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GLASE Launches E-GROW Certification to Cultivate Youth Interest in AgTech and Controlled Environment Agriculture
Ithaca, NY October 23, 2024 — Cornell University’s Greenhouse Lighting and Systems Engineering (GLASE) consortium is thrilled to announce the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is investing in a GLASE workforce development initiative.
The Empowering Greenhouse Resiliency with an Optimized Workforce (E-GROW) project is designed to inspire and develop youth competency in agricultural technology (AgTech) and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). In partnership with seven project collaborators and ten middle and high schools across four U.S. states, E-GROW will launch a certificate program, preparing the next generation for careers in the rapidly evolving field of CEA.
“Young people are a solution to the greenhouse industry’s labor challenges. CEA offers a vehicle for STEM education and presents an interesting career opportunity for youth to envision for themselves. GLASE is expanding our credible education and training model to serve learners entering the workforce development pipeline.” shared Gretchen Schimelpfenig, Executive Director of GLASE.
The project will bridge the gap between technology and agriculture, specifically focusing on automation in greenhouse climate control, robotics and AI for crop science, and energy and economic benchmarking of vertical farms. Through innovative, non-formal educational modules and experiential learning, E-GROW seeks to attract tech-savvy STEM students and foster a deeper understanding of AgTech in food production.
“Today’s youth are the scientists, innovators, farmers, and decision-makers of tomorrow; it is imperative we provide educational opportunities that advance students’ understanding of technologies, including in agriculture, that will create a more sustainable and resilient future,” said Manuela Zamora, Executive Director of NY Sun Works. “NY Sun Works is thrilled to collaborate with GLASE and partners on this initiative, which will enable youth, and in particular students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM, to build skills and prepare for careers in the growing field of controlled environment agriculture.”
Piloting the Future Workforce: Starting in ten schools across New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wyoming, E-GROW will reach between 500 and 1,000 students throughout the project. The program places a particular emphasis on engaging student populations traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields, including rural youth, low-income students, young women, ethnic minorities, and individuals with disabilities.
Dr. Neil Mattson, Professor at Cornell University, adds, “GLASE and Cornell University are pleased to lead this interdisciplinary project to engage and develop the next generation of agriculture technology leaders. Whether or not a student ultimately pursues a career in CEA, we believe this project can be a useful springboard for getting students engaged in plant science, engineering, and computer science. We are also pleased with the school and academic partnerships this project brings together in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wyoming.”
“Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA) is proud to be a partner in helping prepare today’s students to be the agricultural leaders of tomorrow,” said Crystal Huff, Director of AgWorks at CCA, a K through 12 public cyber charter school serving more than 30,000 students and their families throughout Pennsylvania. “CCA is committed to ensuring that the 21st-century workforce has the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the growing needs and demands of our evolving agriculture industry. We must stay ahead of the curve and ensure students are well-prepared for the future economy.”
As part of the pilot, students will work toward earning a CEA certificate, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to enter the growing AgTech industry. A robust mentoring network of industry professionals and academic experts will guide students through the program, providing hands-on learning opportunities and career insights.
“CEA training pathways for middle and high school students are a crucial component of the workforce training pipeline for the growing CEA industry,” said Dr. Kaylee South, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at Virginia Tech. “We are excited to work with the E-GROW project partners to develop and implement these pathways with an emphasis on engaging populations underrepresented in STEM fields. These educational tools will be key to provide knowledge and skills related to CEA and general exposure to agricultural technology.”
Collaborative Effort to Drive Innovation: Funded by the Food and Agriculture Non-formal Education (FANE) program, E-GROW brings together partners from higher education and youth development sectors to create a multi-faceted learning experience. The project will leverage existing research on CEA and AgTech to identify gaps in workforce development and education, tailoring learning materials to address these needs.
