Utah State University

APPLICATION IN RESPONSE TO EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANTS TO STUDENTS UNDER THE CORONAVIRUS AID,RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY (CARES) ACT.

APPLICATION IN RESPONSE TO EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANTS TO STUDENTS UNDER THE CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY (CARES) ACT.

NSF ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER FOR ADVANCING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH POWERED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ROADWAY ELECTRIFICATION (ASPIRE)

IUTAH-INNOVATIVE URBAN TRANSITIONS AND ARIDREGION HYDRO-SUSTAINABILITY

TAS::89 0321::TAS ALTERNATIVE AND UNCONVENTIONAL ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

UNIVERSAL NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING - COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY STARS! GEAR UP PARTNERSHIP

GAINING EARLY AWARENESS AND READINESS FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS (GEAR UP PARTNERSHIP)

INVESTING IN INNOVATION -- VALIDATION GRANTS

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY STARS! – GEAR UP PARTNERSHIP

GAINING EARLY AWARENESS AND READINESS FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS (GEAR UP PARTNERSHIP)

THE FIRST TECHNOLOGY IS OUR ACTIVE THERMAL ARCHITECTURES (ATA) A COMPLETE END-TO-END SOLUTION FOR ACTIVE THERMAL CONTROL OF CRYOGENIC INSTRUMENTS ON NANO AND SMALL SATELLITES.

STEPS TO HEALTHY FATHERHOOD

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** APPROXIMATELY SIX MILLION BEEF CALVES ARE PRODUCED ANNUALLY IN THE WESTERN U.S. ALONE, AND RANCHERS MUST MAINTAIN PROFITABLE OPERATIONS WHILE ADDRESSING THE GROWING NUMBER OF CONSUMERS SEEKING ENVIRONMENTALLY, ECONOMICALLY, AND SOCIALLY SUSTAINABLE FOOD. IN RESPONSE TO THESE CONCERNS, WE PROPOSE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMART FOODSCAPES AS A TRANSFORMATIVE PARADIGM FOR WESTERN U.S. BEEF PRODUCTION. OUR HYPOTHESIS IS THAT A DIVERSITY OF DEEP-ROOTED PERENNIAL LEGUMES AND FORBS WITH HIGH NUTRIENT CONTENT AND THE PRESENCE OF FUNCTIONAL BIOCHEMICALS CAN BE GROWN AND STOCKPILED IN ISLANDS ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE TO BE USED AS LOW-COST SUPPLEMENTATION FOR BEEF CATTLE TO ENHANCE PRODUCTIVITY AND BIODIVERSITY WHILE REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. THUS, OUR LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF BEEF PRODUCTION THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ISLANDS OF MULTIFUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY IN RANGELANDS, IN LINE WITH THE NIFA PROGRAM AREA PRIORITY LONG TERM GOALS OF LAND STEWARDSHIP, FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND AGRICULTURAL CLIMATE ADAPTATION. WE WILL SCREEN A WIDE SELECTION OF PLANTS FOR SYNERGISMS THAT WILL BE TESTED FOR THEIR IMPACTS ON BEEF CATTLE PERFORMANCE, HEALTH, NUTRIENT LOSSES TO THE SOIL AND ATMOSPHERE, HABITAT FOR POLLINATORS, WILDLIFE, AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY (RESEARCH OBJECTIVES). RESEARCH WILL BE INTEGRATED WITH GRAZING SCHOOLS, ASSESSMENTS OF ADOPTION, AND PRODUCER ENGAGEMENT (EXTENSION OBJECTIVES). WE WILL INTEGRATE GARDEN-BASED LEARNING AND SMART FOODSCAPES INTO SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING ARTS MATHEMATICS (STEAM) TEACHING AND LEARNING (EDUCATION OBJECTIVES), AND ALL OBJECTIVES INTO A COMPREHENSIVE OUTREACH PROGRAM. THIS TRANSDISCIPLINARY PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO CREATE MORE SUSTAINABLE BEEF PRODUCTION SYSTEMS WHILE ENGAGING AND EDUCATING CURRENT AND FUTURE LAND STEWARDS.

UNIVERSAL NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING - COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY - NUESTRA VISION PARTNERSHIP

WESTERN REGION SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND AGRIBUSINESSES HAVE A PRESSING NEED FOR RESEARCH-BASED INFORMATION AND TRAINING ON SUSTAINABLEPRACTICES AND TECHNIQUES. THIS REGIONAL COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP AGRICULTURE BECOME MORE PROFITABLE,PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PRODUCERS, RURAL RESIDENTS, AND OTHERCONSUMERS. THE HOST INSTITUTION FOR WESTERN SARE, ONE OF FOUR REGIONAL CENTERS, IS LOCATED AT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY. THIS PROJECT OVERSEES ANDCOORDINATES THE PROJECTS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE USDA-NIFA-SARE PROGRAM.

REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTER

TO IMPROVE COMPLIANCE PRODUCER UNDERSTANDING AND TREATMENT OF AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM PAYMENTS AND RELATED FARM TAX CHALLENGES, CREATION OF MATERIALS TO ASSIST FARMERS INSTITUTING TAX AND RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, AND TO ASSIST FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AVAILABLE OPTIONS AND THE TAX IMPLICATIONS OF THEIR DECISIONS.

BASIC AND CLINICAL STUDIES IN REINFORCING POSITIVE BEHAVIORS IN INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

WESTERN REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION(WSARE)PROGRAM AND WESTERN REGIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (PDP)

WESTERN REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION(WSARE)PROGRAM AND WESTERN REGIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (PDP)

FATHERS INCARCERATED RE-ENTRY EDUCATION (FIRE)

RELATIONSHIP EDUCATION FOR ADULTS LIVING IN STEPFAMILIES (REALS)

CPCESU BLM NATIONAL AQUATIC MONITORING CENTER

TAS::89 0331::TAS RECOVERY RECOVERY ACT: THE SNAKE RIVER GEOTHERMAL DRILLING PROJECT: INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION

PURPOSE: THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE COLLABORATIVE SURVEILLANCE EFFORT BETWEEN APHIS, WS AND THE COOPERATOR IS TO IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING OF SPATIAL, TEMPORAL, AND EVOLUTIONARY DYNAMICS OF SARS-COV-2 IN MULE DEER (MD) POPULATIONS, TO UNDERSTAND MD MOVEMENT AND BEHAVIOR THAT AFFECT DISEASE PREVALENCE, AND TO UNDERSTAND IF SARS-COV-2 AFFECTS MD POPULATIONS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WILL LIVE-SAMPLE MD POPULATIONS FOR SARS-COV-2 INTENSIVELY OVER TIME WHILE MONITORING THEIR MOVEMENTS AND INTERACTIONS. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THIS APPROACH WILL IDENTIFY DRIVERS OF TRANSMISSION AND PERSISTENCE OF SARS-COV-2 IN MD POPULATIONS AND PROVIDE DATA FOR OPTIMIZING RISK-BASED SURVEILLANCE DESIGNS AND DEVELOPING NEW ANALYTICAL TOOLS FOR ONE HEALTH MANAGEMENT. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: AMERICAN AGRICULTURE, HUMAN HEALTH, ANIMALS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.

NATIONAL CENTER FOR ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

CFD & SYSTEM CODE BENCHMARK DATE FOR PLENUM-TO-PLENUM FLOW UNDER NATURAL, MIXED & FORCE CIRCULATION CONDITION

SPECIAL EDUCATION-TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DISSEMINATION TO IMPROVE SERVICES AND RESULTS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES - REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTER

NATIONAL CENTER ON ACCESSIBLE DIGITAL EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS & INSTRUCTION (NCADEMI)

HEALTHY MARRIAGE RESOURCE CENTER

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY - STARS! PARTNERSHIP

FLOURISHING AND STRONG TEENS (FAST) - OPA

RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF THE SUPPORTING KNOWLEDGE IN LANGUAGE AND LITERACY (SKILL) PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE AT-RISK FOR LANGUAGE AND LITERACY DIFFICULTIES

2010 WESTERN REGION SUSTAINABLE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION (SARE) PROGRAM

WESTERN REGION SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION (SARE) PROGRAM

WESTERN REGION SUSTAINABLE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION (SARE) PROGRAM

WESTERN REGION SUSTAINABLE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION (SARE) PROGRAM

ADOLESCENT AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT (ACE) - DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS, UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY (USU) HAS SUCCESSFULLY REPLICATED EVIDENCE-BASED TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION PROGRAMMING (EBPS) IN BEHAVIORAL, ALTERNATIVE EDUCATIONAL, AND STATE-INVOLVED SETTINGS. OUR CURRENT PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT DATA SHOW USU’S ABILITY TO SYSTEMICALLY DELIVER EBPS TO YOUTH AND THE ADULTS WHO SUPPORT THEM. THIS PROPOSAL – ADOLESCENT AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT (ACE) – LIKEWISE REPLICATES TO SCALE EVIDENCE-BASED TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION PROGRAMMING (EBPS). OUR TARGET POPULATION INCLUDES YOUTH WITH INORDINATELY HIGH HEALTH DISPARITIES IN TEEN BIRTH AND STIS, AND PARENT/CAREGIVERS AND YOUTH-SERVING PROFESSIONALS WHO LIVE IN UTAH’S URBAN CORRIDOR - THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA KNOWN AS UTAH’S WASATCH FRONT. WE WILL REPLICATE EBPS IN THE FOLLOWING THREE SETTINGS: (1) BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AGENCIES, (2) ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOLS/ALTERNATIVE EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS, AND (3) STATE-INVOLVED YOUTH SETTINGS (I.E., JUVENILE JUSTICE AND FOSTER-CARE FACILITIES). THIS PROJECT LEVERAGES OUR EXPERIENCE AS A PRIOR OPA GRANTEE, AND OUR TEAM’S EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE IN MANAGING LARGE GRANTS TO DELIVER RIGOROUS RESEARCH-BASED CURRICULA TO TEENS IN UTAH, THE STATE WITH THE NATION’S YOUNGEST POPULATION. WE WILL REPLICATE EBPS TO SCALE IN EQUITABLE, SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS, USING TRAUMA-INFORMED AND POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES. GUIDED BY SENSITIVITY TO YOUTH IN THEIR UNIQUE COMMUNITIES, WE WILL INVOLVE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND PARENTS/CAREGIVERS IN EBP REPLICATION, AND HELP CONNECT THEM TO OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES. SOCIAL MEDIA AND STATE-WIDE USU RELATIONSHIP EDUCATION WILL FURTHER BOOST THIS PROJECT’S REACH. WE WILL REACH 4,500 PARTICIPANTS TOTAL (500 IN Y1 AND 1,000/YEAR THEREAFTER). THIS INCLUDES 3,825 YOUTH (Y1: 425; Y2-Y5: 850 ANNUALLY), AND 675 ADULTS (Y1: 75; Y2-Y5: 150 ANNUALLY). OUR ESTABLISHED NETWORK OF DIVERSE BEHAVIORAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND STATE SETTINGS IS STRONG AND ENGAGED, AND MULTIPLIES OUR REACH. COMPARED TO THEIR PEERS, YOUTH IN THESE SETTINGS HAVE DOCUMENTED HIGHER RATES OF TEEN BIRTHS, SEXUAL ACTIVITY, AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STIS). AS MANY AS 80% ARE ESTIMATED TO HAVE HAD SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, AND 50-66% ARE LIKELY TO BE CURRENTLY SEXUALLY ACTIVE. COMPARED TO THEIR PEERS NATIONALLY, OUR POPULATION OF FOCUS ALSO HAS HEALTH DISPARITIES SUCH AS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RATES OF RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, MENTAL HEALTH DISTRESS, AND POVERTY. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND SEXUAL ACTIVITY AMONG TEENS ARE RECIPROCAL: TEENS WITH EXTERNALIZING BEHAVIORS ARE MORE SEXUALLY ACTIVE, YOUNGER AT FIRST INTERCOURSE, HAVE RELATIVELY MORE SEXUAL PARTNERS, AND HIGHER RISK OF STIS AND UNPLANNED PREGNANCIES. WE CURRENTLY REPLICATE THE LOVE NOTES CURRICULUM, BUT DURING THE PLANNING PERIOD WE WILL WORK OUR PARTNERS AND OPA TO ENSURE AN APPROVED, APPROPRIATE EBP IS SELECTED FOR IMPLEMENTATION. IN ADDITION, COMMUNITY PROFESSIONALS AND PARENTS WILL RECEIVE RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN THEIR PARENTING KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS. USU HAS ACTIVELY COLLABORATED WITH AND MAINTAINED A STRONG NETWORK OF DIVERSE, MULTI-SECTOR PARTNERS THROUGH WHOM EBPS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY REPLICATED. THE CURRENT PROJECT WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF, ACCESS TO, AND UTILIZATION OF EBPS AND ADOLESCENT-FRIENDLY SERVICES THAT ARE EQUITABLE, ACCESSIBLE, ACCEPTABLE, APPROPRIATE, AND EFFECTIVE.

WESTERN REGION SUSTAINABLE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION (SARE) PROGRAM

PROGRESSION OF DEMENTIA: A POPULATION

INFLATION REDUCTION ACT URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY SEEDING A TREE CULTURE IN UTAH

WESTERN REGION SUSTAINABLE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION (SARE) PROGRAM

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE MAJORITY OF US ORGANIC WHEAT IS PRODUCED IN WESTERN STATES, BUT FARM VIABILITY IS INCREASINGLY THREATENED BY THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, LEADING TO DECLINING YIELDS, POOR SOIL HEALTH, INCREASING WEED PRESSURE, AND PERIODS OF DROUGHTS AND FLOODING. THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THIS INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP ECONOMICALLY VIABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE DRYLAND GRAIN SYSTEMS IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE. TO MEET THIS GOAL, WE HAVE TWO MAIN OBJECTIVES. THE FIRST IS TO INTEGRATE PERENNIAL WHEAT AND FORAGES INTO OUR LONG-TERM ON-FARM RESEARCH SITES DEVOTED TO TESTING AND SHOWCASING ORGANIC DRYLAND WHEAT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND ASSESS THE INCOME POTENTIAL OF KERNZA, AS A PRODUCT AND IN CARBON MARKETS. THE SECOND IS TO WORK WITH EXTENSION FACULTY, AGRONOMISTS, GROWERS, AND FEDERAL AGENCY PERSONNEL TO ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS TO GROW PRODUCTIVE, HIGH QUALITY, SUSTAINABLE, AND PROFITABLE DRYLAND ORGANIC ANNUAL AND PERENNIAL GRAINS AND FORAGES. OUTREACH EFFORTS, GUIDED BY INPUT FROM OUR ADVISORY COUNCIL, WILL TARGET PRODUCERS, EXTENSION PERSONNEL, AND AGRICULTURAL PROFESSIONALS WHO ADVISE PRODUCERS ON ORGANIC PRACTICES THROUGH IN-PERSON EVENTS (ON-FARM TRIALS, FIELD TOURS, WINTER MEETINGS), PRINTED MATERIALS (EXTENSION PUBLICATIONS AND ANALYSIS TOOLS), AND DIGITAL RESOURCES (WEBINARS, WEBPAGES, AND WEB-BASED VIDEOS). PERENNIAL WHEAT COMBINED WITH LOW-RATES OF COMPOST COULD HELP DIVERSITY ORGANIC GRAIN SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVED WATER USE EFFICIENCY, SOIL HEALTH, SOIL CARBON STOCKS, WEED MANAGEMENT, AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY IN THE WESTERN U.S.

UNIVERSITY CENTERS FOR EXCELLENCE IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND SERVICE

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: SI2-SSI: CYBERINFRASTRUCTURE FOR ADVANCING HYDROLOGIC KNOWLEDGE THROUGH COLLABORATIVE INTEGRATION OF DATA SCIENCE, MODELING AND ANALYSIS

DETERMINING THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF NEWLY DISCOVERED IMMUNE SYSTEMS

OPIOID-IMPACTED FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM

CORE ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATIONS: CENTER FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

NRT: GRADUATE CLIMATE ADAPTATION RESEARCH THAT ENHANCES EDUCATION AND RESPONSIVENESS OF SCIENCE AT THE MANAGEMENT-POLICY INTERFACE (GRAD-CAREER)

ROBUST CELL-LEVEL MODELING AND CONTROL OF LARGE BATTERY PACKS

MULTIFUNCTIONAL SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS RESEARCH PROJECT

VISTA STATE

A SOCIO-ECOLOGIC FRAMEWORK SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES' COMMUNITY LIVING AND PARTICIPATION

TRAJECTORIES INTO EARLY CAREER RESEARCH

USUE BLANDING CAMPUS UPWARD BOUND

IDRPP CORE GRANT (2022-2027) UNIVERSITY CENTERS FOR EXCELLENCE IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

SIBLING SOCIALIZATION OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE FROM EARLY THROUGH LATE ADOLESCENCE

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: SI2-SSI: AN INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SUSTAINING COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY INNOVATION IN THE HYDROLOGIC SCIENCES

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ASSIST RECLAMATION IN THE CONTINUED TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF FISH-DETECTION SYSTEMS, SPECIFICALLY THOSE RELATED TO PIT TAGS AND TO ASSIST IN THE ANALYSES AND STORAGE OF THE DATA THAT IS DERIVED FROM THESE SYSTEMS AND HOW IT RELATES TO MANAGEMENT OF RECLAMATION FACILITIES AND WATERS.

EDUCATIONAL TALENT SEARCH 2021-2026

TRIBAL NON TRIBAL COLLEGES

THIS PROJECT IS ABOUT HELPING THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT BLM REIMAGINE THE ROLE ITS RIVERSCAPES CAN PLAY AS A CORNERSTONE TO INCREASING CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY ON AMERICA S PUBLIC LANDS WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION ROBUSTLY ADDRESSING THE INTERTWINED CLIMATE AND NATURE CRISES, BLM HAS A RIPE OPPORTUNITY TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE HEALTH OF LANDSCAPES IT IS ENTRUSTED TO STEWARD BY VIEWING ITS RIVERSCAPES AS A CRITICAL PIECE OF NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDAMENTAL TO A COHERENT CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE AGENDA RESTORING DEGRADED STREAM CHANNELS INTO HEALTHY, FUNCTIONING RIVERSCAPES WILL HELP THESE LANDSCAPES MORE RELIABLY YIELD BENEFITS IN WATER QUANTITY, WATER QUALITY, HABITAT FOR TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC SPECIES, RECREATION, AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY INCREASING RESILIENCE TO THE INCREASING FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF DROUGHTS, FLOODS AND FIRES TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, WE ARE PROPOSING THIS PROJECT TO SUPPORT BLM IN ESTABLISHING A HEALTHY RIVERSCAPE INITIATIVE THAT PRIORITIZES INVESTING IN LOW TECH, PROCESS BASED RESTORATION TO IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF AND EXPAND RIVERSCAPE HABITAT ON BLM MANAGED LANDS THIS PROJECT FOCUSES ON THE I EDUCATION AND TRAINING, THE II DEVELOPMENT OF GEOSPATIAL TOOLS AND STANDARDS I E DECISION SUPPORT , AND THE III SCIENTIFIC STUDIES TO BUILD THE CONFIDENCE AND EXPAND THE CAPACITY OF BLM AND ITS PARTNERS TO REALIZE THE VISION OF HEALTHIER RIVERSCAPES

TALENT SEARCH PROGRAM

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION JOINT RESEARCH PROGRAM IN OPTICAL SENSOR CALIBRATION.

