candiss Williams (Member-SSSA)
Emily Fuger (Staff Liaison)
Attachment:
ACS 528 Diversity Committee Business Meeting Minutes (PDF)
Prepared By:
Davis, Dedrick D.