“The University of Wyoming is thrilled to be part of this impactful project, inspiring future generations with modern indoor agriculture technologies. Forming strong partnerships and creating shared learning experiences with the K-12 education community are key to promoting the growth of CEA in Wyoming and across the nation, leading to economic opportunities, jobs, and more local food production,” said Dr. Liping Wang and Dr. Anthony Denzer from the University of Wyoming.
Ian Kanski, Director of the Center for Agricultural Research at the University of Harrisburg adds “CEA provides a unique ‘living laboratory’ for learners to experience and apply a broad set of science and technology disciplines, developing skills and interest in some the most important technical fields for the coming economy. The E-GROW project led by Cornell is exactly the sort of multi-state and multi-institutional collaboration that’s needed as our education sector adapts to a changing food and agriculture landscape — and the Center for Advanced Agriculture and Sustainability is proud to be a contributor.”
Students will engage in capstone projects, demonstrating their competencies and showcasing how AgTech can improve food production and support local economies. These projects, along with outreach materials, will help build public confidence in CEA and AgTech by illustrating the tangible benefits of technology-driven food systems.
David Ceaser, Lead Agronomist at Agritecture, commented, “Agritecture is extremely pleased to be a part of the E-grow project. Agriculture faces an aging-out problem worldwide, and we believe that engaging youth in CEA and technology-based agriculture is key to ensuring future generations of farmers.”
Aiming for Long-Term Impact: The E-GROW initiative is designed with sustainability in mind. Over four years, project partners will develop and refine a scalable educational model that can be replicated across other schools and states. Feedback from pilot schools will help to ensure that the program meets accreditation standards and can grow into a national CEA workforce credentialing program.
For more information on the E-GROW project, please contact GLASE Extension Support Specialist, Matthew Del Buono at mjd378@cornell.edu and follow GLASE on LinkedIn.
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NY Sun Works Joins Queens Borough President and NY Hall of Science to Announce Historic Partnership
The $2.3Million Investment will Reach Thousands of Queens Families.
The Announcement Marked the Culmination of Climate Week and Included the Unveiling of a Prototypical Hydroponic Classroom which Will be Available to All Patrons
CORONA, NY – NY Sun Works in partnership with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announced a $2.3 million historic investment to bring climate science education and climate justice to dozens of Queens school communities. The announcement was made at the second annual Queens Climate Expo at the New York Hall of Science, where New York Hall of Science also unveiled a new hydroponic exhibit showing the environmental benefits of growing food hydroponically, established in partnership with NY Sun Works and the Queens Borough President’s Office.
The new funding is slated to reach more than 20,000 K-12 students across the borough through the building of NY Sun Works’ Hydroponic Classrooms. NY Sun Works labs, coupled with sustainability science curriculum, empowers and inspires the next generation of scientists, biologists, agriculturalists, agronomists, activists, and community leaders that will create solutions to local and global resource challenges. Hosted at New York City’s premier science institution New York Hall of Science, the announcement was made during the Climate Week Expo, which also celebrated the opening of a new hydroponic exhibit and garden which will be available for all patrons who visit.
“We are honored to partner with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, a steadfast champion of climate justice, to build new opportunities for climate science and sustainability education in Queens, one of New York’s most diverse boroughs,” said NY Sun Works Executive Director Manuela Zamora. “It is crucial to provide equity and access to quality science education, and this special expansion in Queens schools is part of our efforts to prepare the next generation to create solutions to the global climate crisis. Our goal is to bring every single New York City public school student access to climate science education through hydroponic technology and this historic investment brings us closer to achieving just that.
“Every New York City public school should have a hydroponics lab. I’m proud to have allocated more than $5 million across two dozen schools since taking office in service of that mission, and I’m honored to partner with NY Sun Works on bringing climate science education and climate justice to thousands of students,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “Our students deserve to have a modern and well-rounded education, and what better way to do that than by showing them how to grow their own food and encouraging them to find more sustainable solutions for our future.”