UPWARD BOUND

HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND-INSTITUTIONAL PORTION

UCEDD CORE ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATIONS: CENTER FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

LONG-TERM TRAJECTORIES OF SUBJECTIVELY- AND POLYSOMNOGRAPHICALLY-ASSESSED SLEEP PATTERNS AS PREDICTORS OF NEUROENDOCRINE DYSFUNCTION AND WEIGHT GAIN IN ADULTS

IDENTIFYING EPIGENETIC, CHROMATIN, AND TRANSCRIPTOMIC LANDSCAPES TO IMPROVE SCNT DEVELOPMENT IN AN ANIMAL MODEL

22-22-PT-PHSB-0003 DESIGN MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT APPROACHES FOR THE ROOT-ZONE IN MICROGRAVITY: PHASE B

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY WILL ADMINISTER THE UTAH 4-H MENTORING PROGRAM, AIMED AT SUPPORTING YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE IMPACTED BY OPIOID AND OTHER SUBSTANCE MISUSE. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE BOTH ONE-ON-ONE AND GROUP MENTORING IN AN AFTERSCHOOL SETTING, DIRECTLY SERVING APPROXIMATELY 350 YOUTH ANNUALLY WHO ARE AFFECTED BY OPIOID MISUSE. THE YOUTH WILL RANGE FROM FOURTH TO EIGHTH GRADE AT THE ONSET AND CAN CONTINUE IN THE PROGRAM UNTIL THEIR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION OR UNTIL THEY REACH AGE 17. THE PURPOSE OF THE UTAH 4-H MENTORING PROGRAM IS TO REDUCE DELINQUENT BEHAVIORS AND PREVENT THE MISUSE OF SUBSTANCES, WITH A BROADER GOAL OF PROMOTING POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR THE YOUTH INVOLVED. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE EVIDENCE-BASED 4-H MENTORING YOUTH & FAMILIES WITH PROMISE MODEL PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES STRUCTURED MENTORING, ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES SUCH AS 4-H CLUB PROJECTS AND CAMPS, STRONG FAMILY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND FAMILY CAMPS, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STATEWIDE YOUTH AND PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL TO INVOLVE FAMILIES IN THE PROGRAM'S DIRECTION. THESE COMPONENTS ARE DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN FAMILY BONDS AND SUPPORT THE PARTICIPANTS CONSISTENTLY THROUGHOUT THEIR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE PROGRAM. EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE A DECREASE IN DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR AND AN INCREASE IN POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOMES FOR THE YOUTH AND FAMILIES SERVED. THESE GOALS WILL BE MEASURED THROUGH THE COLLECTION OF OJJDP PERFORMANCE MEASURES, AN END-OF-THE-YEAR STATEWIDE UTAH 4-H IMPACT SURVEY, MENTOR REPORTS, AND ATTENDANCE RECORDS AT PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: L24AS00310FUNDING OPPORTUNITY GOALS TEXT: THROUGH ONGOING WORK BETWEEN UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY, THE RIVERSCAPES CONSORTIUM, BLM AND ITS PARTNERS, WE HAVE ALREADY HELPED REIMAGINE THE ROLE ITS RIVERSCAPES CAN PLAY AS A CORNERSTONE TO INCREASE CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY ON AMERICA S PUBLIC LANDS. RESTORING DEGRADED STREAM CHANNELS INTO HEALTHY, FUNCTIONING RIVERSCAPES WILL HELP THESE LANDSCAPES MORE RELIABLY YIELD BENEFITS IN WATER QUANTITY, WATER QUALITY, HABITAT FOR TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC SPECIES, RECREATION, AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY INCREASING RESILIENCE TO THE INCREASING FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF DROUGHTS, FLOODS, AND FIRES. THE BENEFITS TO WILDLIFE, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC, AND COMMUNITIES IN THE SAME WATERSHED ON NEIGHBORING LANDS ARE PROFOUND IN TERMS OF BOTH HEALTH UPLIFT AND RESILIENCE. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS VISION, THIS PROJECT WILL SUPPORT BLM IN ESTABLISHING A HEALTHY RIVERSCAPE INITIATIVE THAT PRIORITIZES INVESTING IN LOW-TECH, PROCESS-BASED RESTORATION TO IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF AND EXPAND RIVERSCAPE HABITAT ON BLM MANAGED LANDS. THIS PROJECT CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON I) EDUCATION AND TRAINING, II) DEVELOPMENT OF GEOSPATIAL TOOLS AND STANDARDS, AND III) GROWING AND SUPPORTING THE RIVERSCAPES COMMUNITY INCLUSION OF BLM AND ITS PARTNERS TO REALIZE THE VISION OF HEALTHIER RIVERSCAPES FOR ALL THROUGH LAUNCHING OF A COMMUNITY PLATFORM AND COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS TO PROVIDE BETTER CONNECTIVE TISSUE ACROSS VARIOUS PARALLEL EFFORTS. AMERICA S PUBLIC LANDS ARE A CORNERSTONE IN THESE EFFORTS AND WITH THIS INVESTMENT, WE CAN CAPTURE THE PUBLIC S IMAGINATION ABOUT WHAT IS TRULY POSSIBLE.

INSTALLATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF METHODS AND ANALYSES FOR PIT TAG ANTENNAS

NATIVE AMERICAN-SERVING NONTRIBAL INSTITUTIONS PROGRAM

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE OVERALL AIM OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ADAPT PRECISION MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO TART CHERRY PRODUCTION IN ORDER TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF THE INDUSTRY. THESE STRATEGIES INCLUDE USING IN-ORCHARD SENSORS AS WELL AS REMOTE SENSING SUCH AS AERIAL IMAGERY TO DIRECT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FROM IRRIGATION SCHEDULING, TO FERTILIZER AND PESTICIDE MANAGEMENT TO HARVEST PREDICTION TO SCHEDULING ORCHARD REPLACEMENT AND RENEWAL.ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY REQUIRES THAT GROWERS IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL FARM EFFICIENCY AND PROFITABILITY. IMPLEMENTING MAP-BASED MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES BASED ON SOUND SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES WILL IMPROVE THE EFFICIENT USE OF PURCHASED INPUTS SUCH AS FERTILIZER, IRRIGATION WATER AND CROP PROTECTANTS, AS WELL AS LABOR AND MANAGEMENT INPUTS RELATED TO PRUNING AND ORCHARD FOR MAXIMIZED YIELD POTENTIAL AND FOR DECISIONS REGARDING ORCHARD RENEWAL/REMOVAL POTENTIAL.ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IS IMPROVED WHEN GROWERS BECOME MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE IN THE JUDICIOUS USE OF CROP PROTECTANTS, FERTILIZERS AND IRRIGATION WATER. BEING ABLE TO MANAGE CHEMICAL INPUTS IN A MORE SITE-SPECIFIC MANNER WILL ALSO REDUCE THE RISK OF NON-TARGET EXPOSURE, PARTICULARLY ON THE HIGHLY VARIABLE SOILS TYPICAL OF TART CHERRY ORCHARDS.SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY IS BENEFITTED BY PRESERVING THE DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF A FRUIT THAT IS HIGHLY NUTRITIOUS AND THAT HAS A HIGH DEGREE OF MECHANIZATION IN ITS PRODUCTION. MECHANIZATION REDUCES OVERALL LABOR REQUIREMENTS, AT THE SAME TIME SHIFTING LABOR NEEDS TO HIGHLY TECHNICAL SKILLS WITH HIGHER PAY.

TRIBAL-NON TRIBAL COLLEGES

UNCOVER SPATIAL-CONSTRAINT RELATED MORPHOME USING TISSUE-ON-A-CHIP PLATFORM AND DATA-DRIVEN MATHEMATICAL MODELING - PROJECT SUMMARY CELL BEHAVIORS AND TISSUE DEVELOPMENTS OFTEN OCCUR UNDER SPATIAL CONSTRAINTS (E.G., INTERSTITIAL SPACE, TISSUE LINING, SKULL ENCLOSURE). THE CURRENT IN VITRO SYSTEMS ARE OFTEN OPEN CULTURES, AND THUS MISS THE SPATIAL CONSTRAINTS AND OTHER IN VIVO STIMULI. THE CURRENT IN VIVO MODELS ARE OFTEN LOW THROUGHPUT AND HARD-TO-TRACE, THEREFORE UNABLE TO UNRAVEL THE COMPLEX INTERPLAY BETWEEN INTRINSIC INFLUENCES (E.G., GENETICS/EPIGENETICS) AND EXTRINSIC ONES (E.G., MICRO-ENVIRONMENT). FOR EXAMPLE, CELL MEMBRANE BLEBBING AND BRAIN FOLDING ARE FUNDAMENTAL AND IMPACTFUL BIO-BEHAVIORS UNDER SPATIAL CONSTRAINTS. THEIR BIOPHYSICAL AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS ARE NOT WELL UNDERSTOOD. LATELY, SEVERAL EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL TOOLS HAVE EMERGED TO FASCINATE THE MODELING OF COMPLEX BIO-BEHAVIORS. THIS PROPOSED STUDY AIMS TO PARAMETERIZE MORPHOLOGICAL INFORMATION, RELATE TO THE COMPLEX INFLUENCES UNDER SPATIAL CONSTRAINTS, AND UNRAVEL THE MECHANISM OF BIO- BEHAVIORS IN THE TWO EXEMPLIFIED AREAS. IT WILL BE DONE THROUGH A MORPHOME PLATFORM THAT INTEGRATES SEVERAL EXPERIMENTAL-THEORETICAL TOOLS (E.G., TISSUE-ON-A-CHIP, DATA-DRIVEN MODELING, MACHINE-LEARNING), WHICH HAS BEEN PRE-DEFINED BY PI AND CO-IS. WE HOPE TO 1) FILL THE COMPELLING GAPS IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF MEMBRANE BLEBBING AND BRAIN FOLDING PROCESS AND 2) ESTABLISH AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY TO UNCOVER A BROAD RANGE OF BASIC BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES.

A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE ORGANIC WHEAT ACREAGE IN THE UNITED STATES IS GROWN IN THE WEST. HOWEVER, DECLINING WHEAT YIELDS AND POOR QUALITY CAUSED BY LACK OF SOIL FERTILITYAND WEED PRESSURE THREATEN THE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OF THESE FARMS. THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMICALLY VIABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE FARMING SYSTEMS TO ADDRESS THE LOW FERTILITY AND GROWING WEED PRESSURE FACING DRYLAND ORGANIC WHEAT PRODUCERS IN THE WESTERN U.S. TO MEET THIS GOAL, WE HAVE THREE MAIN OBJECTIVES. THE FIRST IS TO MONITOR LONG-TERM ON-FARM RESEARCH SITES DEVOTED TO TESTING AND SHOWCASING COMPOST CARRYOVER EFFECTS OF SINGLE APPLICATIONS FOR INCREASED WATER USE EFFICIENCY, SOIL HEALTH, WHEAT YIELD AND QUALITY, AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY FOR DRYLAND ORGANIC WHEAT GROWERS. SECOND, TO TEST AND DEMONSTRATE INTERCROPPING STRATEGIES AND NEW VARIETIES FOR INCREASED WEED MANAGEMENT, SOIL HEALTH, WHEAT YIELD AND QUALITY, AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY. THE THIRD IS TOCONTINUE TO BUILD AN INNOVATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM TO PROMOTE COMMUNICATION AMONG PRODUCERS, PROCESSORS, MARKETERS, RESEARCHERS, EXTENSION PERSONNEL, AND PROFESSIONAL CROP ADVISORS BY BUILDING AN INTERACTIVE, MULTI-STATE COMMUNICATION NETWORK TO ENHANCE THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OF ORGANIC WHEAT PRODUCTION SYSTEMS. OUTREACH EFFORTS, GUIDED BY INPUT FROM OUR ADVISORY COUNCIL, WILL TARGET PRODUCERS, COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PERSONNEL, AND AGRICULTURAL PROFESSIONALS WHO ADVISE PRODUCERS ON ORGANIC PRACTICES THROUGH IN -PERSON EVENTS (ON-FARM TRIALS, FIELD TOURS, WINTER MEETINGS), PRINTED MATERIALS (EXTENSION PUBLICATIONS AND ANALYSIS TOOLS), AND DIGITAL RESOURCES (WEBINARS, WEBPAGES, AND WEB-BASED VIDEOS).

