2007 Venture Grant Proposal for further Biotechnology/DNA Science 4-H Initiative
Project Coordinator: David Hildebrand, Plant Biochemistry & Genetics, Plant & Soil Sciences, 403 PSB, 1405 Veterans Dr., University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0312, 859/257-5020x80760
Project Team Members:
Jann Burks, 4-H YD, State 4-H Specialist &SET Coordinator ()
Dr. Joe Chappell, Plant Biochem. & Molecular Biol, Plant & Soil Sci. ()
Lauri Pulver, Research Analyst, Plant & Soil Sciences (
Kathy Junker, 4-H agent, Greenup Co. ()
Toni Riley, 4-H agent, Christian Co. ()
Sherrill Bentley, 4-H agent, Lewis Co. ()
Dr. Carol Hanley, Director TFCE, P-12 Science education ()
Dr. Chad Lee, Plant & Soil Science Crops Extension ()
Dr. Ric Bessin, Entomology Extension ()
Dr. Keiko Tanaka, Sociology, Community & Leadership Devel. ()
Dr. Robert Pearce, Plant & Soil Science Tobacco Extension ()
Dr. Kenneth Jones, Sociology, Comm. & Leadership Devel. Extension ()
Dr. Maelor Davies, Plant & Soil Science Crops, Director KTRDC ()
Project Title: Developing Biotechnology/DNA Science Entrepreneurs
Amount requested: $50,000
Partial funding: Yes.
Check written to whom: Kentucky 4-H Program
Project Summary:
1. The purpose of this proposed project is to help inspire entrepreneurial youths to learn more about biotechnology/DNA science and to consider applying it to new opportunities for Kentucky farmers and rural communities. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution until today the global economy has been largely petroleum based. It is also well known that since the dawn of civilization economic development is tied to technological developments and technology is increasingly science based. The hydrocarbon in oil, coal and natural gas were originally formed by biochemical processes in plants and converted into their present form by geochemical processes over hundreds of millions of years. However it is now widely recognized that such hydrocarbon reserves are unlikely to meet projected future needs at least cost effectively. Leaders of oil and chemical companies along with state and national leaders now also agree that with advancements and applications of biotechnology, crop science and engineering most of our future chemicals and much of our liquid fuel needs will likely be derived from plants. Biotechnology has already revolutionized medical developments and important aspects of production of major agricultural crops but we are just at the beginning of such developments of renewable chemicals and materials from genetically engineered plants. Together with 4-H we hope to educate and inspire a sufficient number of Kentucky youths so that Kentucky is at the forefront of these scientific and technological developments and their commercial implementation.
The work for this 2007 4-H project is to build on the current 4-H biotechnology work and to complement the Kentucky 4-H Science, Engineering & Technology (SET) initiative. We are in the second year of 4-H venture funding for a biotechnology project. In 2005 we conducted two state-wide biotechnology camps together with Kathy Junker and Toni Riley at the 4-H camps in Carlisle and Dawson Springs. We also conducted a biotechnology Teen Track in Lexington, a biotechnology workshop in Frankfort and put information about biotechnology and biotechnology activities for youths for 4-H agents on the web at http://www.ca.uky.edu/brei/Teach/4-H/Info/info.htm. See http://www.ca.uky.edu/brei/4-H_Program.htm for a summary of the 2005 4-H venture project. In 2006 we held another biotechnology Teen Track on the UK campus, we are conducting a state-wide biotechnology camp at the Feltner 4-H camp site in London (http://www.ca.uky.edu/brei/teach/4-H/2006camp/) together with Sherrill Bentley and In-Service training for 4-H agents on conducting biotechnology camps and activities is scheduled for October 18, 2006. Additionally we are surveying 4-H agents about their interest in biotechnology and holding their own biotech related activities for youths in their counties. We are developing materials for making this very easy for them to do on their own and this will be made available on the web.
For this proposal for work in 2007 the focus will be on empowering 4-H agents and youths to explore biotechnology related sciences from the perspective of meeting future chemical, material and fuel needs and how this can benefit farmers and rural communities. Up until now the focus has been on biotech camps using a CSI theme and much of the discussion has been related to medical applications. This is fine for camps and activities that 4-H agents conduct in the future in their individual counties and we will develop markedly enhanced web materials for 4-H agents to facilitate this. Additionally we will also develop a website with information on how biotechnology related sciences can meet future chemical, material and fuel needs and how Kentucky youths can choose educational paths and careers to participate in this. To this end additional In-Service training will be conducted for 4-H agents related to this new theme. We will survey farmers in their state and their middle school and older children for input in this process. We will also implement projects with 4-H agents and programs in 15 pilot counties (see 2D below). Included in this will be the identification and evaluation of existing hands-on and web-based projects that youths can be engaged in allowing them to explore different aspects of biotechnology. New such projects will be developed as deficiencies in available materials from around the nation and the world are identified. Youths in 7th and 8th grades will be the primary target of these projects but some more advanced projects for high school students will also be identified and developed. It is planned for the 4-H agents and volunteers involved to work with their local middle and high school science teachers in these projects with us. A number of kits related to biotechnology for science teachers are available from sources such as Carolina Biologicals and Edmund Scientific and some of the most appropriate kits will be purchased and evaluated by the project team including 4-H members in the 7th or 8th grade and recommendations made about them to 4-H agents and teachers. E.g. Green Gene Colony Transformation Kit, https://www2.carolina.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?jdeAddressId=&catalogId=10101&storeId=10151&productId=18893&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=&crumbs=n. Versions will be sought and as needed developed that can utilize materials that can be purchased at local stores at minimal cost and can be done in local county extension centers and safely and economically at home by inspired youths 7th grade and above. A library of kits purchased and developed, information about them and the evaluations will be placed on the web and will be available for check out by 4-H agents or youths in cooperation with their local extension office. We will also lay the ground work for future self-sustaining state-wide SET camps including biotechnology modules building on our experience with biotech camps.