“Thank you to NY Sun Works and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for their invaluable support in bringing this innovative hydroponics exhibit to life at NYSCI and schools across the borough. Your dedication to sustainability and education is helping to inspire a new generation to embrace green technologies and urban farming,” said President and CEO of the New York Hall of Science Lisa Gugenheim. The hands-on nature of hydroponics perfectly aligns with NYSCI’s mission of Design, Make, Play, encouraging creativity, problem-solving, and exploration through interactive learning. We are grateful for your partnership in making this transformative project possible for our community and institution.”
These new NY Sun Works partner schools, will join more than 70 funded partner schools in Queens. NY Sun Works delivers inquiry-based K-12 science and sustainability education through the lens of urban farming. The goals are to support each school’s long-term capacity to deliver a high-quality science program; optimize students’ learning experience in the Hydroponic Classroom; and expand access to fresh produce for students and their families, while covering the Common Core, Scope and Sequence, and EfS science standards. Hydroponic technology is indoor vertical farming that enables the cultivation of plants in an indoor environment. Rather than from the sun, plants receive energy from LED lighting that is tailored specifically to the energy needs of the plants. Instead of using soil, seeds are planted in soil-free growth mediums.
Partner schools will receive ongoing resources and services to ensure the program and technology are running seamlessly. NY Sun Works provides professional development training for science educators in addition to weekly visits from a hydroponic specialist to guide teachers in hydroponic systems maintenance.
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September 28th, 2024: NYSci Exhibition
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35 New Hydroponic Classrooms Open on the First Day of School in NYC
NEW YORK, NY – NY Sun Works Executive Director Manuela Zamora congratulates the city’s school children returning to class today and announced the opening of 35 new hydroponic labs, bringing the total number of NYC public schools equipped with NY Sun Works Hydroponic Classrooms to 350 and students reached to over 130,000.
“Today, we wish every student a successful academic year. At NY Sun Works, we are especially proud that more students will return to schools equipped with a NY Sun Works Hydroponic Classroom. Thirty-five new labs are opening today across the five boroughs, providing K-12 students hands-on learning through urban farming. We are also proud to serve more special education students and English Language Learners this school year. Our commitment to inclusivity is unwavering, which is why we are bringing our innovative technology and curriculum to students of diverse backgrounds.”
“A sustainable future begins in the classroom. Together with our NYC public school partners, we are cultivating the next generation of scientists empowered to create solutions to global climate challenges. We wish everyone a fantastic school year filled with curiosity and discovery!”
Below is a list of all 35 schools where labs will open this fall:
Hunter College Elementary School
K068 IS68 Isaac Bildersee
K090 PS 90 Edna Cohen School
K097 PS 97 The Highlawn
K114 PS 114 Ryder Elementary
K122 Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-Tech)
K131 PS 131 Brooklyn
K153 PS 153 Homecrest
K199 PS 199 Frederick Wachtel
K249 PS 249 The Caton
K285 IS 285 Meyer Levin
K369 PS K369 – Coy L. Cox School
K401 Christopher Avenue Community School
K594 Gotham Professional Arts Academy
K654 Van Siclen Community Middle School
M475 Stuyvesant High School
Q071 PS 071 Forest
Q078 PS/IS 78Q
Q131 PS 131 Abigail Adams
Q144 PS 144 Col Jeromus Remsen
Q400 August Martin High School
Q585 Maspeth High School
R721 The Richard H Hungerford School
The Ascension School
The Birch Wathen Lenox School
X009 PS 9 Ryer Avenue Elementary
X032 The Belmont School
X110 PS 110 Theodore Schoenfeld
X228 Jonas Bronck Academy
X231 Eagle Academy for Young Men
X277 PS 277
X439 Bronx High School for Law and Community Service
X469@X855 Bronx School for Continuous Learners
X670 Health Opportunities High School
X811 PS X811
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Professional Development Sessions
Are you a K-12 teacher at a NY Sun Works partner school interested in professional development and training? Do you have one hour on a Wednesday afternoon to get comfortable with our innovative online Learning Center and teaching materials?