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY USES EXTENSION CAPACITY FUNDS TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS. PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDE WORKSHOPS, DEMONSTRATIONS, E-COURSES, IN-PERSON CLASSES, AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRINT AND ELECTRONIC RESOURCES. THESE PROGRAMS, AND ASSOCIATED DELIVERABLES, OUTCOMES, AND BENEFICIARIES, INCLUDE: UTAH 4-H: POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT 4 H PROGRAMS ARE GROUNDED IN THE BELIEF THAT YOUTH LEARN BEST BY DOING. KIDS AND TEENS COMPLETE HANDS-ON PROJECTS IN MANY EDUCATIONAL AREAS INCLUDING SCIENCE, HEALTH, AGRICULTURE, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. 4-H ALLOWS YOUTH TO ENGAGE IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS IN A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY RECEIVE GUIDANCE FROM ADULT MENTORS, WHILE ALSO BEING ENCOURAGED TO TAKE ON PROACTIVE LEADERSHIP ROLES. KIDS CAN CONCENTRATE ON ONE FOCUS AREA OR THEY CAN TRY A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THEIR 4 H EXPERIENCE. MAJOR EDUCATIONAL AREAS IN UTAH 4-H AT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY (USU) EXTENSION INCLUDE 4-H STEM, 4-H HEALTHY LIVING, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. 4-H STEM AND AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS EQUIP YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO FIND THEIR PASSION AND SUCCEED IN A CAREER. FOCUS AREAS INCLUDE COMPUTER SCIENCE, ROBOTICS, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, AGRI-SCIENCE, FINANCIAL LITERACY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND VETERINARY SCIENCE. 4-H HEALTHY LIVING EMPOWERS YOUTH TO BE HEALTHY - BODY AND MIND - WITH THE SKILLS TO MAKE HEALTHY DECISIONS AND LEAD HEALTHY LIFESTYLES. HAVING THE CONFIDENCE AND SKILLS TO LEAD HEALTHY LIFESTYLES NOT ONLY IMPROVES OVERALL WELL-BEING BUT ALSO ENABLES YOUTH TO TACKLE LIFE'S CHALLENGES TODAY AND BECOME LEADERS IN THEIR LIVES, CAREERS, AND COMMUNITIES AS THEY GROW INTO RESPONSIBLE ADULTHOOD. 4-H CIVIC ENGAGEMENT EMPOWERS YOUTH TO BE WELL-INFORMED CITIZENS WHO ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE WORLD. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PLAYS A SPECIAL AND VITAL ROLE IN THE LIVES OF AMERICA'S YOUNG PEOPLE. YOUTH CAN THRIVE WHEN PRESENTED WITH RESOURCES FOR HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT FOUND IN FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES - REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, RACE, AND GENDER. 4-H PROGRAMS LAUNCH YOUNG PEOPLE INTO HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES. THE LONG-TERM GOALS OF 4-H UTAH ARE TO (A) FACILITATE POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT FOSTER YOUTH COMPETENCE, CHARACTER, CONNECTION, CARING, CONFIDENCE, AND CONTRIBUTION, AND (B) EMPOWER YOUTH TO PURSUE THEIR PASSION FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AND HEALTHY LIFE. FACULTY INVOLVED IN UTAH 4-H ACTIVELY CONDUCTS RESEARCH IN EARLY EDUCATION, POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, YOUTH LEAD ERSHIP, AND CAREER READINESS. ALL RESEARCH IS INCORPORATED INTO EXTENSION ACTIVITIES TO INFORM BEST PRACTICES, BEHAVIOR CHANGE, AND EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULA DEVELOPMENT. MAJOR ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED IN UTAH 4-H INCLUDE FIELD DAYS, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING, AND PROJECTS FOCUSING ON TOPICS RELATED TO AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND ANIMAL SCIENCE, ART AND CRAFTS, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES, HEALTHY LIVING, AND SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM). AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES: AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY UTAH HAS OVER 18,000 FARMS AND RANCHES SPANNING 11 MILLION ACRES, WHICH GENERATE MORE THAN $21 BILLION IN TOTAL ECONOMIC OUTPUT (AFTER ADJUSTING FOR THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT). WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT UTAH BECOMES MORE URBANIZED EACH YEAR, IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT AGRICULTURE CONTINUES TO PLAY A VITAL PART IN OUR STATE. AS THE POPULATION OF UTAH AND THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO GROW, FOOD PRODUCTION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER BEFORE. UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY (USU) EXTENSION HAS LED THE WAY FOR 105 YEARS IN PROVIDING NON-BIASED, RESEARCH-BASED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PRODUCERS AND THE UTAH AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY. USU EXTENSION HAS NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FACULTY WITH EXPERTISE IN ALL AREAS OF AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION AND SCIENCE. OUR ON-CAMPUS AND COUNTY FACULTY CONDUCT CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH THAT IS DISSEMINATED TO PRODUCERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH METHODS SUCH AS FIELD DAYS, WORKSHOPS, PRINTED AND ONLINE PUBLICATIONS, CLASSES, ONLINE COURSES, AND SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS. EXTENSION CONTINUES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURE WHILE EVOLVING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF DEVELOPING AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES. AS WE FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON PERSISTENT AND EMERGING NEEDS, WE RECOGNIZE UTAH IS THE SECOND DRIEST STATE IN THE NATION, SO IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY, WATER CONSERVATION, AND IMPROVED WATER-EFFICIENT CROP VARIETIES CONTINUE TO BE FOCUS AREAS FOR OUR FACULTY AND RESEARCHERS. WITH URBAN AND SMALL FARMS BECOMING MORE POPULAR, EXTENSION FACULTY ARE WORKING WITH PRODUCERS TO FIND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO PRODUCE FOOD ON MINIMAL ACREAGE. THE LONG-TERM GOALS OF THE AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCE (AG/NR) PROGRAM ARE TO (A) INCREASE THE PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY OF UTAH AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS, AND (B) PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE NATURAL RESOURCE USE THROUGH RELEVANT EDUCATION ON CONSERVATION PRACTICES. FACULTY INVOLVED IN AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCE PROGRAM ACTIVELY CONDUCTS RESEARCH ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS INCLUDING CROP AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION, RANGELAND MANAGEMENT, FORESTRY, AND AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS. ALL RESEARCH IS INCORPORATED INTO EXTENSION ACTIVITIES TO INFORM BEST PRACTICES, BEHAVIOR CHANGE, AND EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULA DEVELOPMENT. MAJOR ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED IN AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, DEMONSTRATIONS, CONFERENCES, FIELD VISITS, AND CONSULTATIONS ON TOPICS RELATED TO (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) AGRONOMY, LIVESTOCK SCIENCE, DROUGHT, FORESTRY, RANGELAND, AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, MENTAL HEALTH IN AGRICULTURE, PEST MANAGEMENT, AND WETLANDS. CLIMATE CHANGE AND MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES THE WESTERN U.S. CONTAINS STATES WITH VAST TRACTS OF PUBLIC LAND SURROUNDING SMALLER AREAS THAT ARE PRIVATELY OWNED, MOSTLY ADJACENT TO WATER. THE NATURAL RESOURCE BASE OF ANY ECONOMY IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE ECONOMIC AND AESTHETIC ENVIRONMENTS FOR THAT AREA. CHANGES IN THE NATURAL RESOURCE BASE BRING VARIATION IN THE UNDERLYING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE. CRITICAL ISSUES AFFECTING NATURAL RESOURCE CHARACTERISTICS ARE FOUND IN SOILS, WATER, RANGE, FOREST, ANIMALS, AND AIR RESOURCES. THE PROPER AND EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF THESE RESOURCES IS A PRIMARY CONCERN, PARTICULARLY FOR ENVIRONMENTS AS VARIED AND UNIQUE AS IN THE WEST. THIS CRITICAL ISSUE INVOLVES IMPROVING DECISION-MAKING RELATIVE TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP IN AN ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND BIOLOGICAL SENSE. USU EXTENSION ADDRESSES THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES THROUGH THE SUSTAINABLE NATURAL RESOURCES PROGRAM. THE GOAL OF THIS EXTENSION PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE NON-FORMAL EDUCATION TO RESIDENTS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE, FACILITATE, AND STRENGTHEN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABLE NATURAL RESOURCE USE IN UTAH. THIS PROJECT PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON FOREST MANAGEMENT, WATER CONSERVATION, AND STEWARDSHIP OF PUBLIC LANDS. THE PROJECT TARGETS ADULTS AND YOUTH, AND THE DESIRED LONG-TERM OUTCOMES ARE TO (A) EQUIP RESIDENTS WITH THE COMPETENCY TO EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE IN NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION, AND (B) FACILITATE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS TO STRENGTHEN NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND ENABLE SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE USE. FACULTY INVOLVED IN THE SUSTAINABLE NATURAL RESOURCES PROGRAM ACTIVELY CONDUCTS RESEARCH ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS INCLUDING WATER MANAGEMENT, IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGIES, AND TOURISM. ALL RESEARCH IS INCORPORATED INTO EXTENSION ACTIVITIES TO INFORM BEST PRACTICES, BEHAVIOR CHANGE, AND EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULA DEVELOPMENT. MAJOR ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED IN CLIMATE CHANGE AND MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, DEMONSTRATIONS, CONFERENCES, AND FIELD VISITS ON TOPICS RELATED TO WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY, CLIMATE SCIENCE, BIOMASS, PERMACULTURE, OUTDOOR RECREATION, AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION. FOOD SAFETY WITHA LARGE VARIETY OF FOOD PRODUCTS MOVING THROUGH COMPLEX DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS, FOOD SAFETY IS A CRITICAL ISSUE FOR PRODUCERS, PR OCESSORS, DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS, AND THE FINAL CONSUMER. FOODBORNE ILLNESS IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF DEATH, CLAIMING THE LIVES OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS; THE ELDERLY, YOUNG, PREGNANT WOMEN, PEOPLE WITH IMPAIRED IMMUNE FUNCTION, AND THE CHRONICALLY ILL. IMPROPER FOOD HANDLING AND PREPARATION OF FOOD IN FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS AND THE HOME CONTRIBUTE TO FOOD-BORNE ILLNESSES. THE PUBLIC FOOD SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM AT USU EXTENSION AIMS TO PROVIDE RELEVANT RESEARCH-BASED EDUCATION TO UTAH RESIDENTS ON BEST PRACTICES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FOOD CONTAMINATION AND FOODBORNE ILLNESSES. THE MAJOR FOCUS AREAS OF THIS PROGRAM ARE FOOD PRESERVATION TECHNIQUES AND HOUSEHOLD FOOD STORAGE. THE DESIRED LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF THE PUBLIC FOOD SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM ARE TO (A) REDUCE THE OCCURRENCES OF FOODBORNE ILLNESSES IN UTAH THROUGH RESEARCH-BASED EDUCATION ON FOODSAFETY PRACTICES IN HOUSEHOLDS, AND (B) TO REDUCE FOOD CONTAMINATION IN THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN BY PROVIDING RELEVANT EDUCATION ON BEST PRACTICES TO PROCESSORS AND PRODUCERS. MAJOR ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED IN FOOD SAFETY INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, CONSULTATIONS, AND (VIRTUAL AND FACE-TO-FACE) DEMONSTRATIONS TARGETED AT RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES ON FOOD PRESERVATION, CANNING, PRESSURE TESTING, FOOD PRODUCT TESTING, AND FOODBORNE ILLNESSES. NUTRITION AND HEALTH THERE IS A NEED TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE NUTRITION INFORMATION AND EDUCATION TO THE PUBLIC TO ENABLE CONSUMERS TO MAKE WISE DIETARY CHOICES. AS THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DIET, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, AND DISEASE PREVENTION BECOME CLEARER, THE PROMOTION OF HEALTHY EATING BEHAVIORS AND LIFESTYLES FOR BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS HAS RECEIVED INCREASED ATTENTION IN RECENT YEARS. WITH HIGH LEVELS OF OBESITY, CHRONIC DISEASE, AND POOR DIETARY HABITS, THERE IS A NEED FOR NON-FORMAL NUTRITION EDUCATION THAT ADDRESSES INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THE PUBLIC NUTRITION AND HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM AT USU EXTENSION SEEKS TO DECREASE THE INCIDENCES OF CHRONIC DISEASES AND OTHER NUTRITION-RELATED HEALTH ISSUES AMONG RESIDENTS THROUGH NON-FORMAL NUTRITION EDUCATION. THE PRIORITIES FOR THIS PROGRAM ARE TO EXPAND NUTRITIONAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION, AND TO PROMOTE HEALTHY DIETARY HABITS. THEREFORE, THE DESIRED LONG-TERM OUTCOMES ARE THE PUBLIC NUTRITION AND HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM ARE TO (A) EMPOWER RESIDENTS TO MAKE HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES AND IMPROVE THEIR NUTRITIONAL INTAKE, AND (B) REDUCE THE ECONOMIC COST OF CHRONIC DISEASES IN UTAH THROUGH ONGOING NUTRITION EDUCATION TO YOUTH AND ADULTS. FACULTY INVOLVED IN PUBLIC NUTRITION AND HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM ACTIVELY CONDUCTS RESEARCH ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS INCLUDING N UTRITION, OBESITY, CHRONIC DISEASES, AND FOOD SCIENCE. RESEARCH IS INCORPORATED INTO EXTENSION ACTIVITIES TO INFORM BEST PRACTICES, BEHAVIOR CHANGE, AND EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULA DEVELOPMENT. MAJOR ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED IN NUTRITION AND HEALTH INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND CONSULTATIONS ON TOPICS RELATED TO CHRONIC DISEASES, NUTRITION EDUCATION, HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE RECIPES, DIET BEHAVIOR CHANGES, AND YOUTH NUTRITION. COMMUNITY RESILIENCE UTAH CONSISTS OF MANY RURAL COUNTIES SPREAD OUT OVER VAST AREAS OF LAND, AND ONLY A FEW URBAN COUNTIES IN CENTRALIZED LOCATIONS. AS A RESULT, THERE IS AN INCREASING DISPARITY IN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS IN RURAL COUNTIES. THE MAJORITY OF CURRENT AND NEW JOBS ARE LOCATED ALONG THE URBAN COUNTIES IN THE WASATCH FRONT, INCLUDING JOBS IN THE GROWING TECHNOLOGY SECTOR IN UTAH'S "SILICON SLOPES." IN CONTRAST, RURAL RESIDENTS STRUGGLE TO FIND WELL-PAYING AND STABLE WORK IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ARE OFTEN FACED WITH THE DECISION TO RELOCATE TO URBAN CENTERS. THIS EXACERBATES THE PROBLEM OF ECONOMIC DEPRESSION IN RURAL COUNTIES SINCE RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION LEADS TO LOW PRODUCTIVITY IN THESE COUNTIES. THERE IS A NEED TO SUPPORT RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH COMMUNITY AND CAPACITY-BUILDING INITIATIVES. IN ADDITION TO ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS, INDIVIDUALS IN RURAL COUNTIES SUFFER FROM RELATIVELY HIGH RATES OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS. THE RATES OF OPIOID OVERDOSES IN RURAL UTAH HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. UTAH HAD EIGHT (8) OUT OF 10 ADULT OVERDOSE DEATHS EACH WEEK DUE TO OPIOIDS IN 2019, AND HALF OF THOSE WERE SPECIFICALLY DUE TO PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS (UTAH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH [UDOH] INDICATOR-BASED SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC HEALTH [IBIS], 2021). IN 2020, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CREATED ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES, INCLUDING INCREASES IN OPIOID-RELATED DEATHS DUE TO FENTANYL. THEREFORE, THE AIM OF THE VIBRANT COMMUNITIES PROGRAM AT USU EXTENSION IS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES ACROSS UTAH THROUGH FACILITATED COMMUNITY-FOCUSED COALITIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION, AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES TO FACILITATE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING. THE DESIRED LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF THE VIBRANT COMMUNITIESPROGRAM ARE TO (A) CONNECT RURAL COMMUNITIES TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN URBAN CENTERS THROUGH INNOVATIVE WORKPLACE PRACTICES (E.G., REMOTE WORKING ARRANGEMENTS), AND (B) FACILITATE EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTIONS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND COALITIONS TO REDUCE SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS IN RURAL COUNTIES. MAJOR ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED IN COMMUNITY RESILIENCE INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND INTERVENTIONS ON TOPICS RELATED TO RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, RURAL EMPLOYMENT, REMOTE WORKING, BUILDING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND COALITIONS, AND TRIBAL INITIATIVES. INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT UTAH IS IN THE TOP 5 U.S. STATES WITH BANKRUPTCY, AND THERE IS A NEED FOR OUTREACH EDUCATION TO FACILITATE IMPROVED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AMONG INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. BECAUSE OF UTAH'S TYPICALLY LARGER FAMILY SIZE, THE AMOUNT OF INCOME AVAILABLE FOR BASIC FAMILY NEEDS SLIPS BELOW THE MEAN FOR THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES. UTAH FAMILIES ALREADY FACE HIGH DEBT LOADS LEADING TOBANKRUPTCY, LOW SAVINGS, AND A LACK OF LIQUID ASSETS. HENCE, THE MAJOR GOAL OF THIS PLANNED EXTENSION PROGRAM IS TO ENHANCE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (FRM). FRM, WHICH RELATES TO FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, ALSO TIES TO OTHER ASPECTS OF FAMILY HEALTH, SUCH AS HEALTHY MARITAL AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, AND MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING. AS A BROAD PROGRAM AREA, THE TARGET AUDIENCE FOR THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES YOUTH, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES IN UTAH. DESIRED LONG-TERM OUTCOMES ARE TO; (A) STRENGTHEN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, AND (B) IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. FACULTY INVOLVED IN THIS PROGRAM ACTIVELY CONDUCT RESEARCH IN FAMILY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING, RELATIONSHIPS, AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT. THE RESEARCH IS INCORPORATED INTO EXTENSION ACTIVITIES TO INFORM BEST PRACTICES, BEHAVIOR CHANGE, AND EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULA DEVELOPMENT. MAJOR ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED IN COMMUNITY RESILIENCE INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES, AND CONSULTATIONS ON TOPICS RELATED TO INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, HOMEOWNER AND HOMEBUYER EDUCATION, FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, COUPLES, AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, AND MENTAL WELLNESS.

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY USES EXTENSION CAPACITY FUNDS TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS. PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDE WORKSHOPS, DEMONSTRATIONS, E-COURSES, IN-PERSON CLASSES, AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRINT AND ELECTRONIC RESOURCES. THESE PROGRAMS, AND ASSOCIATED DELIVERABLES, OUTCOMES, AND BENEFICIARIES, INCLUDE: 4 H PROGRAMS ARE GROUNDED IN THE BELIEF THAT YOUTH LEARN BEST BY DOING. KIDS AND TEENS COMPLETE HANDS-ON PROJECTS IN MANY EDUCATIONAL AREAS INCLUDING SCIENCE, HEALTH, AGRICULTURE, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. 4-H ALLOWS YOUTH TO ENGAGE IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS IN A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY RECEIVE GUIDANCE FROM ADULT MENTORS, WHILE ALSO BEING ENCOURAGED TO TAKE ON PROACTIVE LEADERSHIP ROLES. KIDS CAN CONCENTRATE ON ONE FOCUS AREA OR THEY CAN TRY A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THEIR 4 H EXPERIENCE. MAJOR EDUCATIONAL AREAS IN UTAH 4-H AT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY (USU) EXTENSION INCLUDE 4-H STEM, 4-H HEALTHY LIVING, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. UTAH HAS OVER 18,000 FARMS AND RANCHES SPANNING 11 MILLION ACRES, WHICH GENERATE MORE THAN $21 BILLION IN TOTAL ECONOMIC OUTPUT (AFTER ADJUSTING FOR THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT). WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT UTAH BECOMES MORE URBANIZED EACH YEAR, IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT AGRICULTURE CONTINUES TO PLAY A VITAL PART IN OUR STATE. AS THE POPULATION OF UTAH AND THE UNITED STA TES CONTINUES TO GROW, FOOD PRODUCTION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER BEFORE. UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY (USU) EXTENSION HAS LED THE WAY FOR 105 YEARS IN PROVIDING NON-BIASED, RESEARCHBASED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PRODUCERS AND THE UTAH AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY. USU EXTENSIO N HAS NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FACULTY WITH EXPERTISE IN ALL AREAS OF AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION AND SCIENCE. OUR ON-CAMPUS AND COUNTY FACULTY CONDUCT CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH THAT IS DISSEMINATED TO PRODUCERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH METHODS SUCH AS FIELD DAYS, WORKSHOPS, PRINTED AND ONLINE PUBLICATIONS, CLASSES, ONLINE COURSES, AND SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS. THE WESTERN U.S. CONTAINS STATES WITH VAST TRACTS OF PUBLIC LAND SURROUNDING SMALLER AREAS THAT ARE PRIVATELY OWNED, MOSTLY ADJACENT TO WATER. THE NATURAL RESOURCE BASE OF ANY ECONOMY IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE ECONOMIC AND AESTHETIC ENVIRONMENTS FOR THAT AREA. CHANGES IN THE NATURAL RESOURCE BASE BRING VARIATION IN THE UNDERLYING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE. CRITICAL ISSUES AFFECTING NATURAL RESOURCE CHARACTERISTICS ARE FOUND IN SOILS, WATER, RANGE, FOREST, ANIMALS, AND AIR RESOURCES. THE PROPER AND EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF THESE RESOURCES IS A PRIMARY CONCERN, PARTICULARLY FOR ENVIRONMENTS AS VARIED AND UNIQUE AS IN THE WEST. UTAH CONSISTS OF MANY RURAL COUNTIES SPREAD OUT OVER VAST AREAS OF LAND, AND ONLY A FEW URBAN COUNTIES IN CENTRALIZED LOCATIONS. AS A RESULT, THERE IS AN INCREASING DISPARITY IN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS IN RURAL COUNTIES. THE MAJORITY OF CURRENT AND NEW JOBS ARE LOCATED ALONG THE URBAN COUNTIES IN THE WASATCH FRONT, INCLUDING JOBS IN THE GROWING TECHNOLOGY SECTOR IN UTAH'S SILICON SLOPES. IN CONTRAST, RURAL RESIDENTS STRUGGLE TO FIND WELL-PAYING AND STABLE WORK IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ARE OFTEN FACED WITH THE DECISION TO RELOCATE TO URBAN CENTERS. THIS EXACERBATES THE PROBLEM OF ECONOMIC DEPRESSION IN RURAL COUNTIES SINCE RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION LEADS TO LOW PRODUCTIVITY IN THESE COUNTIES. THERE IS A NEED TO SUPPORT RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH COMMUNITY AND CAPACITYBUILDING INITIATIVES. UTAH IS IN THE TOP 5 U.S. STATES WITH BANKRUPTCY, AND THERE IS A NEED FOR OUTREACH EDUCATION TO FACILITATE IMPROVED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AMONG INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. BECAUSE OF UTAH'S TYPICALLY LARGER FAMILY SIZE, THE AMOUNT OF INCOME AVAILABLE FOR BASIC FAMILY NEEDS SLIPS BELOW THE MEAN FOR THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES. UTAH FAMILIES ALREADY FACE HIGH DEBT LOADS LEADING TO BANKRUPTCY, LOW SAVINGS, AND A LACK OF LIQUID ASSETS. HENCE, THE MAJOR GOAL OF THIS PLANNED EXTENSION PROGRAM IS TO ENHANCE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (FRM).