2. A. Youth Impacted: 60.
B. Youth from farm families: 40.
C. Farmers Impacted: 30.
We intend to try to engage 4-H agents and ag agents in every county to disseminate information about biotech and new opportunities for farmers and finally if possible we would like to possibly impact every interested farmer and their children in the next few years.
D. Number and names of Counties Impacted: The plan is to focus on the 15 counties identified by the SET initiative and/or counties wherein 4-H agents indicate a strong interest. A survey is currently being conducted to initiate the process of identifying 4-H agents with such an interest and initiate discussions with them, http://www.ca.uky.edu/brei/teach/4-H/2006camp/bioTechSurvey.htm.
E. Economic Impact: Participants will gain knowledge and ability to change their communities after working with this program. Participants will gain knowledge about the potential for biotechnology in developing plants as enhanced sources of valuable chemicals, materials and fuel for the future US and world economy. Participants will be able to explore careers related to such developments.
3. Role of Youth: 4-H Agents will be asked to survey 4-H participants, as well as those who are not involved directly with 4-H programming concerning what types of biotechnology/DNA science related programs and/or activities are needed in the counties that would benefit them, socially and economically. Working with 4-H and ag agents in every county we plan to send the above mentioned survey to the middle school and above children in every farm family in the state.
4. 4-H has tremendous promise as a vehicle for introducing and stimulating interest among youths in emerging areas of science and technology. 4-H agents are also highly skilled in engaging youths in fun and educational activities. However, few 4-H agents have extensive science backgrounds and generally are not familiar with many biotechnology techniques or technical jargon in this field. Our initial work with 4-H and biotechnology involved camps that UK scientists go out to and provide hands-on DNA Science/biotech learning experiences and this has been a great experience for the youths involved but the time and resources of UK scientists limits the numbers of youths that can be impacted this way. The focus of this project is for 4-H agents to provide biotechnology educational training on their own by providing easy hands-on materials, training, etc. to the 4-H agents in the 15 initial counties. They in turn can work with us to train and stimulate other 4-H agents to provide biotechnology educational experiences to youths throughout the state in future years.
5. Youth will explore opportunities in careers that currently focus on biotechnology developing plants as increasing sources of valuable chemicals, materials and fuel. Participants will be asked to create and/or design programs that will benefit their own communities’ needs. County teams will then present these programs in different public arenas.
6. This biotechnology SET Initiative will stimulate new opportunities for farms and farm communities to explore what can be done in transition from tobacco to alternative farming. It will provide useful information to youths and farmers about new added value products from crop plants and new opportunities for farmers.
7. Timeline:
January-May 2007 Project Implementation in Counties
June-Sept. 2007 County Visits by Team Leaders
Oct.-Nov. 2007 Project Completion/Evaluation
Dec. 2007 Data Collection/Evaluation Results
January 2008 New counties requested for replication of Program
8. Letters of Support. See attached.
9. We will continue to search the nation and planet for materials useful to 4-H agents in educating youths about biotechnology and we will provide information about these resources to 4-H agents in Kentucky. A leading group in this regard has been Iowa Cooperative Extension and they published a booklet entitled “A Crime, A Clue and Biotechnology” in 1996. This is still available and we will purchase and provide one for each 4-H agent in the 15 pilot counties. This includes some well thought out hands on activities but most of them are mainly suitable for youths about 4th to 6th grade and do not necessarily stimulate a strong interest in the science and technology in the field but provides a nice start. Biotechnology is a rapidly advancing field and therefore this fine booklet is out-of-date in some of the exciting applications such as using crops as new sources of chemicals and materials traditional derived from petroleum. Similarly the National 4-H Council’s excellent leader’s guide Making Sense of Biotechnology in Agriculture, “Fields of Genes” put out in 1997 and available on the web at: http://fog.n4h.org/ is dated and does not address new opportunities much. We will fill in gaps and provide information and materials on the web where we do not find up-to-date materials on biotechnology and new opportunities for farmers.
10. This project will be maintained by materials on the web that will be updated periodically. This will include information of 4-H agents with relevant experience who can provide a resource and advice to other 4-H agents as well as UK folks that can help. Future –In-Service training will be provided at cost as needed.
11. Evaluation Technique: Participants will be given pre and post activity evaluation forms to complete as we have been doing with the biotechnology camps. Upon completion of the project year, the participants will be given another web-based evaluation form to complete, as well as a hands-on presentation of their accomplishments. Throughout the project year, formative evaluations will be done by Agents and Volunteers. This will be placed on the web in summary form.
12. Replication: Each county team will be asked to present their accomplishments and data results at the conclusion of the project year. This will be done in different settings to allow agents/volunteers and youth participants the opportunity to become involved. A new group of counties will be recruited for the second year to continue the piloting of the program with the mentoring of the original 15 counties support although this might be completely melded into the future SET project.
13. See attached budget.
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