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Ag Fest: Promoting science in agriculture, new career paths
Frog’s blood and papaya puree may seem to have little in common. But biologically, they both contain cells and the cells contain genes.
As part of an ag education display at the annual Maui County Agricultural Festival held on March 14, 2009, those facts helped illustrate how agriculture today involves more than planting and harvesting.
Presented by Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) in partnership with the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (UH CTAHR), the science and technology display is part of the Educate the Educators project, a program to encourage teachers to include agriculture in their curriculum.
Hands on activities
WIT’s Ag Fest display provided samples of hands-on activities provided to teachers when they participate in the Educate the Educators program. It also helped create awareness for the “new agriculture” on Maui, enlightening parents and students about possible career paths for the future.
“We provide the curriculum resources and support to teachers to show that agriculture involves science,” said MEDB Project Manager Isla Young. “The booth at the Ag Fest was a good start to making parents aware of this wonderful resource.
The display included microscope slides of different types of cells to allow youngsters peering through the eyepiece, an experience with scientific data collection.
“There were all sort of slides prepared to give the experience of science. The frog’s blood was the most popular of the slides,” Young said.
More than working in the fields
Also drawing a large number of participating students: a demonstration for isolating papaya DNA. More than 100 youngsters were given actual DNA extraction kits to break up a papaya sample, use a pipette to transfer the material to a test tube, combine a series of solutions then release the genetic material into the papaya. The experiment took 10 to 15 minutes.
“They could actually see the DNA in the test tube,” Young said. “But the main point was not the isolating of DNA; it really was about student and parent awareness concerning the importance of science in agriculture today.”
“We are trying to generate interest by showing there is more to agriculture than working in the fields. For students hooked on computers, they see how they can use the computer with agriculture and begin to realize how important new technology is for the success of agricultural products.”
Partnerships are key
Also during the Ag Fest, the Focus Maui Nui Youth Alliance conducted a survey of residents attending the festival while meeting with growers, ranchers and chefs to gain a broad view of agriculture from production to nutrition to how it all tastes (www.focusmauinui.com).
The Maui County Farm Bureau is a partner with MEDB in promoting agricultural science, education and outreach about the value of agriculture to the Maui County economy. It funds the Educate the Educator program, with Farm Bureau members collaborating with teachers to provide on-site opportunities for students to experience farming.
In addition to workshops, teachers have access to a library of equipment and materials that can supplement what they have in their classroom. MEDB also provides internships in agriculture.
Spreading the word
Young said the Ag Fest education display achieved its purpose. “We definitely had parents asking a lot of questions and we gave them information they could take to their teachers on how to call us and provide an opportunity for teachers to develop new opportunities for their students,” she said.
“We get a lot of comments from teachers who are involved saying it is allowing the kids to see there is a career path in agriculture they can follow that does provide a living wage. Agriculture is different now from the plantation days; there are a lot of opportunities and it’s important for kids to know what they are.”
For information on Educate the Educator and other programs in support of agriculture coordinated by Maui Economic Development Board, call Women in Technology at (808) 875-2300 or email Okazaki@medb.org. For information on the Maui County Farm Bureau and its programs, go to www.mauicountyfarmbureau.org/, or contact Farm Bureau Executive Director Warren Watanabe at warrenmcfb@hotmail.com , or call (808) 878-2688.