Students fill ag schools to learn high-tech food production
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 3:08 AM
By Josh Jarman
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Tessa Bowman, 23, of New Albany, said she found food science more interesting than some sciences that deal mainly in theory because it's "something you can see, feel and touch."
Some Ohio State University students have long believed that the campus west of the Olentangy River is not for them.
There's a perception that the area "is all cowboy hats and big belt buckles," environmental-science major Kurtis Meyer said. "But that's changing."
The 23-year-old senior from Worthington is among a growing number of students rethinking their view of agricultural schools as they learn about the emphasis on science and the promise of good jobs after graduation.
Enrollment in agricultural schools across the country increased almost 22 percent from 2005 to 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. At Ohio State's College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, enrollment has risen more than 18 percent in the past five years.
Demand is so great that companies such as H.J. Heinz, Frito-Lay, Starbucks and even Jack Daniel's are hiring people with related degrees such as chemistry and then sending them through a one-year, online course that Culbertson runs at Ohio State. He said food-science graduates start out making about $50,000 a year for an undergrad degree and about $65,000 for a graduate degree. Read More
Even though we have the people like Michael Pollan who are pushing for agriculture to abandon the last 100 years of technological advancements, many of today’s students realize that the responsible thing to do is work towards solutions to feeding the world. The food industry needs people who will use the latest in technology and science to solve the old problem of hunger. That should be the goals of this country, not to recklessly advocate for food systems that reduce production.
Showing posts with label college majors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label college majors. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Monday, December 7, 2009
More Studying Ag
December 5, 2009
Delaware education: The new hot major? Agriculture Program offers diverse job opportunities for grads
By RACHEL KIPP
The News Journal
Kishana Williamson loves dolphins and, strangely enough, the marine mammals are the reason the University of Delaware senior spends her days studying chickens.
Williamson expected to study marine science in college. But once she got there, she realized that "marine science was more about the ocean than the animals." The programs that best fit her interests were animal science and wildlife conservation, both of which are part of the school's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
"When I got into college, I had no idea I'd end up in agriculture," said Williamson, 21, who is working on research related to avian influenza and other diseases that can be passed from animals to humans and vice versa. "When I got here I was like 'Ag? No wait. ...' "
In Delaware and across the country, enrollments in agriculture schools are on the rise. Nationally, enrollment in bachelor's degree programs in agriculture jumped 21.8 percent between 2005 and 2008, from about 58,300 students to nearly 71,000, according to a survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Many of the students have stories similar to Williamson's. She grew up in the decidedly nonrural New York City suburb of Teaneck, N.J., and, although she and fellow agriculture students spend class and research time on the school's working farm, she has no plans to become a farmer.
Students are drawn to agriculture school by an interest in science, but many are drawn to the fact that, even in this economy, companies working on such things as developing renewable fuels from organic material are still hiring. Read More
It’s fun and exciting to see how many young people get excited about agriculture when they finally realize that it’s more than Old MacDonald’s Farm. Many people have never thought to themselves that their very survival is dependent on agriculture. Humankind’s biggest challenge moving forward is trying to figure out how to feed everyone. We are going to need the best and brightest we have to offer working on the solutions if we want to be successful.
Delaware education: The new hot major? Agriculture Program offers diverse job opportunities for grads
By RACHEL KIPP
The News Journal
Kishana Williamson loves dolphins and, strangely enough, the marine mammals are the reason the University of Delaware senior spends her days studying chickens.
Williamson expected to study marine science in college. But once she got there, she realized that "marine science was more about the ocean than the animals." The programs that best fit her interests were animal science and wildlife conservation, both of which are part of the school's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
"When I got into college, I had no idea I'd end up in agriculture," said Williamson, 21, who is working on research related to avian influenza and other diseases that can be passed from animals to humans and vice versa. "When I got here I was like 'Ag? No wait. ...' "
In Delaware and across the country, enrollments in agriculture schools are on the rise. Nationally, enrollment in bachelor's degree programs in agriculture jumped 21.8 percent between 2005 and 2008, from about 58,300 students to nearly 71,000, according to a survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Many of the students have stories similar to Williamson's. She grew up in the decidedly nonrural New York City suburb of Teaneck, N.J., and, although she and fellow agriculture students spend class and research time on the school's working farm, she has no plans to become a farmer.
Students are drawn to agriculture school by an interest in science, but many are drawn to the fact that, even in this economy, companies working on such things as developing renewable fuels from organic material are still hiring. Read More
It’s fun and exciting to see how many young people get excited about agriculture when they finally realize that it’s more than Old MacDonald’s Farm. Many people have never thought to themselves that their very survival is dependent on agriculture. Humankind’s biggest challenge moving forward is trying to figure out how to feed everyone. We are going to need the best and brightest we have to offer working on the solutions if we want to be successful.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)