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY (USU) USES EXTENSION CAPACITY FUNDS TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS. PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDE WORKSHOPS, DE MONSTRATIONS, E-COURSES, IN-PERSON CLASSES, AND PRINT AND ELECTRONIC RESOURCES. USU EXTENSION PROGRAMS ARE CATEGORIZED INTO SEVEN (7) CRITICAL ISSUES: (1) YOUTH AND 4-H, (2) AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES, (3) CLIMATE CHANGE AND MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, (4) FOOD SAFETY, (5) NUTRITION AND HEALTH, (6) COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, AND (7) FAMILY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. YOUTH AND 4-H: THE GOALS ARE TO (A) FACILITATE POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT FOSTER YOUTH COMPETENCE, CHARACTER, CONNECTION, CARING, CONFIDENCE, AND CONTRIBUTION, AND (B) EMPOWER YOUTH TO PURSUE THEIR PASSION FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AND HEALTHY LIFE. FACULTY INVOLVED IN UTAH 4-H ACTIVELY DELIVER WORKSHOPS, IMPLEMENT YOUTH CLUBS, AND HOST COUNTY AND STATE EVENTS FOR YOUTH. AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCE: THE GOALS ARE TO (A) INCREASE THE PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY OF UTAH AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS, AND (B) PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE NATURAL RESOURCE USE THROUGH RELEVANT EDUCATION ON CONSERVATION PRACTICES. MAJOR ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, DEMONSTRATIONS, CONFERENCES, FIELD VISITS, AND CONSULTATIONS. CLIMATE CHANGE AND MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES: THE GOALS ARE TO (A) EQUIP RESIDENTS WITH THE COMPETENCY TO ENGAGE IN NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION EFFECTIVELY AND (B) FACILITATE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS TO STRENGTHEN NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND ENABLE SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE USE. SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, DEMONSTRATIONS, CONFERENCES, AND FIELD VISITS ON WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY, CLIMATE SCIENCE, OUTDOOR RECREATION, AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION. FOOD SAFETY: THE GOALS ARE TO (A) REDUCE THE OCCURRENCES OF FOODBORNE ILLNESSES IN UTAH THROUGH RESEARCH-BASED EDUCATION ON FOOD SAFETY PRACTICES IN HOUSEHOLDS AND (B) REDUCE FOOD CONTAMINATION IN THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN BY PROVIDING RELEVANT EDUCATION ON BEST PRACTICES TO PROCESSORS AND PRODUCERS. MAJOR ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED IN FOOD SAFETY INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, CONSULTATIONS, AND DEMONSTRATIONS TARGETED AT RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES ON FOOD PRESERVATION, CANNING, PRESSURE TESTING, FOOD PRODUCT TESTING, AND FOODBORNE ILLNESSES. NUTRITION AND HEALTH: THE GOALS OF THE PUBLIC NUTRITION AND HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM ARE TO (A) EMPOWER RESIDENTS TO MAKE HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES AND IMPROVE THEIR NUTRITIONAL INTAKE AND (B) REDUCE THE ECONOMIC COST OF CHRONIC DISEASES IN UTAH THROUGH ONGOING NUTRITION EDUCATION TO YOUTH AND ADULTS. MAJOR ACTIVITIES IN NUTRITION AND HEALTH INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND CONSULTATIONS ON CHRONIC DISEASES, NUTRITION EDUCATION, HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE RECIPES, DIET BEHAVIOR CHANGES, AND YOUTH NUTRITION. COMMUNITY RESILIENCE: THE PROGRAM'S GOALS ARE TO (A) CONNECT RURAL COMMUNITIES TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN URBAN CENTERS THROUGH INNOVATIVE WORKPLACE PRACTICES AND (B) FACILITATE EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTIONS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND COALITIONS TO REDUCE SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS IN RURAL COUNTIES. MAJOR ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED IN COMMUNITY RESILIENCE INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND INTERVENTIONS ON TOPICS RELATED TO RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, RURAL EMPLOYMENT, AND TRIBAL INITIATIVES. FAMILY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: THE GOALS ARE TO (A) STRENGTHEN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND (B) IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. FACULTY INVOLVED IN THIS PROGRAM ACTIVELY CONDUCT RESEARCH IN FAMILY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING, RELATIONSHIPS, AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT. MAJOR ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED IN COMMUNITY RESILIENCE INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS ON TOPICS RELATED TO FRM, HOMEBUYER EDUCATION, FAMILY RELA TIONSHIPS, AND MENTAL WELLNESS.

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY USES EXTENSION CAPACITY FUNDS TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS. PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDE WORKSHOPS, DEMONSTRATIONS, E-COURSES, IN-PERSON CLASSES, AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRINT AND ELECTRONIC RESOURCES. THESE PROGRAMS, AND ASSOCIATED DELIVERABLES, OUTCOMES, AND BENEFICIARIES, INCLUDE: 4 H PROGRAMS ARE GROUNDED IN THE BELIEF THAT YOUTH LEARN BEST BY DOING. KIDS AND TEENS COMPLETE HANDS-ON PROJECTS IN MANY EDUCATIONAL AREAS INCLUDING SCIENCE, HEALTH, AGRICULTURE, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. 4-H ALLOWS YOUTH TO ENGAGE IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS IN A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY RECEIVE GUIDANCE FROM ADULT MENTORS, WHILE ALSO BEING ENCOURAGED TO TAKE ON PROACTIVE LEADERSHIP ROLES. KIDS CAN CONCENTRATE ON ONE FOCUS AREA OR THEY CAN TRY A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THEIR 4 H EXPERIENCE. MAJOR EDUCATIONAL AREAS IN UTAH 4-H AT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY (USU) EXTENSION INCLUDE 4-H STEM, 4-H HEALTHY LIVING, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. UTAH HAS OVER 18,000 FARMS AND RANCHES SPANNING 11 MILLION ACRES, WHICH GENERATE MORE THAN $21 BILLION IN TOTAL ECONOMIC OUTPUT (AFTER ADJUSTING FOR THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT). WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT UTAH BECOMES MORE URBANIZED EACH YEAR, IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT AGRICULTURE CONTINUES TO PLAY A VITAL PART IN OUR STATE. AS THE POPULATION OF UTAH AND THE UNITED STA TES CONTINUES TO GROW, FOOD PRODUCTION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER BEFORE. UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY (USU) EXTENSION HAS LED THE WAY FOR 105 YEARS IN PROVIDING NON-BIASED, RESEARCH-BASED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PRODUCERS AND THE UTAH AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY. USU EXTENSI ON HAS NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FACULTY WITH EXPERTISE IN ALL AREAS OF AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION AND SCIENCE. OUR ON-CAMPUS AND COUNTY FACULTY CONDUCT CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH THAT IS DISSEMINATED TO PRODUCERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH METHODS SUCH AS FIELD DAYS, WORKSHOPS, PRINTED AND ONLINE PUBLICATIONS, CLASSES, ONLINE COURSES, AND SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS. THE WESTERN U.S. CONTAINS STATES WITH VAST TRACTS OF PUBLIC LAND SURROUNDING SMALLER AREAS THAT ARE PRIVATELY OWNED, MOSTLY ADJACENT TO WATER. THE NATURAL RESOURCE BASE OF ANY ECONOMY IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE ECONOMIC AND AESTHETIC ENVIRONMENTS FOR THAT AREA. CHANGES IN THE NATURAL RESOURCE BASE BRING VARIATION IN THE UNDERLYING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE. CRITICAL ISSUES AFFECTING NATURAL RESOURCE CHARACTERISTICS ARE FOUND IN SOILS, WATER, RANGE, FOREST, ANIMALS, AND AIR RESOURCES. THE PROPER AND EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF THESE RESOURCES IS A PRIMARY CONCERN, PARTICULARLY FOR ENVIRONMENTS AS VARIED AND UNIQUE AS IN THE WEST. UTAH CONSISTS OF MANY RURAL COUNTIES SPREAD OUT OVER VAST AREAS OF LAND, AND ONLY A FEW URBAN COUNTIES IN CENTRALIZED LOCATIONS. AS A RESULT, THERE IS AN INCREASING DISPARITY IN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS IN RURAL COUNTIES. THE MAJORITY OF CURRENT AND NEW JOBS ARE LOCATED ALONG THE URBAN COUNTIES IN THE WASATCH FRONT, INCLUDING JOBS IN THE GROWING TECHNOLOGY SECTOR IN UTAH'S 'SILICON SLOPES.' IN CONTRAST, RURAL RESIDENTS STRUGGLE TO FIND WELL-PAYING AND STABLE WORK IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ARE OFTEN FACED WITH THE DECISION TO RELOCATE TO URBAN CENTERS. THIS EXACERBATES THE PROBLEM OF ECONOMIC DEPRESSION IN RURAL COUNTIES SINCE RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION LEADS TO LOW PRODUCTIVITY IN THESE COUNTIES. THERE IS A NEED TO SUPPORT RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH COMMUNITY AND CAPACITY-BUILDING INITIATIVES. UTAH IS IN THE TOP 5 U.S. STATES WITH BANKRUPTCY, AND THERE IS A NEED FOR OUTREACH EDUCATION TO FACILITATE IMPROVED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AMONG INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. BECAUSE OF UTAH'S TYPICALLY LARGER FAMILY SIZE, THE AMOUNT OF INCOME AVAILABLE FOR BASIC FAMILY NEEDS SLIPS BELOW THE MEAN FOR THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES. UTAH FAMILIES ALREADY FACE HIGH DEBT LOADS LEADING TO BANKRUPTCY, LOW SAVINGS, AND A LACK OF LIQUID ASSETS. HENCE, THE MAJOR GOAL OF THIS PLANNED EXTENSION PROGRAM IS TO ENHANCE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (FRM).

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAMS AT 1862 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

TALENT SEARCH PROGRAM

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAMS AT 1862 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES - BLANDING

CCAMPIS-CHILD CARE ACCESS MEANS PARENTS IN SCHOOL PROGRAM AT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY (2021-2024)

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAMS AT 1862 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAMS AT 1862 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM

A NIST/UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION JOINT RESEARCH PROGRAM IN OPTICAL SENSOR CALIBRATION

UNIVERISTY TRANSPORTATION CENTER

INGENIEROS INGENIOSOS (INGENIOUS ENGINEERS): CONNECTING LATINX YOUTHS' WORKPLACE PRACTICES WITH ENGINEERING THROUGH OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS

TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

REHABILITATION TRAINING - GENERAL TRAINING - PROGRAM

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAMS AT 1862 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIOS

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAMS AT 1862 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAMS AT 1862 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

TRIO - STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES - STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM

EXPLORING COMPUTATIONAL THINKING: APPLYING PSYCHOMETRIC ANALYSIS TO ASSESS RELATIONSHIPS WITH PRIMARY COGNITIVE ABILITIES AND MALLEABILITY

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM

UTAH SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER PROGRAM

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAMS AT 1862 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

NASNTI COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENT DEVELOPMENT GRANT

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: BRIDGING GEOSCIENCE AND ENGINEERING TO INTERROGATE SEISMIC CYCLE PROCESSES IN THE EARTHQUAKE CRITICAL ZONE -LARGE EARTHQUAKES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE CATASTROPHIC IMPACTS ON HUMANS AND INFRASTRUCTURE WHEN RISKS ARE NOT MITIGATED. EARTHQUAKES NUCLEATE AT DEPTH, BUT IT IS THE UPPER ~1 KM OF A FAULT ZONE WHERE SEISMIC WAVES, ROCKS AND SEDIMENTS, FLUIDS, HUMANS, AND THEIR BUILT ENVIRONMENT INTERSECT TO DRIVE EARTHQUAKE HAZARD. THIS IS THE CRITICAL ZONE FOR EARTHQUAKES. THIS FRONTIER RESEARCH IN EARTH SCIENCES (FRES) PROJECT INVESTIGATES HOW MATERIAL PROPERTIES THAT VARY IN SPACE AND TIME IN THE EARTHQUAKE CRITICAL ZONE IMPACT EARTHQUAKE RUPTURE PROPAGATION, RADIATION OF SEISMIC WAVES, GROUND SHAKING INTENSITY, AND SURFACE DEFORMATION IN BETWEEN EARTHQUAKES. THIS RESEARCH TARGETS TWO SIMILAR FAULTS, EACH WITH SIGNIFICANT HUMAN IMPACT, THAT ARE AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN THEIR EARTHQUAKE CYCLE: THE SOUTHERN SAN ANDREAS FAULT, CA, IN A QUIET PERIOD BETWEEN EARTHQUAKES, AND THE ?ARDAK-???L?K FAULT, TURKEY, IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THE 6 FEBRUARY 2023 MW 7.6 ELBISTAN EARTHQUAKE, PART OF THE DEVASTATING KAHRAMANMARA? EARTHQUAKE SEQUENCE. THE RESEARCH TEAM WILL BRIDGE GEOSCIENCE AND ENGINEERING CONCEPTS, APPROACHES, DATA, AND MODELS, AS WELL AS LEVERAGE SHARED-USE EQUIPMENT AND CYBER-INFRASTRUCTURE, TO DELIVER PUBLICLY AVAILABLE PRODUCTS ON THE NSF-FUNDED NATURAL HAZARDS ENGINEERING RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGNSAFE DATA DEPOT THAT CAN IMPROVE EARTHQUAKE HAZARD MODELS AND SEISMIC SITE RESPONSE ANALYSES NEAR SEISMOGENIC FAULTS, WHICH ARE NEEDED FOR INCREASED RESILIENCE OF COMMUNITIES TO EARTHQUAKES. RESEARCH AND BROADER IMPACTS ARE ANCHORED IN INTELLECTUAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL RECIPROCITY TO BROADEN STEM KNOWLEDGE, PERSPECTIVES, AND PARTICIPATION. RESEARCH PATHWAYS WILL MEANINGFULLY INTERSECT BY TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF EARTH SCIENTISTS AT THE NEXUS OF GEOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING, STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH TURKISH COLLEAGUES, AND EXPANDING THE UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY (USU) NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENT MENTORING PROGRAM THROUGH GEOSCIENCE-ENGINEERING RESEARCH EXPERIENCES TO INCREASE THE TRANSITION RATE OF NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS FROM A 2-YEAR CAMPUS AT USU BLANDING, UT, TO THE 4-YEAR CAMPUS IN LOGAN, UT. THIS FRES PROJECT INVESTIGATES HOW THE EARTHQUAKE CRITICAL ZONE ACCUMULATES, REDISTRIBUTES, AND RELEASES EARTHQUAKE ENERGY ON MAJOR STRIKE-SLIP FAULTS. MODELS OF EARTHQUAKE RUPTURE, SEISMIC WAVE PROPAGATION, AND LOCAL SURFACE GROUND SHAKING ARE COMMONLY DECOUPLED AND LIMITED BECAUSE THE DETAILED PROPERTIES OF THE EARTHQUAKE CRITICAL ZONE ARE GENERALIZED. THIS FRES RESEARCH WILL OVERCOME THESE LIMITATIONS BY CHARACTERIZING THE EARTHQUAKE CRITICAL ZONE OF TWO MAJOR CONTINENTAL STRIKE-SLIP FAULTS WITH FIVE INTERSECTING RESEARCH PATHWAYS THAT WILL YIELD GEOLOGIC, GEOPHYSICAL, GEOCHEMICAL, MECHANICAL, AND ENGINEERING DATA. THE PATHWAYS ARE: (1) A FIELD-BASED GEOLOGIC FRAMEWORK, (2) TIME-SERIES CO2 FLUX DATA, A PROXY FOR FAULT PERMEABILITY AND HEALING, (3) IN-SITU EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING GEOPHYSICS TO CHARACTERIZE MATERIAL MODULI, ATTENUATION, AND FAULT ARCHITECTURE, (4) DEFORMATION EXPERIMENTS TO QUANTIFY FAULT HEALING, PERMEABILITY, AND ATTENUATION AT CONDITIONS DESIGNED TO INFORM DIFFERENT STAGES OF A SEISMIC CYCLE, AND (5) GEOCHEMICAL, MICROSTRUCTURAL, AND FAULT ROCK CHRONOLOGY ANALYSES TO BRIDGE NATURAL AND EXPERIMENTAL EARTHQUAKE CYCLE PROCESSES. THESE DATASETS WILL BE INTEGRATED IN A SIXTH PATHWAY TO PRODUCE STACKED QUASI-STATIC, DYNAMIC, AND SEISMIC SITE RESPONSE NUMERICAL MODELS. RESEARCH AND BROADER IMPACT ACTIVITIES BRING TOGETHER SIX PIS WITH DIVERSE BUT OVERLAPPING GEOSCIENCE AND ENGINEERING EXPERTISE TO TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF EARTH SCIENTISTS AT THE INTERSECTION OF THESE FIELDS (THREE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS, FOUR PHD STUDENTS, ONE MSC STUDENT, AND UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS). UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS WILL BE RECRUITED THROUGH THE USU HONORS PROGRAM, A BROWN REU, AND CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY FULLERTON (CSUF) PROJECT RAISE, WHICH ALL FOCUS ON RECRUITING STUDENTS UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE GEOSCIENCES. INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WILL BE STRENGTHENED BY HAVING TWO TURKISH COLLEAGUES PARTICIPATE IN FIELD WORK ALONG THE SSAF AND LEAD TURKEY-BASED RESEARCH AND BY HAVING US-BASED RESEARCHERS CONNECT WITH TURKISH COUNTERPARTS AT PUBLIC SEMINARS AT ISTANBUL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY. PIS AND MENTEES WILL CREATE AND OFFER A NEW MULTI-YEAR PROGRAM TO EXPAND THE USU-BASED NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENT MENTORING PROGRAM WITH A GOAL TO IMPROVE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS. THESE STUDENTS WILL BE HOSTED AT PI LABS AT USU LOGAN, WITH HELP FROM BROWN AND CSUF RESEARCHERS, WHERE THEY WILL BE TAUGHT EARTHQUAKE AND ENGINEERING CONCEPTS, AND SUBSEQUENTLY BE TAKEN TO THE SOUTH SAN ANDREAS FAULT FOR FIELD WORK. THEIR PROGRESS WILL BE TRACKED AND ASSESSED BY EVALUATING LEARNING OUTCOMES AND STEM ENGAGEMENT THROUGH THESE EXPERIENCES. THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE FRONTIER RESEARCH IN EARTH SCIENCE (FRES) PROGRAM AS WELL AS EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES (EHR) IN SUPPORT OF RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES AND POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARS. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