To support education staff in the back-to-school season, NY Sun Works is offering Professional Development Sessions. Below you will find a short summary of the session, along with links that allow you to sign up for whichever timing best suits your schedule.
Who is this session for? Any K-12+ teacher currently working within a NY Sun Works partner school.
What will I learn at this session? Participants will receive an overview of our Learning Center and develop an understanding of how to navigate the system, access and modify the curriculum, and schedule the necessary trainings to get the year off to a strong start!
We will also review the curriculum, clarify the scheduling of teacher training and provide updates on both the curriculum and new content within the Learning Center.
Participants are encouraged to ask questions and pick the brains of our trainers.
Who is delivering this session? NY Sun Works’ Education Team will oversee the sessions.
When are these sessions being held?
Wednesday, September 4th, | 3pm | Register Here
Wednesday, September 25th, | 3pm | Register Here
How do I access these sessions? Sessions are all held virtually on Zoom. Just click on one of the links above to register.
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Horti Daily: NY Sun Works receives $500k USDA grant to provide teachers in partner schools
NY Sun Works Executive Director Manuela Zamora announced a $500,000 professional development and agricultural literacy grant (PDAL) from the US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA) to provide teachers in partner schools with comprehensive curriculum and technical training in hydroponic farming and sustainability science.
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Ask a GST!
Who: Any partner teacher (PreK-12+)
Where: Virtual/Zoom
When: Monday, September 29th | 3pm | Register Here
Overview: Please join us for the first session of our recurring Ask a GST professional development series, where teachers can drop in to build their technical knowledge and bring all their questions about the technical side of the Hydroponic Classroom. This session will cover important topics for starting the year in the HC, including planting strategies and general troubleshooting tips.
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NY Sun Works receives $500,000 USDA GRANT for urban agriculture and climate education teacher training
Welcome Back! What better way to start the new school year than with a $500,000-sized vote of confidence from the Department of Agriculture?
NY Sun Works Executive Director Manuela Zamora announced a $500,000 professional development and agricultural literacy grant (PDAL) from the US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA) to provide teachers in partner schools with comprehensive curriculum and technical training in hydroponic farming and sustainability science. NY Sun Works joins a cohort of prestigious academic institutions that totals $7.1 million in grants among 14 awardees. The grant will also help to expand the organization’s professional learning content with new modules in classroom management practices in a hydroponic classroom setting and adapting the curriculum and classroom to support high level special needs.
“We thank the USDA for recognizing our excellence in urban agriculture and sustainability science education and providing this transformative grant to bolster professional development for science teachers at new partner schools,” said NY Sun Works Executive Director Manuela Zamora. “NY Sun Works is deeply committed to empowering our city’s extraordinary science teachers who are preparing the next generation of scientists, urban farmers and climate activists to help find solutions to climate change challenges and food insecurity in their communities.”
NY Sun Works’ three-year teacher professional learning program includes one-on-one curriculum and technical farming training and mentoring as well as group professional learning sessions throughout the school year. This “train the teacher” approach, provided by NY Sun Works’ team of educators and hydroponic farming professionals, enables teachers to confidently implement the nonprofit’s curriculum and use the hydroponic systems effectively as teaching tools, in turn supporting an optimal learning experience for the students and building student interest in and engagement with urban agriculture and the related foundational sciences.
The PDAL grant under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s Education and Workforce Development program trains educators and school administrators in the food and agricultural sciences, helping them to develop and apply skills necessary for integrating food and agricultural science concepts in their classes; explore science career paths in agriculture as well as cultivate mentorships with leaders and faculty at four-year institutions. For more information about the grant and recipients visit this link.
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NYN Media: NY Sun Works celebrates 20 years of climate education and hydroponic farming
This year marks a big milestone for the science education program NY Sun Works, which was founded 20 years ago as a floating urban farm in the Hudson River. The program has since evolved into hydroponic farms in classrooms in more than 300 New York public schools, and its success has caught the attention of education leaders and environmentalists around the world.