REDUCTION OF CO2 TO HYDROCARBONS CATALYZED BY NITROGENASE WILL BE INVESTIGATED

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM

COMMUNITY IMPACT WITH TEACHER LEADERS IN DATA SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICAL MODELING -THE PROJECT AIMS TO SERVE THE NATIONAL NEED OF DEVELOPING HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TEACHER LEADERS WITH THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO INSTRUCT SECONDARY STUDENTS IN MATHEMATICAL MODELING AND DATA SCIENCE. IN RURAL AND NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES IN UTAH, TEACHERS AND UNIVERSITY EXPERTS WILL PARTNER TO INVESTIGATE LOCAL ISSUES. ALTHOUGH USING MATHEMATICS AND DATA SCIENCE TO INFORM DECISION MAKING REGARDING IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIAL ISSUES HAS BEEN GROWING IN SIGNIFICANCE, MANY SECONDARY MATHEMATICS TEACHERS, PARTICULARLY IN RURAL AREAS, HAVE HAD LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN MATHEMATICAL AND DATA MODELING SKILLS OR EFFECTIVE WAYS TO TEACH THESE SKILLS TO THEIR STUDENTS. THIS PROJECT ASPIRES TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES AND TEACHING SUPPORT TO CULTIVATE RICH OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AMONG RURAL AND NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS BY ENHANCING TEACHER LEADERS? EXPERTISE IN DATA SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICAL MODELING AND IN CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING PRACTICES IN THIS CONTEXT. IN ADDITION, TEACHER LEADERS WILL HONE SKILLS FOR MENTORING OTHER TEACHERS IN THEIR SCHOOLS. THIS PROJECT AT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY (USU) INCLUDES PARTNERSHIPS WITH UINTAH, DUCHESNE, AND SAN JUAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ALONG WITH UINTAH RIVER HIGH SCHOOL WITHIN THE UTE TRIBE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IN UTAH. PROJECT GOALS INCLUDE: (1) DEVELOP TEACHER LEADERS WITH EXPERTISE IN DATA SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICAL MODELING TO LEVELS REQUISITE FOR STRENGTHENING MODELING AND DATA SCIENCE EDUCATION; (2) DEVELOP TEACHER LEADERS WITH THE PEDAGOGICAL EXPERTISE TO INCORPORATE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING IN DATA SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICAL MODELING LESSONS; (3) DEVELOP TEACHER LEADERS WHO WILL ENGAGE WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND MENTOR PROSPECTIVE AND EARLY CAREER TEACHERS IN RURAL AND NATIVE COMMUNITIES. THE PROJECT WILL RECRUIT AND SUPPORT 24 MASTER TEACHER FELLOWS (MTFS) TO BECOME EXEMPLARY TEACHER-LEADERS WHO ENGAGE STUDENTS WITH MATHEMATICAL MODELING AND DATA SCIENCE IN CULTURALLY RELEVANT CONTEXTS. TO THIS END, THE DESIGN OF THE PROJECT ENABLES THE CREATION OF MATHEMATICAL MODELING AND DATA SCIENCE LEARNING MATERIALS AND INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES THAT ARE GROUNDED IN THE NEEDS, CULTURE, AND EXPERIENCES OF RURAL AND NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES. THROUGH CULTIVATING TEACHER LEADERS IN HIGH-NEED SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH PEDAGOGICAL CONTENT KNOWLEDGE IN MATHEMATICAL MODELING AND DATA SCIENCE, THE PROJECT SEEKS TO IMPROVE STEM EDUCATION OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS IN THE STATE OF UTAH. A PANEL COMPRISED OF PROFESSIONALS, EDUCATORS, AND STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WILL PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND STRATEGIC ADVICE TO HELP ATTAIN PROJECT GOALS AND MAXIMIZE PROJECT OUTCOMES. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT EVALUATION EMPLOYS MIXED METHODS TECHNIQUES TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE APPROACHES USED TO SUPPORT MTFS AND EXAMINE THE PROGRESS TOWARD MEETING PROJECT GOALS. DISSEMINATION OF PROJECT OUTCOMES INCLUDE PRESENTATIONS AT PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES, REGIONAL PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS, AND REFEREED PUBLICATIONS. THIS TRACK 3: MASTER TEACHING FELLOWSHIPS PROJECT IS SUPPORTED THROUGH THE ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (NOYCE). THE NOYCE PROGRAM SUPPORTS TALENTED STEM UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS AND PROFESSIONALS TO BECOME EFFECTIVE K-12 STEM TEACHERS AND EXPERIENCED, EXEMPLARY K-12 TEACHERS TO BECOME STEM MASTER TEACHERS IN HIGH-NEED SCHOOL DISTRICTS. IT ALSO SUPPORTS RESEARCH ON THE EFFECTIVENESS AND RETENTION OF K-12 STEM TEACHERS IN HIGH-NEED SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

UTAH SBDC CARES ACT

INVESTIGATING EARLY ELEMENTARY STUDENTS' COMPUTATIONAL THINKING DEVELOPMENT IN INTEGRATED MATHEMATICS-CODING INSTRUCTION -DESPITE GROWING INTEREST IN SUPPORTING THE INTEGRATION OF COMPUTATIONAL THINKING (CT) IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, THERE IS NOT AN AGREED-UPON DEFINITION OF CT THAT IS DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD, NOR IS THERE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW YOUNG CHILDREN?S CT DEVELOPS AND WHICH KINDS OF INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACHES AND PRACTICES TRULY SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF CT. CHILDREN?S IDEAS AND INTERPRETATIONS OF SITUATIONS ARE UNIQUELY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF ADULTS; THEREFORE, MODELS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CT SHOULD REFLECT THE DEVELOPMENTAL UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR CT. FURTHER, SCHOOLS OFTEN LACK THE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME AND RESOURCES TO TEACH CT AS A SEPARATE SUBJECT, SO CT IS OFTEN INTEGRATED WITH OTHER DISCIPLINES SUCH AS MATHEMATICS. EARLY ELEMENTARY EDUCATORS NEED FEASIBLE RESEARCH-BASED, DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE CT CURRICULA. THIS PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THIS CRITICAL STEM EDUCATIONAL NEED BY WORKING WITH A DESIGN TEAM OF 5 ELEMENTARY TEACHERS TO DEVELOP A RESEARCH-BASED INTEGRATED MATHEMATICS AND CT CURRICULUM. THE PROJECT WILL DIRECTLY IMPACT OVER 300 FIRST- AND SECOND-GRADE STUDENTS AND 9 TEACHERS FROM TITLE I SCHOOLS IN A RURAL SETTING WITH AN AIM TO BROADEN PARTICIPATION BY DESIGNING TASKS FOR FULL PARTICIPATION OF UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS IN STEM, SPECIFICALLY GIRLS AND MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS. USING A DESIGN-BASED RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, A SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF CHILDREN?S DEVELOPING CT AND MATHEMATICS KNOWLEDGE IN CLASSROOM CONTEXTS WILL BE CONDUCTED THROUGH ITERATIVE CYCLES OF CURRICULUM DESIGN, ENACTMENT, AND ANALYSIS USING THE LENS OF HIERARCHIC INTERACTIONALISM. DATA COLLECTION WILL INCLUDE VIDEO RECORDINGS OF STUDENTS? ACTIVITY IN TASKS WITH CODING TOOLS, DESIGN MEMOS, INTERVIEWS, AND PRE-POST ASSESSMENTS OF CT, MATHEMATICS KNOWLEDGE, AND SPATIAL ABILITY. QUALITATIVE DATA WILL BE ANALYZED USING RETROSPECTIVE AND INTERACTION ANALYSIS. MULTIPLE REGRESSION ANALYSIS OF ASSESSMENT DATA WILL BE USED TO EXPLORE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CT, MATHEMATICS KNOWLEDGE, AND SPATIAL ABILITY. THE RESEARCH WILL ADVANCE THE FIELD BY INVESTIGATING THE PROGRESSIONS OF CT LEARNING IN EARLY ELEMENTARY GRADES AND WILL EMPIRICALLY DEVELOP, TEST, AND REFINE THESE PROGRESSIONS ALONG WITH THE MATHEMATICS-INTEGRATED CT CURRICULAR TASKS AND ASSESSMENTS. THIS RESEARCH WILL PROVIDE EARLY ELEMENTARY EDUCATORS AND CURRICULUM DESIGNERS WITH A FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING CHILDREN?S DEVELOPMENT OF CT AND WILL INFORM FUTURE CT INSTRUCTION EFFORTS FOR STANDARDS, CURRICULA, TEACHING PRACTICES, AND ASSESSMENT. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO INTEGRATE CT INTO EARLY MATHEMATICS EDUCATION IN FEASIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE WAYS FOR CLASSROOMS. THE KEY OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT WILL BE A CT LEARNING TRAJECTORY (LT) FOR GRADES 1-2 THAT INCLUDES: (1) A COGNITIVE MODEL OF CT, (2) AN INTEGRATED MATHEMATICS-CODING CURRICULUM ALIGNED WITH THE DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING PROGRESSION OF THE CT LT, AND (3) FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS INTEGRAL TO THE INSTRUCTIONAL TASKS THAT PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO TEACHERS ON STUDENT LEARNING. THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE DISCOVERY RESEARCH PREK-12 (DRK-12) PROGRAM, WHICH SEEKS TO SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE THE LEARNING AND TEACHING OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) BY PREK-12 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, THROUGH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE RESOURCES, MODELS AND TOOLS. PROJECTS IN THE DRK-12 PROGRAM BUILD ON FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH IN STEM EDUCATION AND PRIOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS THAT PROVIDE THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL JUSTIFICATION FOR PROPOSED PROJECTS. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

COMPOST CARRYOVER AND COVER CROP EFFECTS ON SOIL QUALITY, PROFITABILITY, AND CULTIVAR SELECTION IN ORGANIC DRYLAND WHEAT

UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECTS OF ABOVE- AND BELOWGROUND LINKAGES ON CARBON CYCLING IN A HIGH LATITUDE, COASTAL WETLAND

MOLECULAR SENSORS FOR METABOLIC PROGRAMMING OF THE SPERM EPIGENOME AND OFFSPRING PHYSIOLOGY - PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT RECENT RESEARCH HAS ESTABLISHED THAT EPIGENETIC INFORMATION INHERITED FROM THE FATHER HAS AN IMPACT ON THE PHYSIOLOGY OF HIS CHILDREN, AND THAT THIS INFORMATION VARIES DEPENDING ON ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE AND METABOLIC STATUS OF THE FATHER. THERE IS ALSO NOW A SUBSTANTIAL BODY OF EVIDENCE THAT PATERNALLY INHERITED EPIGENETIC INFORMATION MAY CONTRIBUTE TO CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEMS, DEPENDING ON PATERNAL DIET. MECHANISTIC INSIGHTS ARE STILL SCARCE, HOWEVER, AND IT REMAINS UNCLEAR WHICH DIETARY FACTORS MAY BE ABLE TO MODIFY EPIGENETIC PROGRAMMING OF SPERM IN A WAY THAT AFFECTS METABOLISM IN THE OFFSPRING. ADDRESSING THIS IMPORTANT PROBLEM, THIS PROJECT WILL TEST THE CENTRAL HYPOTHESIS THAT REDUCED PATERNAL METABOLIC NICOTINAMIDE ADENINE DINUCLEOTIDE (NAD+) LEVELS RESULT IN HERITABLE SPERM-BORNE EPIMODIFICATIONS THAT MODULATE OFFSPRING METABOLISM. NAD+ IS A CENTRAL MOLECULE INVOLVED IN ENERGY METABOLISM AND IT ALSO SERVES AS A SUBSTRATE OF EPIGENETIC REGULATORS SUCH AS SIRTUINS, INCLUDING HISTONE DEACETYLASES, AND POLY(ADP- RIBOSE) POLYMERASES INVOLVED IN SPERM EPIGENETIC PROGRAMMING AND THE REGULATION OF ENERGY METABOLISM. VITAMIN B3 (NIACIN, NICOTINAMIDE) IS THE MAIN DIETARY PRECURSOR OF NAD+ SYNTHESIS IN HUMANS. THIS PROJECT PROPOSES TO UTILIZE AN INNOVATIVE TRANSGENIC MOUSE MODEL OF ACQUIRED NIACIN DEFICIENCY (ANDY) THAT PERMITS FOR THE FIRST TIME TO STUDY EFFECTS OF LOW NAD+ LEVELS, AS SEEN IN PARTS OF THE HUMAN POPULATION, IN A LABORATORY ANIMAL. OUR PRELIMINARY DATA SHOW THAT SUBOPTIMAL LEVELS OF NAD+ IN ANDY MALES RESULTED IN PROGENY WITH SMALLER BODY SIZE, ALTERED INSULIN SENSITIVITY, AND ALTERED CARBOHYDRATE AND LIPID METABOLISM, WHICH INDICATES THAT THE MICRONUTRIENT NIACIN MAY BE OF PREVIOUSLY UNRECOGNIZED IMPORTANCE FOR EPIGENETIC PROGRAMMING OF SPERM. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROPOSED WORK ARE (1) TO CHARACTERIZE THE METABOLISM OF NAD+-DEFICIENT MALES AND THEIR F1 PROGENY, WHERE WE EXPECT TO IDENTIFY HERITABLE ADAPTATIONS OF ENERGY METABOLISM THAT DEPEND ON PATERNAL NUTRITIONAL STATUS, (2) TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT LOW NAD+ LEVELS IN MALES RESULT IN ELEVATED SPERM HISTONE ACETYLATION AND DIFFERENTIAL SPERM HISTONE POSITIONING, WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO INCLUDE METABOLIC GENES WHOSE REGULATION IS AFFECTED IN F1 PROGENY, AND (3) TO DETERMINE THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF ALTERED GENE EXPRESSION PROFILES IN F1 PROGENY. WE FURTHER PROPOSE TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH PHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTION, E.G. SUPPLEMENTATION THERAPY, CAN PREVENT SUCH CHANGES. WE EXPECT THAT DNA METHYLATION LEVELS WILL BE ALTERED IN GENE LOCI IN OFFSPRING AS A CONSEQUENCE OF ABNORMAL SPERM HISTONE ACETYLATION IN NAD+-DEFICIENT SIRES. IN SUMMARY, THE PROPOSED STUDIES ARE EXPECTED TO ESTABLISH NAD+ AS A MOLECULAR LINK BETWEEN PATERNAL NUTRITION AND METABOLIC STATE, SPERM CHROMATIN-MEDIATED EPIGENETIC INHERITANCE, AND THE REGULATION OF OFFSPRING METABOLISM, INCLUDING METABOLIC DISEASE. THE EXPECTED RESULTS SHOULD BE RELEVANT FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF AVOIDANCE AND PERICONCEPTIONAL NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES FOR MEN WITH THE GOAL TO MAXIMIZE CHANCES THAT CHILDREN ARE BORN HEALTHY.

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAMS AT 1862 LAND GRANT INSTITUTIONS

NITROGENASE MECHANISM

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INTERMOUNTAIN CENTER FOR RIVER REHABILIATION AND RESTORATION AT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL STUDIES OF MTR4 AND MTR4-MEDIATED COMPLEXES

UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: PROGRESSIONS OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN BIOLOGY DOCTORATES

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE PROPOSED PROJECT ADDRESSES CRITICAL CHALLENGES TO IMPROVE NUTRITION SECURITY. CURRENT TRENDS SHOW LITTLE OR NO PROGRESS IN IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY OR DIETARY QUALITY, BOTH KEY FACTORS IN PREVENTING CHRONIC DISEASES SUCH AS OBESITY, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, AND TYPE 2 DIABETES. BARRIERS SUCH AS STRUCTURAL INEQUALITIES AND LACK OF TAILORED INTERVENTIONS BASED ON PRECISION NUTRITION PARTICULARLY AFFECT UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, INCLUDING LOW-INCOME, RURAL, AND MINORITY COMMUNITIES. THIS PROJECT WILL CREATE THE WESTERN REGION NUTRITION SECURITY COLLABORATIVE, A PLATFORM TO FOSTER INTERDISCIPLINARY AND CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION TO ADDRESS THESE BARRIERS AND IMPROVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HEALTH-PROMOTING FOODS.THE PROJECT HAS FOUR MAIN OBJECTIVES. FIRST, IT WILL ESTABLISH A COLLABORATIVE NETWORK OF STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE WESTERN REGION, FACILITATING KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE, RESOURCE-SHARING, AND COORDINATED ACTION. SECOND, FORMATIVE EVALUATION RESEARCH WILL BE CONDUCTED TO ASSESS COMMUNITY NEEDS AND INFORM THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE TOOLS, ENSURING THAT INTERVENTIONS ARE CONTEXTUALLY RELEVANT. THIRD, THE PROJECT WILL DEVELOP AND PILOT SEVERAL EVIDENCE-BASED TOOLKITS AND ASSOCIATED TRAININGS TO GUIDE POLICY, SYSTEMS, AND ENVIRONMENT (PSE) INTERVENTIONS FOR IMPROVE FOOD ACCESS THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. FOURTH, AN OPEN-ACCESS TOOLKIT FOR COMMUNITY-ENGAGED LEARNING WILL BE CREATED TO ENHANCE THE CAPACITY OF UNIVERSITY FACULTY, STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ADDRESS NUTRITION SECURITY THROUGH PRACTICAL, HANDS-ON ENGAGEMENT, RESULTING IN AN ENHANCED WORKFORCE.THE PROJECT BUILDS ON EXISTING EXPERTISE AND STRONG PARTNERSHIPS, LEVERAGING THE STRENGTHS OF THREE LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS. BY UTILIZING COMMUNITY-ENGAGED METHODS, THE PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE, SCALABLE, AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE NUTRITION SECURITY AND REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES ACROSS THE WESTERN REGION.

CCAMPIS—CHILD CARE ACCESS MEANS PARENTS IN SCHOOL PROGRAM AT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

(MINERVA) THE FUTURE OF HUMAN GOVERNANCE: ASSESSING CHINA'S AMBITIONS TO PROLIFERATE AI-ENABLED AUTHORITARIANISM

FATTY ACID RECEPTORS IN GUSTATION

DEVELOPMENT OF A HAMSTER MODEL FOR HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION - PROJECT SUMMARY HEPATITIS B VIRUS (HBV) HAS INFECTED MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION AND THAT ALMOST 296 MILLION PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY LIVING WITH CHRONIC INFECTION INCLUDING OVER 6 MILLION CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE. EACH YEAR, ABOUT 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE BECOME NEWLY INFECTED AND 820,000 PEOPLE DIE FROM HBV INFECTION AND RELATED COMPLICATIONS. THERAPEUTICS FOR HBV ARE AVAILABLE, BUT THEY HARDLY LEAD TO A FUNCTIONAL CURE FOR CHRONIC HBV INFECTION. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPING AN HBV CURE IS THE LACK OF IMMUNOCOMPETENT ANIMAL MODELS THAT ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO HBV INFECTION AND SUPPORT THE ENTIRE LIFE CYCLE OF HBV. HBV HAS AN EXTREMELY NARROW HOST TROPISM, DETERMINED BOTH BY SPECIES-SPECIFIC HOST CELLULAR VIRAL ENTRY RECEPTOR, SODIUM TAUROCHOLATE CO-TRANSPORTING PEPTIDE (NTCP), AND THE HOST FACTORS NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE LIFECYCLE OF HBV POST VIRAL ENTRY. HBV TRANSGENIC MICE DO NOT SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF VIRAL COVALENTLY CLOSED CIRCULAR DNA (CCCDNA), THE BONA FIDE VIRAL TRANSCRIPTION TEMPLATE, VIA THE INTRACELLULAR CCCDNA AMPLIFICATION MECHANISM; GENETICALLY MODIFIED MICE CARRYING HUMAN NTCP FAIL TO ESTABLISH HBV INFECTION DUE TO THE FAILURE OF DE NOVO CCCDNA FORMATION. IN SEARCH OF OTHER LABORATORY ANIMAL SPECIES-DERIVED HEPATOCYTES THAT MAY SUPPORT HBV CCCDNA FORMATION, OUR PRELIMINARY STUDIES DEMONSTRATED THAT AD-HBV-TRANSDUCED PRIMARY HAMSTER HEPATOCYTES (PHAHS) ARE CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING HBV DNA REPLICATION AND CCCDNA FORMATION, AND AD-HNTCP-TRANSDUCED PHAH CELLS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO HBV INFECTION. HENCE, THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ESTABLISH A NOVEL SYRIAN HAMSTER (MESOCRICETUS AURATUS) MODEL THAT IS TRACTABLE, FULLY IMMUNOCOMPETENT, AND HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE FOR HBV INFECTION. TO THIS END, WE WILL PURSUE THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC AIMS: AIM 1. ESTABLISH A HUMANIZED-NTCP (HUNTCP) HAMSTER MODEL FOR HBV INFECTION. WE WILL USE THE VALIDATED CRISPR-MEDIATED GENE EDITING TECHNIQUES DEVELOPED BY US IN THE HAMSTER TO HUMANIZE THE TWO CODONS ENCODING THE KEY AMINO ACID RESIDUES IN THE HAMSTER NTCP PROTEIN REQUIRED FOR HBV INFECTION. AIM 2. ESTABLISH ACUTE AND CHRONIC INFECTION IN THE HUNTCP HAMSTERS AND CHARACTERIZE THE PATHOGENESIS AND HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSES TO HBV. UNDER THIS AIM, WE WILL INFECT HUNTCP HAMSTERS TO ESTABLISH ACUTE AND CHRONIC HBV INFECTIONS AND CARRY OUT PATHOGENESIS STUDIES. WE WILL ALSO CARRY OUT STUDIES TO CHARACTERIZE THE HUMORAL RESPONSES DURING ACUTE AND CHRONIC INFECTIONS. AIM 3. TEST DIRECT-ACTING ANTIVIRALS (DAAS), IMMUNOREGULATORS AND EPIGENETIC MODIFIERS IN SUPPRESSING HBV INFECTION IN THE HUNTCP HAMSTER MODEL. WE WILL TEST THE UTILITY OF THIS IMMUNOCOMPETENT HUNTCP HAMSTER MODEL IN ASSESSING THE EFFICACIES OF A SELECTED PANEL OF ANTI-HBV DRUGS WITH DIFFERENT HBV-INHIBITING MECHANISMS, INCLUDING A DIRECT ACTING ANTIVIRAL (DAA), TENOFOVIR (TDF), AN IMMUNOREGULATOR, IFNALPAHCON-1, AND AN EPIGENETIC MODIFIER, MS436, IN SUPPRESSING CHRONIC HBV INFECTION. WE ENVISION THAT THIS NOVEL HAMSTER MODEL WILL GREATLY FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW THERAPEUTICS THAT ARE NEEDED TO ACHIEVE A FUNCTIONAL CURE FOR HBV.

CENTER FOR TOKAMAK TRANSIENTS SIMULATIONS (CTTS)

SYNERGISTIC MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT USING A ROTATING ALGAE BIOFILM REACTOR

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: IMPACTS OF HARD/SOFT SKILLS ON STEM WORKFORCE TRAJECTORIES

THIS AGREEMENT BETWEEN UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE BLM WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL AQUATIC MONITORING CENTER WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE BLM WITH SCIENTIFIC ASSISTANCE FOR THE COLLECTION OF AQUATIC DATA AND THE ANALYSIS AND REPORTING OF AQUATIC CONDITION AND TREND INFORMATION THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND MONITORING PROGRAMS. IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROPOSAL WILL DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE MISSIONS OF BOTH THE BLM AND USU, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY PROVIDING A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC BENEFIT.

MATERNAL METABOLIC DISORDERS AND THE PREVENTION OF ORAL CLEFT BIRTH DEFECTS

CHILD CARE ACCESS MEANS PARENTS IN SCHOOL PROGRAM

CAREER: BROADENING PERSPECTIVES OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND CULTURE THROUGH COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DESIGN OF PLACE-BASED STORYTELLING EXPERIENCES

SPECIAL EDUCATION RESEARCH

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM

A CAUSAL FRAMEWORK OF COMMUNICATIVE PARTICIPATION IN PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE. - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE (PD) EXPERIENCE RESTRICTED COMMUNICATIVE PARTICIPATION [1,2], WHICH MEANS THAT THEY HAVE DIFFICULTY “TAKING PART IN LIFE SITUATIONS WHERE KNOWLEDGE, INFORMATION, IDEAS OR FEELINGS ARE EXCHANGED” [3]. THIS RESTRICTED PARTICIPATION CAN HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES FOR ONE'S WELL-BEING, INCLUDING SOCIAL ISOLATION, LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT, DETERIORATION OF RELATIONSHIPS, AND DIFFICULTY ACCESSING SERVICES [3,4]. WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT TARGETS THAT DIRECTLY AND EFFECTIVELY IMPROVE PARTICIPATION. THE MOST BASIC FORM OF COMMUNICATIVE PARTICIPATION IS AN INTERACTION BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE, A DYAD, ENGAGED IN DIALOGUE. THE SMALL BODY OF RESEARCH THAT HAS EXAMINED INTERACTION BEHAVIORS (I.E., INTERDEPENDENT VERBAL BEHAVIORS) IN PEOPLE WITH PD (AND/OR DYSARTHRIA) HAS USED DESCRIPTIVE OR CASE STUDY DESIGNS TO QUALITATIVELY DESCRIBE THE DIALOGUES [5-11]. IN A PRIOR R21, WE EXTENDED THIS WORK, LEVERAGING THE EXISTING RICH LITERATURE ON DIALOGUE THEORY THAT WAS DEVELOPED WITH NEUROTYPICAL (NT) ADULTS, COUPLED WITH SPEECH SIGNAL PROCESSING TECHNIQUES AND ADVANCED STATISTICAL MODELING, TO QUANTIFY INTERACTION BEHAVIORS IN TASK-CONTROLLED DIALOGUE CORPORA [12-16]. REASONABLE CONCLUSIONS FROM THIS COLLECTION OF STUDIES ARE THAT THE INTERACTION BEHAVIORS OF PD-NT DYADS ARE FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF NT-NT DYADS; AND THAT THESE DIFFERENCES CORRELATE TO RESTRICTED PARTICIPATION IN THE DIALOGUES OF PEOPLE WITH PD. THE NEXT STEP IS TO MOVE FROM THESE SIMPLE CORRELATIONS TO DERIVING CAUSAL, MECHANISTIC RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INTERACTION BEHAVIORS AND PARTICIPATION OUTCOMES, ALLOWING US TO IDENTIFY CANDIDATE TREATMENT TARGETS FOR IMPROVING PARTICIPATION IN PEOPLE WITH PD. WE WILL USE TWO AIMS TO DO THIS. THE FIRST AIM, USING A BETWEEN-WITHIN DESIGN, WILL COMPARE INTERACTION BEHAVIOR FROM THE DIALOGUES OF PD-NT AND NT-NT DYADS AND QUANTIFY THEIR VARIATION ACROSS TYPICAL COMMUNICATIVE SITUATIONS. WE WILL AUDIO-RECORD PEOPLE WITH PD AND NT CONTROLS (DYAD CONDITION) ENGAGED IN A PROBLEM-SOLVING AND A RAPPORT-BUILDING DIALOGUE (GOAL CONDITION) WITH A FAMILIAR AND AN UNFAMILIAR PARTNER (PARTNER CONDITION). THE RESULTING 480 DIALOGUES WILL BE ANNOTATED, AND AUTOMATED METRICS OF INTERACTION BEHAVIORS, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL INTERACTION BEHAVIORS OF EACH PERSON (ARTICULATORY PRECISION, RHYTHMIC PREDICTABILITY, LANGUAGE COMPLEXITY) AND COORDINATIVE INTERACTION BEHAVIORS (ENTRAINMENT, CONVERSATIONAL REPAIR, TURN-TAKING), WILL BE EXTRACTED. LINEAR MIXED EFFECTS MODELS WILL BE USED TO ASSESS THESE BEHAVIORS BY DYAD, GOAL, AND PARTNER CONDITION. OUR SECOND AIM LOOKS TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF EACH INTERACTION BEHAVIOR ON COMMUNICATIVE PARTICIPATION OUTCOMES IN THE DIALOGUES OF PEOPLE WITH PD WITHIN A CAUSAL INFERENCE FRAMEWORK. WHEREAS SA1 COMPARES THE INTERACTION BEHAVIORS ACROSS DYAD TYPES AND COMMUNICATIVE SITUATIONS, SA2 USES THE INTERACTION BEHAVIORS AS INPUT TO A CAUSAL INFERENCE MODEL. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO QUANTIFY HOW MUCH EACH INTERACTION BEHAVIOR CONTRIBUTED TO THE ASSOCIATED PARTICIPATION OUTCOME FOR THAT DIALOGUE AND RIGOROUSLY SIMULATE THE EFFECTS OF INTERVENING ON EACH INTERACTION BEHAVIOR. ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF EACH BEHAVIOR WILL BE DONE USING BAYESIAN MULTILEVEL MODELING. RESULTS WILL INFORM A SUBSEQUENT HYPOTHESIS-DRIVEN CLINICAL TRIAL OF INTERACTION TARGETS.

GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (GRFP)

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAMS AT 1862 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY EASTERN UPWARD BOUND

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY WILL USE OUR HATCH ACT OF 1887, REGULAR RESEARCH CAPACITY FUNDS, AND THE ASSOCIATED MATCHING FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE STATE OF UTAH, TO SUPPORT MANY DIVERSE BASIC, APPLIED, AND DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS THE SEVEN CRITICAL ISSUES DEFINED IN THE UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY FY2023 PLAN OF WORK. THE SEVEN CRITICAL ISSUES THAT WE WILL ADDRESS ARE: (1) GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY AND HUNGER; (2) CLIMATE CHANGE AND MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES; (3) NUTRITION AND HEALTH; (4) FOOD SAFETY; (5) HEALTHY, FINANCIALLY SECURE FAMILIES; (6) YOUTH DEVELOPMENT; AND (7) COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. THESE SEVEN CRITICAL ISSUES ALIGN WELL WITH NIFA'S FIRST FIVE STRATEGIC GOALS: (1) COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE TO SUPPORT AMERICA'S WORKING LANDS, NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITIES; (2) ENSURE AMERICA'S AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM IS EQUITABLE, RESILIENT, AND PROSPEROUS; (3) FOSTER AN EQUITABLE AND COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE FOR ALL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS; (4) PROVIDE ALL AMERICANS SAFE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD;AND (5) EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN RURAL AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. THE RESEARCH CONDUCTED WITH THESE FUNDS WILL RESULT IN DELIVERABLES THAT INCLUDE PRESENTATIONS AT SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS, SCIENTIFIC AND LAY PUBLICATIONS, OUTREACH ACTIVITIES INCLUDING EXTENSION EVENTS AND FACT SHEETS, AND TOOLS OR DEVICES DESIGNED TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC NEEDS. IMPACTS FROM THIS RESEARCH WILL INCLUDE CHANGES IN KNOWLEDGE, CHANGES IN ACTIONS, AND CHANGES IN CONDITIONS. THIS RESEARCH WILL BENEFIT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND THE BROADER AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY; FOOD PROCESSORS; THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF UTAH, THE WESTERN UNITED STATES, THE COUNTRY, AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY; STATE AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES; AND THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY. DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SEVEN CRITICAL ISSUES THAT WE WILL ADDRESS ARE PROVIDED BELOW: GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY AND HUNGER THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS GOAL IS TO ENHANCE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY THROUGH PRODUCTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS. THIS IS NOT MEANT AS AN ABANDONMENT OF PAST AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES OR AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS. IT REQUIRES AN EXPANDED VIEW OF AGRICULTURE, NOT AN ABANDONMENT OF AGRICULTURE. WE CAN MAKE REAL PROGRESS IN IMPROVING THE STANDARD OF LIVING, NOT ONLY IN THE U.S., BUT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. TO FEED GROWING POPULATIONS, WE MUST DEVELOP MORE STRESS-RESISTANT CROPS AND ENSURE AN IMPROVEMENT IN OVERALL PRODUCTIVITY OF LIVESTOCK. SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES THAT RESULT IN HEAT, DROUGHT, AND SALINE-RESISTANT PLANTS WILL ALLOW FARMERS TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN WORLD MARKETS, WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO FARM PRODUCTION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. FUTURE INVESTIGATIONS WILL INCLUDE TRADITIONAL CROP AND LIVESTOCK BREEDING BUT WILL ALSO EMPHASIZE GENOMICS. CROPS WILL BE PRODUCED WHICH RELY LESS ON MAN-MADE INPUTS LIKE FERTILIZER AND FUELS, AND MORE ON GENE MANIPULATION. HOWEVER, IT WILL REQUIRE MORE THAN LABORATORY WORK AS THESE IMPROVED PLANTS MUST BE FIELD -TESTED, BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD. MORE FOCUS WILL NEED TO BE GIVEN TO THE "SCIENCE" OF AGRICULTURE. ANIMALS MUST BE MADE MORE EFFICIENT IN THE USE OF EXISTING OR EVEN ALTERED FORAGE RESOURCES. CLIMATE CHANGE AND MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES RANGELAND, FORESTS, AND AGRICULTURE ARE ALL CLIMATE DEPENDENT. CONSEQUENTLY, ANY CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT SUCH AS CLIMATE CHANGE WILL REQUIRE THAT PLANTS AND ANIMALS ADAPT TO OR MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE. AGRICULTURE THE MANAGEMENT OF RANGELAND AND FORESTS MUST BE AT THE FOREFRONT IN ADAPTING TO NEW CLIMATE REALITIES, AS WELL AS MITIGATING MANY OF THE INFLUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE. THE CONCEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT NEW TO UTAH PRODUCERS. UTAHAN'S HAVE ADJUSTED TO CHANGES IN WATER AND TEMPERATURE FOR MANY YEARS. YET, THERE IS MORE THAT CAN BE DONE TO ENHANCE THE PRODUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT OF BOTH PLANTS AND ANIMALS. ANIMALS CAN BECOME MORE EFFICIENT IN THE CONSUMPTION OF FORAGES THROUGH APPROPRIATE BREEDING PRACTICES AND TAILORING LIVESTOCK TO MEET FORAGE CONDITIONS. WHILE THERE IS GREAT VIGOR IN MANY BREEDS, SOME ARE CLEARLY NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THE SPARSELY VEGETATIVE STATE OF MUCH OF UTAH'S LAND. EFFICIENCIES CAN BE IMPROVED THROUGH GENETIC MODIFICATIONS AS WELL. PLANTS CAN BE MADE MORE RESISTANT TO DROUGHT AND SALINITY THROUGH TRADITIONAL BREEDING PRACTICES, AND THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF GENOMICS. WATER WILL BECOME AN EVEN MORE CRITICAL PART OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION PROCESSES AS IT BECOMES LESS AVAILABLE AND/OR THE QUALITY BECOMES LESS SUITABLE FOR AGRICULTURE. THE IDEA OF WATER DEPENDENCY UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE CANNOT BE OVER EMPHASIZED AS POPULATIONS INCREASE, AND WATER SHIFTS FROM AGRICULTURAL TO MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL USES. PUBLIC/PRIVATE LAND INTERFACE IS ANOTHER AREA REQUIRING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND OUTREACH. SIXTY PERCENT OF THE TOTAL LAND AVAILABLE IN THE WEST IS PUBLIC LAND, OWNED BY EITHER THE STATE OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THIS PRESENTS UNIQUE CHALLENGES TO THE WEST THAT MOST OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY CANNOT BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND. NUTRITION AND HEALTH ITSEEMS STRANGE TO SPEAK OF NUTRITION IN A COUNTRY THAT HAS SUCH A REMARKABLE FOOD SYSTEM, BUT NUTRITION IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM EVEN IN THIS COUNTRY--BUT IT IS A PROBLEM OF BOTH SCARCITY AND PLENTY. THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, SUCH AS YOUNG CHILDREN AND AGING ADULTS, ARE SUBJECT TO FOOD SCARCITY. OUR COMMON GOAL SHOULD BE TO ALLOW OUR CHILDREN TO LIVE HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES. HENCE, ADEQUATE NUTRITION BECOMES A PROBLEM FOR THOSE BOTH AFFLUENT AND THOSE IN POVERTY WITHIN THE U.S. AND OTHERS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD THAT DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO EAT TO AVOID DISEASE AND MALNUTRITION. BECAUSE THE PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL IN MOVING AGRICULTURE AND FOOD TECHNOLOGIES FORWARD, THEY SHOULD ALSO BE THE MEANS TO MAKE THE FOOD SELECTIONS MORE NUTRITIOUS. IN ADDITION TO CHANGING THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF FOOD, EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS TO TEACH PEOPLE THE CONSEQUENCES OF OBESITY MUST BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE. FOOD SAFETY FOOD SAFETY IS A NECESSARY AREA OF EMPHASIS AS FOOD AND FIBER PATHOGENS INCREASINGLY COST THE U.S. ECONOMY SIGNIFICANT LOST TIME AND INCREASED HEALTH EXPENDITURES. NEW DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS NEED TO BE DEVELOPED TO RAPIDLY TEST FOOD PRODUCTS FOR PATHOGENS. BUT EVEN MORE BASIC IS THE NEED TO PROVIDE A SAFE SYSTEM THROUGH WHICH FOOD CAN BE TRANSFERRED. SOME OF THAT WILL INVOLVE BETTER IDENTIFICATION OF FOOD AND FIBER FLOWS WITHIN THE U.S. AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. TRACEABILITY WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT BUT NEW, LESS COSTLY METHODS OF FOOD CHAIN IDENTIFICATION MUST BE DEVELOPED. PATHOGENS CAN ENTER THE FOOD SUPPLY AT ANY POINT DURING THE PRODUCTION, HARVEST, PROCESSING, AND TRANSPORTING PROCESS. IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE U.S. CONSUMER NOT HAVE TO QUESTION IF THEIR FOOD IS SAFE. GREAT STRIDES HAVE BEEN MADE IN PROTECTING THE FOOD SYSTEM, BUT ADDITIONAL RESEARCH AND OUTREACH ARE REQUIRED. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY OF THEIR FOOD SUPPLY, WHICH SOMETIMES IS A DIFFICULT TASK GIVEN THE EXTENSIVE PROCESSING THAT OCCU RS. IT MUST ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED THAT AMERICA HAS THE SAFEST FOOD SUPPLY THE WORLD. FOOD SAFETY IN THE HOME IS ALSO IMPORTANT AND IS INCLUDED IN THIS CRITICAL ISSUE. AREAS OF CONCERN INCLUDE PROPER PREPARATION, STORAGE, AND PRESERVATION OF FOOD, INCLUDING PROPER P ROCEDURES FOR CANNING FOODS. HEALTHY, FINANCIALLY SECURE FAMILIES UTAH IS IN THE TOP 5 OF THE U.S. STATES WITH BANKRUPTCY AND MUCH MORE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION NEED TO BE DONE TO FREE THE STATE'S CONSUMERS FROM THIS TRAP. BECAUSE OF UTAH'S TYPICALLY LARGER FAMILY SIZE, THE AMOUNT OF INCOME AVAILABLE FOR BASIC FAMILY NEEDS SLIPS BELOW THE MEAN FOR THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES. UTAH FAMILIES ALREADY FACE HIGH DEBT LOADS LEADING TO BANKRUPTCY, LOW SAVINGS, AND THE LACK OF LIQUID ASSETS. HENCE, A PRIORITY OF THIS PLANNED PROGRAM IS TO ENHANCE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. OTHER ASPECTS OF FAMILY HEALTH THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED INCLUDE HEALTHY MARITAL AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING,DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT HEALTHY EATING HABITS. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT YOUTH ISSUES ARE PARAMOUNT IN A STATE WITH HIGHER-THAN-AVERAGE BIRTH RATES. AS THE NUMBER OF YOUTH GROWS, MORE RESEARCH ON EDUCATION IS NEEDED IN IDENTIFYING FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE GROWTH AND MATURATION. A SIGNIFICANT PRIORITY OF THIS CRITICAL ISSUE IS TO DISCOVER IMPROVED METHODS FOR ENCOURAGING POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. COMMUNITY RESILIENCE THE EXISTING CONFLICTS BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LANDOWNERS AND URBAN-RURAL PRESSURES ARE LIKELY TO BE EXACERBATED OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS AS ALTERNATIVE USES OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS INCREASE AND URBAN ENCROACHMENT CONTINUES TO EXTEND INTO RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE AND REGION, RESULTING IN A DECLINE OF AVAILABLE OPEN-SPACE. THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF MANY RURAL AREAS IS ALSO IN JEOPARDY. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION ACTIVITIES NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN STRUGGLING COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION, COMMUNITY RESILIENCE DEPENDS ON SOUND COMMUNITY PLANNING, AND INVESTMENT IN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EDUCATION, CHILDCARE, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, RECREATION, HEALTH CARE, AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES.

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAMS AT 1862 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT THE BLM S AQUATIC RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS TO PROVIDE THE BLM WITH THE TOOLS NEEDED TO 1 ASSESS THE ECOLOGICAL BIOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL, AND CHEMICAL STATUS OF THE AQUATIC RESOURCES MANAGED BY THE BLM, 2 IDENTIFY THE PRIMARY LAND USE ACTIVITIES AND STRESSORS RESPONSIBLE FOR EXISTING WATER RESOURCE IMPAIRMENTS, AND 3 TARGET MANAGEMENT ACTIONS THAT WILL MOST EFFECTIVELY RESTORE IMPAIRED AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS TO DESIRED CONDITIONS WE WILL ADDRESS THESE GOALS BY PURSUING 12 OBJECTIVES THAT BUILD ON PREVIOUS WORK WE AND OTHERS HAVE CONDUCTED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BLM AND OTHER FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES THE PRIMARY OUTCOMES OF THIS WORK WILL BE 1 THE PRODUCTION OF SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND AND INTERPRETABLE TOOLS TO ASSESS ECOLOGICAL STATUS AND TRENDS OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS, 2 THE PRODUCTION OF SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND TOOLS FOR ASSESSING THE CAUSES OF ECOLOGICAL IMPAIRMENT INCLUDING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE , 3 ASSISTANCE IN PREPARING EFFICIENT AND EASILY INTERPRETABLE REPORTS FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION, AND 4 ASSISTANCE IN TRAINING OF CURRENT AND FUTURE BLM STAFF TO MAINTAIN A HIGHLY SKILLED WORKFORCE THE PRODUCTS WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT LOCAL BLM STAFF BY PROVIDING THE TYPE OF INFORMATION NEEDED TO GUIDE PROJECT MANAGEMENT, NATIONAL LEVEL BLM STAFF RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING BROAD SCALE POLICIES REGARDING WATERSHED AND WATERBODY PROTECTION AND RESTORATION, AND THE PUBLIC WHO DEMAND SOUND ESTIMATES OF THE CONDITION OF PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERS THESE PRODUCTS WILL ALSO BENEFIT STATE WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS THAT OFTEN PARTNER WITH BLM AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES IN PRODUCING STATEWIDE, BIENNIAL INTEGRATED WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENTS TO CONGRESS

HATCH REGULAR

TAS::89 0319::TAS UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY APPLICATION IN RESPONSE TO FOA# DE-FOA-0000304 WAS SELECTED FOR AWARD.

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY WILL USE HATCH ACT, REGULAR RESEARCH CAPACITY FUNDS, AND MATCHING FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE STATE OF UTAH, TO SUPPORT DIVERSE BASIC, APPLIED, AND DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS THE SEVEN CRITICAL ISSUES DEFINED IN THE UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY FY2024 PLAN OF WORK. THE SEVEN CRITICAL ISSUES ARE: (1) GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY AND HUNGER; (2) CLIMATE CHANGE AND MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES; (3) NUTRITION AND HEALTH; (4) FOOD SAFETY; (5) HEALTHY, FINANCIALLY SECURE FAMILIES; (6) YOUTH DEVELOPMENT; AND (7) COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. THESE SEVEN CRITICAL ISSUES ALIGN WITH NIFA'S KEY STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES. THE RESEARCH CONDUCTED WITH THESE FUNDS WILL RESULT IN DELIVERABLES THAT INCLUDE PRESENTATIONS AT SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS, SCIENTIFIC AND LAY PUBLICATIONS, OUTREACH ACTIVITIES INCLUDING EXTENSION EVENTS AND FACT SHEETS, AND TOOLS OR DEVICES DESIGNED TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC NEEDS. IMPACTS FROM THIS RESEARCH WILL INCLUDE CHANGES IN KNOWLEDGE, CHANGES IN ACTIONS, AND CHANGES IN CONDITIONS. THIS RESEARCH WILL BENEFIT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND THE BROADER AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY; FOOD PROCESSORS; THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF UTAH, THE WESTERN UNITED STATES, THE COUNTRY, AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY; STATE AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES; AND THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY. DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SEVEN CRITICAL ISSUES THAT WE WILL ADDRESS ARE: GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY AND HUNGER, ENHANCING GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY THROUGH PRODUCTIVE AND S USTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS IS AN IMPERATIVE. THIS REQUIRES AN EXPANDED VIEW OF AGRICULTURE. TO FEED GROWING POPULATIONS, WE MUST DEVELOP MORE STRESS-RESISTANT CROPS AND ENSURE AN IMPROVEMENT IN OVERALL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY. SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES HEAT, DROUGHT, AND SALINE-RESISTANT PLANTS WILL ALLOW FARMERS TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE. FUTURE INVESTIGATIONS WILL INCLUDE NECESSARILY INCLUDE BOTH TRADITIONAL CROP AND LIVESTOCK BREEDING AND GENOMICS. CLIMATE CHANGE AND MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, RANGELAND, FORESTS, AND AGRICULTURE ARE ALL CLIMATE DEPENDENT. ANY CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT, SUCH AS CLIMATE CHANGE WILL REQUIRE THAT PLANTS AND ANIMALS ADAPT TO OR MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE. THE MANAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND RANGELAND AND FORESTS MUST BE AT THE FOREFRONT IN ADAPTING TO NEW CLIMATE REALITIES. WATER WILL ALSO BECOME AN INCREASINGLY CRITICAL PART OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AS IT BECOMES LESS AVAILABLE AND/OR THE QUALITY BECOMES LESS SUITABLE FOR AGRICULTURE. THE IDEA OF WATER DEPENDENCY UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE CANNOT BE OVER EMPHASIZED AS POPULATIONS INCREASE, AND WATER SHIFTS FROM AGRICULTURAL TO MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL USES. THE FACT THAT SIXTY PERCENT OF THE TOTAL LAND AVAILABLE IN THE WEST IS PUBLIC LAND PRESENTS UNIQUE CHALLENGES TO THE WEST. NUTRITION AND HEALTH, NUTRITION IS A SI GNIFICANT PROBLEM EVEN IN THIS COUNTRY. THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO FOOD SCARCITY. OUR COMMON GOAL IS ALLOW CHILDREN TO LIVE HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES. FOOD SAFETY, FOOD AND FIBER PATHOGENS INCREASINGLY COST THE U.S. ECONOMY SIGNIFICANT LOST TIME AND INCREASED HEALTH EXPENDITURES. NEW DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS NEED TO BE DEVELOPED TO RAPIDLY TEST FOOD PRODUCTS FOR PATHOGENS. HEALTHY, FINANCIALLY SECURE FAMILIES, UTAH HAS A HIGH RATE OF BANKRUPTCY AND MUCH MORE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FREE THE STATE'S CONSUMERS FROM THIS TRAP. A PRIORITY OF THIS PLANNED PROGRAM IS TO ENHANCE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH ISSUES ARE PARAMOUNT IN A STATE WITH HIGHER-THAN-AVERAGE BIRTH RATES. AS THE NUMBER OF YOUTH GROWS, MORE RESEARCH ON EDUCATION IS NEEDED IN IDENTIFYING FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE GROWTH AND MATURATION. COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, EXISTING CONFLICTS BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LANDOWNERS AND URBAN-RURAL POPULATIONS ARE LIKELY TO INCREASE. COMMUNITY RESILIENCE DEPENDS ON SOUND COMMUNITY PLANNING, AND INVESTMENT IN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EDUCATION, CHILDCARE, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, RECREATION, HEALTH CARE, AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES.

HATCH REGULAR

HATCH REGULAR

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY WILL USE HATCH ACT, REGULAR RESEARCH CAPACITY FUNDS, AND MATCHING FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE STATE OF UTAH, TO SUPPORT DIVERSE, BASIC, APPLIED, AND DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCHPROJECTS THAT ADDRESS THE SEVEN CRITICAL ISSUES DEFINED IN THE UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY FY2025 PLAN OF WORK. THE SEVEN CRITICAL ISSUES ARE: (1) GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY AND HUNGER; (2) CLIMATE CHANGE AND MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES; (3) NUTRITION AND HEALTH; (4) FOOD SAFETY; (5) HEALTHY, FINANCIALLY SECURE FAMILIES; (6) YOUTH DEVELOPMENT; AND (7) COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. THESE SEVEN CRITICAL ISSUES ALIGN WITH NIFA'S KEY STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES. THE RESEARCH CONDUCTED WITH THESE FUNDS WILL RESULT IN DELIVERABLES THAT INCLUDE PRESENTATIONS AT SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS, SCIENTIFIC AND LAY PUBLICATIONS, OUTREACH ACTIVITIES INCLUDING EXTENSION EVENTS AND FACT SHEETS, AND TOOLS OR DEVICES DESIGNED TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC NEEDS. IMPACTS FROM THIS RESEARCH WILL INCLUDE CHANGES IN KNOWLEDGE, CHANGES IN ACTIONS, AND CHANGES IN CONDITIONS. THIS RESEARCH WILL BENEFIT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND THE BROADER AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY; FOOD PROCESSORS; THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF UTAH, THE WESTERN UNITED STATES, THE COUNTRY, AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY; STATE AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES; AND THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY. DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SEVEN CRITICAL ISSUES THAT WE WILL ADDRESS ARE: GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY AND HUNGER - ENHANCING GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY THROUGH PRODUCTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS IS AN IMPERATIVE. THIS REQUIRES AN EXPANDED VIEW OF AGRICULTURE. TO FEED GROWING POPULATIONS, WE MUST DEVELOP MORE EFFICIENT AND STRESS-RESISTANT CROPS AND ENSURE AN IMPROVEMENT IN OVERALL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY. SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES OF IMPROVED HEAT, DROUGHT, AND SALINE-RESISTANCE IN PLANTS WILL ALLOW FARMERS TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE. FUTURE INVESTIGATIONS WILL INCLUDE NECESSARILY INCLUDE BOTHTRADITIONAL CROP AND LIVESTOCK BREEDING AND GENOMICS. CLIMATE CHANGE AND MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES - RANGELAND, FORESTS, AND AGRICULTURE ARE ALL CLIMATE DEPENDENT. ANY CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT, SUCH AS CLIMATE CHANGE, REQUIRES THAT PLANTS AND ANIMALS ADAPT TO OR MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE. THE MANAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND RANGELAND AND FORESTS MUST BE AT THE FOREFRONT IN ADAPTING TO NEW CLIMATE REALITIES. WATER WILL ALSO BECOME AN INCREASINGLY CRITICAL PART OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AS IT BECOMES LESS AVAILABLE AND/OR THE QUALITY BECOMES LESS SUITABLE FOR AGRICULTURE. THE IDEA OF WATER DEPENDENCY UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE CANNOT BE OVER EMPHASIZED AS POPULATIONS INCREASE, AND WATER SHIFTS FROM AGRICULTURAL TO MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL USES. THE FACT THAT SIXTY PERCENT OF THE TOTAL LAND AVAILABLE IN THE WEST IS PUBLIC LAND PRESENTS UNIQUE CHALLENGES TO THE WEST. NUTRITION AND HEALTH - NUTRITION IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM EVEN IN THIS COUNTRY. THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO FOOD SCARCITY. OUR MISSION IS TO ENABLE CHILDREN TO LIVE HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES. FOOD SAFETY - FOOD AND FIBER PATHOGENS INCREASINGLY COST THE U.S. ECONOMY SIGNIFICANT LOST TIME AND INCREASED HEALTH EXPENDITURES. NEW DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS NEED TO BE DEVELOPED TO RAPIDLY TEST FOOD PRODUCTS FOR PATHOGENS. HEALTHY, FINANCIALLY SECURE FAMILIES - UTAH HAS A HIGH RATE OF BANKRUPTCY AND MUCH MORE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION NEED TO BE DONE TO FREE THE STATE'S CONSUMERS FROM THIS TRAP. APRIORITY OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO ENHANCE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - YOUTH ISSUES ARE PARAMOUNT IN A STATE WITH HIGHER-THAN-AVERAGE BIRTH RATES. AS THE NUMBER OF YOUTH GROW, MORE RESEARCH ON EDUCATION AND YOUTH WELL-BEING IS NEEDED IN IDENTIFYING FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE GROWTH AND MATURATION. COMMUNITY RESILIENCE - CONFLICTS BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LANDOWNERS AND URBAN-RURAL POPULATIONS ARE LIKELY TO INCREASE. COMMUNITY RESILIENCE DEPENDS ON SOUND COMMUNITY PLANNING, AND INVESTMENT IN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EDUCATION, CHILDCARE, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, RECREATION, HEALTH CARE, AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES

A REGIONAL EXPERIMENT TO EVALUATE EFFECTS OF FIRE AND FIRE SURROGATE TREATMENTS...

HATCH REGULAR

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY WILL USE HATCH ACT REGULAR RESEARCH CAPACITY FUNDS, TOGETHER WITH MATCHING FUNDS FROM THE STATE OF UTAH, TO SUPPORT BASIC, APPLIED, AND DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH ADDRESSING SEVEN CRITICAL ISSUES IDENTIFIED IN THE OUR PLAN OF WORK. THOSE ISSUES ARE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY AND HUNGER; MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES; NUTRITION AND HEALTH; FOOD SAFETY; HEALTHY, FINANCIALLY SECURE FAMILIES; YOUTH DEVELOPMENT; AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. EACH ALIGNS WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURES STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES. THE FUNDED RESEARCH WILL YIELD PRESENTATIONS, PEER-REVIEWED AND LAY PUBLICATIONS, OUTREACH THROUGH EXTENSION EVENTS AND FACT SHEETS, AND PRACTICAL TOOLS OR DEVICES. IMPACTS WILL INCLUDE IMPROVED KNOWLEDGE, BEHAVIORAL CHANGES, AND STRENGTHENED CONDITIONS THAT BENEFIT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, FOOD PROCESSORS, UTAH CITIZENS, COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S. AND BEYOND, GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, AND THE BROADER SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY. (1) GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY AND HUNGER FEEDING A GROWING POPULATION REQUIRES RESILIENT, PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS. RESEARCH WILL FOCUS ON MORE EFFICIENT CROPS AND LIVESTOCK, BREEDING AND GENOMIC IMPROVEMENTS, AND GREATER TOLERANCE TO STRESSES SUCH AS HEAT, DROUGHT, AND SALINITY. THESE INNOVATIONS WILL HELP FARMERS REMAIN COMPETITIVE WHILE PROTECTING LONG -TERM PRODUCTIVITY. (2) MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES RANGELANDS, FORESTS, AND AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS DEPEND ON SOIL, WATER, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. CHANGING PATTERNS OF WATER AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY ARE AMONG THE MOST URGENT CHALLENGES, AS WATER SHIFTS FROM AGRICULTURAL TO MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL USES. UTAHS EXTENSIVE PUBLIC LANDS CREATE UNIQUE MANAGEMENT CONDITIONS, REQUIRING NEW APPROACHES FOR SUSTAINING BOTH WORKING LANDS AND NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS. (3) NUTRITION AND HEALTH NUTRITION REMAINS A SERIOUS CONCERN EVEN WITHIN THE U.S., WHERE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS FACE FOOD SCARCITY AND DIET-RELATED ILLNESS. RESEARCH WILL ADDRESS WAYS TO IMPROVE DIETARY OUTCOMES, PARTICULARLY FOR CHILDREN, TO SUPPORT HEALTHIER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE LIVES. (4) FOOD SAFETY PATHOGENS IN FOOD SYSTEMS IMPOSE LARGE ECONOMIC AND HEALTH COSTS NATIONWIDE. THIS PROGRAM WILL DEVELOP FASTER DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS AND IMPROVED PRACTICES TO DETECT AND REDUCE CONTAMINATION, PROTECTING BOTH CONSUMERS AND MARKETS. (5) HEALTHY, FINANCIALLY SECURE FAMILIES UTAH HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST BANKRUPTCY RATES IN THE NATION. RESEARCH AND OUTREACH WILL FOCUS ON FAMILY FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGIES TO HELP HOUSEHOLDS ACHIEVE GREATER SECURITY AND RESILIENCE. (6) YOUTH DEVELOPMENT UTAHS HIGHER-THAN-AVERAGE BIRTH RATE RESULTS IN A RAPIDLY G ROWING YOUTH POPULATION. RESEARCH WILL EXPLORE THE FACTORS INFLUENCING EDUCATION, GROWTH, AND WELL BEING, AND IDENTIFY PATHWAYS TO SUPPORT YOUTH AS THEY TRANSITION INTO HEALTHY, CONTRIBUTING ADULTS. (7) COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TENSIONS BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LANDOWNERS, AND BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL POPULATIONS, ARE INCREASING. STRONG COMMUNITIES DEPEND ON THOUGHTFUL PLANNING AND INVESTMENT IN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, CHILDCARE, RECREATION, AND FAMILY SUPPORT. RESEARCH IN THIS AREA WILL PROVIDE EVIDENCE TO GUIDE COMMUNITIES IN ADAPTING TO CURRENT AND FUTURE CHALLENGES.

GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (GRFP)

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: A CONSORTIUM OF RESONANCE AND RAYLEIGH LIDARS

UNDERSTANDING DELAY DISCOUNTING IN CIGARETTE SMOKERS

HATCH REGULAR

HATCH REGULAR

HATCH REGULAR

ADVANCED CLOSURES FOR NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF PLASMAS

HATCH REGULAR

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT WILL EXPAND RESEARCH THAT IS BEING CONDUCTED ON THE GENOMES OF LIVESTOCK, POULTRY, AND AQUACULTURE SPECIES. COORDINATION AND PRIORITIZATION OF RESEARCH BEING DONE BY THE ANIMAL GENOMICS RESEARCH COMMUNITY WILL OCCUR THROUGH FREQUENT IN-PERSON MEETINGS AND VIDEO CONFERENCING, AND FARM ANIMAL INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE INCLUDED IN THESE DISCUSSIONS. INVESTMENTS IN GENOMIC RESOURCES WILL RESULT IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF GENETIC REGIONS AND GENES THAT CONTROL IMPORTANT TRAITS IN FARM ANIMALS. THE RESULTING KNOWLEDGE WILL BE SHARED WITH SCIENTISTS ACROSS THE WORLD, AND WILL RESULT IN IMPROVED EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF FARM ANIMAL PRODUCTION, THEREBY CONTRIBUTING TO GLOBAL FOOD SUSTAINABILITY.

PHYSICAL PROCESSES GOVERNING ENERGY AND MOMENTUM FLOWS ON MULTIPLE SCALES IN NEAR-EARTH SPACE USING A FIRST-PRINCIPLES-BASED DATA ASSIMILATION SYSTEM

TRIO - UPWARD BOUND - UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM

UTAH SBDC

UTAH SBDC

VACCINE BIOMANUFACTURING COURSE

PAN-ANTARCTIC INVESTIGATIONS OF MESOSPHERIC WAVE DYNAMICS AND INFLUENCES USING THE ANGWIN NETWORK

UTAH SBDC

DE-EE0009213 NEW AWARD. INCREASING AFFORDABILITY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND RIDERSHIP OF TRANSIT BUS SYSTEMS THROUGH LARGE-SCALE ELECTRIFICATION

FATHERS INCARCERATED RE-ENTRY EDUCATION 2.0 - UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY WILL IMPLEMENT THE FATHERS INCARCERATED RE-ENTRY EDUCATION (FIRE) 2.0 PROGRAM TO SERVE REENTRY FATHERS ACROSS UTAH. THE PROJECT WILL DELIVER THE 24-HOUR INSIDEOUT DAD CURRICULUM THROUGH BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS TO HELP FATHERS IMPROVE PARENTING SKILLS, DEVELOP HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, AND INCREASE ECONOMIC STABILITY. THE PROGRAM WILL SERVE 300 REENTRY FATHERS ANNUALLY (150 IN YEAR 1) IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES THROUGHOUT UTAH, WITH A TARGET OF 200 COMPLETING 90% OF WORKSHOPS EACH YEAR. OVER THE FIVE-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD, 1,350 FATHERS WILL RECEIVE SERVICES THAT STRENGTHEN FAMILY CONNECTIONS AND PREPARE THEM FOR SUCCESSFUL REINTEGRATION INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

UTAH 4-H MENTORING PROGRAM

ACCESS AND ACCESSIBILITY IN STEM: AN ORGANIZATIONAL ROUTE TO TENURE LINE FACULTY POSITIONS -THIS PROJECT INTENDS TO SUPPORT THREE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS FOCUSED ON ACCESS AND ACCESSIBILITY IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) EDUCATION RESEARCH, PRACTICE, AND POLICY. BECAUSE ISSUES OF STEM ACCESS AND ACCESSIBILITY ARE INHERENTLY TRANSDISCIPLINARY, WITH RELEVANT CHALLENGES SPANNING CONTEXTS, DISCIPLINES, AND POPULATIONS, THIS PROGRAM PLANS TO WORK WITH POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS TO DEVELOP DEPTH AND BREADTH OF KNOWLEDGE IN THEIR AREAS OF INTEREST. PROJECT LEADERSHIP INTENDS TO COLLABORATE WITH BOTH SUPERVISING FACULTY AND THE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS IN THEIR ENGAGEMENT IN ONGOING PROJECTS AS WELL AS IN THEIR INDEPENDENT RESEARCH. THIS COLLABORATION IS DESIGNED TO SERVE AS A SUSTAINING PARTNERSHIP EXTENDING FROM POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING THROUGH SUBSEQUENT CAREERS AS TENURE-TRACK FACULTY WITHIN THE INSTITUTION. POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH POSITIONS ARE INVALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS TO BOTH ESTABLISH THEMSELVES AS INDEPENDENT SCHOLARS AND TO BENEFIT FROM ONGOING TRAINING. THESE ROLES ALSO TYPICALLY ENTAIL PRECARITY, BECAUSE THEY ARE DESIGNED TO BE TEMPORARY, MAY LACK CLEAR DEFINITIONS OF WORK RESPONSIBILITIES, AND DO NOT GUARANTEE ACCESS TO SUBSEQUENT ACADEMIC POSITIONS. HOWEVER, THE MODEL OF POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING PROPOSED IN THIS PROJECT IS INTENDED FOR EARLY CAREER SCHOLARS TO TRANSITION DIRECTLY INTO TENURE LINE POSITIONS IN THE EMMA ECCLES JONES COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES (CEHS) AT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY, PENDING ADEQUATE PERFORMANCE. THE TRAINING PROVIDED WITHIN THIS MODEL FULLY IMMERSES THE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS IN A HIGHLY COLLABORATIVE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT RICH IN OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDEPENDENT SCHOLARSHIP AND FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH EXISTING PROJECTS OF SENIOR COLLEAGUES. THE PERFORMANCE CRITERIA THAT STRUCTURE THE GOALS OF INDEPENDENT SCHOLARSHIP ARE THE NEED TO DEVELOP A GRANT PROPOSAL FOR A NEW PROJECT AND TO LEAD ON AT LEAST TWO MANUSCRIPTS IN TWO YEARS. THE SUPPORTS PROVIDED INCLUDE MENTORSHIP NETWORKS AND FORMAL TRAINING IN METHODOLOGY, GRANT WRITING, AND PEDAGOGY. THE SUPPORTS ALSO INCLUDE FUNDS IN EACH YEAR TO COVER THE RESEARCH COSTS OF FELLOWS, FULL ACCESS TO BOTH THE STATISTICS CONSULTING STUDIO AND THE GRANT DEVELOPMENT OFFICE WHICH ARE STAFFED AND FULLY FUNDED BY CEHS, AND MONTHLY COLLABORATIVE COHORT MEETINGS. THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE STEM EDUCATION POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (STEM ED PRF) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NSF IMPROVING UNDERGRADUATE STEM EDUCATION (IUSE: EDU) PROGRAM. THE STEM ED PRF PROGRAM AIMS TO ENHANCE THE RESEARCH KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND PRACTICES OF RECENT DOCTORATES IN STEM, STEM EDUCATION, EDUCATION, AND RELATED DISCIPLINES TO ADVANCE THEIR PREPARATION TO ENGAGE IN FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED RESEARCH THAT ADVANCES KNOWLEDGE WITHIN THE FIELD. THE NSF IUSE: EDU PROGRAM SUPPORTS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STEM EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

COMMUNITY BASED JOB TRAINING

TWC: MEDIUM: SECURE AND RESILIENT VEHICULAR PLATOONING

PERSONNEL PREPARATION FOR SERVING CHILDREN WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING

UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM

UT 17 - USU - IMPORTED FIRE ANT

RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FOR WIND POWER DEVELOPMENT IN UATH AND THE NATION

HEALTHY MARRIAGE DEMONSTRATION, PRIORITY AREA 8

MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM TO TRAIN LEADERS IN EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE AND IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE

UPWARD BOUND - PRICE FY22

HATCH REGULAR

PLAY FAIRWAY ANALYSIS OF THE SNAKE RIVER PLAIN, IDAHO

UPWARD BOUND

CAREER: POLYPLOID PHYLOGENETICS AND PLOIDY-AWARE TAXONOMY OF CYSTOPTERIDACEAE: RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FROM THE FIELD TO MUSEUM COLLECTIONS -POLYPLOID SPECIES?SPECIES WITH MORE THAN THE TWO COMPLETE SETS OF CHROMOSOMES?ARE COMMON ACROSS THE TREE OF LIFE, ESPECIALLY IN PLANTS. THESE POLYPLOIDS ARE OFTEN ALSO HYBRIDS, WITH THEIR DIFFERENT CHROMOSOME SETS COMING FROM DIFFERENT PARENT SPECIES. SUCH ?ALLOPOLYPLOIDS? ARE A TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY, BUT STUDY OF THEIR LONG-TERM EVOLUTION (THE FIELD OF PHYLOGENETICS) HAS BEEN LIMITED BECAUSE ALLOPOLYPLOIDS HAVE A WEB-LIKE RATHER THAN TREE-LIKE EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY AND THUS STANDARD TOOLS FOR PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS DO NOT APPLY. THIS RESEARCH WILL DEVELOP PHYLOGENETIC TOOLS FOR THE STUDY OF ALLOPOLYPLOIDS AND DEMONSTRATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE TOOLS FOR UNDERSTANDING COMPLEX PATTERNS OF BIODIVERSITY AND THE PROCESSES THAT GENERATED THEM IN THE WIDESPREAD FERN FAMILY, CYSTOPTERIDACEAE. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS RESEARCH, THE PROJECT WILL LEVERAGE THE POWER OF FIELD- AND COLLECTIONS-BASED EXPERIENCES TO PROVIDE TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR AN ANNUAL COHORT OF INDIGENOUS STUDENTS TRANSFERRING TO UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY (USU) LOGAN FROM USU BLANDING (A TWO-YEAR INSTITUTION), INCLUDING THE CREATION OF AN ASSOCIATED BLANDING FOUR CORNERS HERBARIUM. THESE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO TRANSFORM THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF INDIGENOUS TRANSFER STUDENTS AT THE USU LOGAN CAMPUS, AND BY EXTENSION, TO MAKE A LASTING IMPACT ON THE REPRESENTATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS IN STEM FIELDS. OPPORTUNITIES FOR MENTORED RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS WILL BE INTEGRATED WITH THE PROJECT?S RESEARCH ACTIVITIES, AND AN INTERMOUNTAIN HERBARIUM FORAY PROGRAM WILL BE OFFERED, WHICH WILL GENERATE IMPORTANT BIODIVERSITY DATA AND PROVIDE FIELD BOTANY EXPERIENCES TO THE PUBLIC WHILE CONNECTING THEM WITH THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT. THIS PROJECT WILL DEVELOP A PHYLOGENETIC TREE MODEL THAT INCORPORATES THE PROCESSES OF LINEAGE BIRTH, DEATH, AND POLYPLOIDIZATION, WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR THE BIOLOGICALLY-INFORMED INFERENCE OF THE RETICULATE EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF POLYPLOIDS AND TESTING OF HYPOTHESES RELATED TO POLYPLOID DIVERSIFICATION. A DENSELY SAMPLED POLYPLOID SPECIES NETWORK FOR THE FERN FAMILY CYSTOPTERIDACEAE WILL BE INFERRED FROM A MULTI-LOCUS DATASET OF APPROXIMATELY 1500 ACCESSIONS, WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE FIRST MAJOR, FOCUSED EMPIRICAL TEST OF THE ?DEAD-END? HYPOTHESIS OF POLYPLOID MACROEVOLUTION. FINALLY, AN ONLINE REVISIONARY MONOGRAPH SHOWCASING ?PLOIDY-AWARE? REVISIONARY SYSTEMATICS AND THE POTENTIAL OF DYNAMIC ONLINE E-MONOGRAPHY WILL PROVIDE A CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR MEMBERS OF THE BROADER PUBLIC. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

CUBESAT: DYNAMIC IONOSPHERE CUBESAT EXPERIMENT (DICE)

TROPHOBLAST MHC-I: TRIGGER FOR IMMUNE-MEDIATED REJECTION OF CLONED BOVINE FETUSES

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM

ATTENTIONAL PROCESSING OF TEMPORAL INFORMATION

PROVIDE RESEARCH/EVIDENCE-BASED ENHANCEMENTS TO THE 4-H MENTORING OF CENTRAL UTAH PROGRAM THROUGH: 1)ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING, 2) INITIAL AND ONGOING MEN

INTEGRATION OF COMPUTING WITH ELECTRONIC TEXTILES TO IMPROVE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF ELECTRONICS IN SECONDARY SCIENCE

ENHANCEMENT FOR THE INTERMOUNTAIN CENTER FOR RIVER RESTORATION AND REHABILITATION

BRIDGING HARM REDUCTION AND WELLNESS FOR TRIBAL AND RURAL AREAS OF THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST

CAREER: THE BEHAVIORAL, HORMONAL, AND NEURAL BASIS OF COYOTE MONOGAMY -AFTER SEVERAL DECADES OF RESEARCH ON THE NEUROSCIENCE OF SOCIAL BONDING, MOST DISCOVERIES HAVE COME FROM STUDIES OF MONOGAMOUS RODENTS AND TO A LESSER EXTENT IN MONOGAMOUS PRIMATES. MONOGAMOUS PAIR BONDING IS RELATIVELY RARE IN RODENTS AND PRIMATES, BUT ALL WILD CANID SPECIES STUDIED TO DATE EXHIBIT MONOGAMY. THIS RENDERS CANIDS PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR THE STUDY OF SOCIAL BOND MAINTENANCE AND LOSS, ESPECIALLY COYOTES (CANIS LATRANS), WHICH EXHIBIT EXCLUSIVE MATING AND STABLE PAIR BONDS ACROSS MULTIPLE BREEDING SEASONS. COYOTES ARE HIGHLY INTELLIGENT MAMMALS THAT HAVE EXPANDED RAPIDLY ACROSS NORTH AMERICA AND HAVE SUCCESSFULLY INFILTRATED NEARLY ALL AVAILABLE ECOLOGICAL NICHES. COYOTES ARE OFTEN VIEWED AS PESTS AND ARE FREQUENTLY HUNTED, TRAPPED, AND KILLED, OFTEN LEAVING THEIR PAIR-MATE (AND ANY OFFSPRING) ABANDONED. ADVANCING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIOLOGICAL DRIVERS OF PAIR BONDING AND THE IMPACT OF PAIR-MATE LOSS?AND TRANSLATING THAT KNOWLEDGE TO THE PUBLIC?CAN INCREASE COMPASSION FOR THEIR CAPACITY TO FORM LIFE-LONG PAIR BONDS, WHICH CAN ULTIMATELY LEAD TO INCREASED SUPPORT FOR AND USE OF NON-LETHAL MANAGEMENT TOOLS IN COYOTES. THIS WORK CAN ALSO PROVIDE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF PAIR BOND DEVELOPMENT AND BEHAVIOR OVERALL. THIS PROJECT WILL INVESTIGATE THE BEHAVIORAL, HORMONAL, AND NEURAL BASIS FOR COYOTE PAIR BONDING AND WILL PROVIDE AMPLE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS. THE EDUCATIONAL GOALS WILL IMPROVE THE INSTITUTION?S UNDERGRADUATE NEUROSCIENCE CURRICULUM, WILL PROVIDE MENTORED SUMMER RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND WILL ENGAGE WITH FEDERAL RESEARCHERS SPECIALIZING IN PREDATOR MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS SUCH AS RANCHERS TO ESTABLISH RECIPROCAL PARTNERSHIPS TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND INFORM FUTURE RESEARCH PRIORITIES. THIS PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH A FOUNDATION FOR THE NEUROBIOLOGICAL BASIS FOR CANID PAIR BONDING BY STUDYING A CAPTIVE RESEARCH POPULATION OF COYOTES. THIS WORK WILL BE THE FIRST SYSTEMATIC INVESTIGATION OF COYOTE PAIR-BONDING BEHAVIOR AND THE COYOTE BRAIN. A MODIFIED VERSION OF THE THREE-ARENA PARTNER PREFERENCE TEST WILL BE USED TO DESCRIBE COYOTE PAIR-BOND BEHAVIOR AND DETERMINE THE INFLUENCE OF INDIVIDUAL SEX, SEASON, AND PAIR-BOND DURATION ON PARTNER PREFERENCE AND SELECTIVE AGGRESSION IN MALE-FEMALE PAIRS. COYOTE BRAIN TISSUE WILL BE USED TO CHARACTERIZE THE RECEPTOR DISTRIBUTIONS FOR THE NEUROTRANSMITTERS INVOLVED IN PAIR-BOND FORMATION (OXYTOCIN RECEPTORS, VASOPRESSIN RECEPTORS, AND MU-OPIOID RECEPTOR) AND PAIR-BOND MAINTENANCE (CORTICOTROPIN RELEASING FACTOR RECEPTORS, KAPPA-OPIOID RECEPTORS) AND DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF PAIR-BOND LOSS ON THESE RECEPTOR DENSITIES OVER TIME. IN TARGETED BRAIN REGIONS INFORMED BY RECEPTOR BINDING RESULTS, MULTIPLEX FLUORESCENCE IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION WILL BE USED TO VISUALIZE AND QUANTIFY OXYTOCIN RECEPTOR AND VASOPRESSIN RECEPTOR GENE EXPRESSION AND TO CO-LOCALIZE THESE MRNA TRANSCRIPTS WITH CELL-TYPE SPECIFIC MARKERS TO DETERMINE THE CELLULAR IDENTITY OF OXYTOCIN- AND VASOPRESSIN-SENSITIVE NEURONS. THESE TISSUES WILL ALSO BE USED TO GENERATE AN OPEN-SOURCE COYOTE BRAIN ATLAS. FINALLY, TO DETERMINE WHETHER CENTRAL OXYTOCIN SIGNALING IS NECESSARY FOR COYOTE PARTNER PREFERENCE, COYOTES WILL BE ADMINISTERED A SELECTIVE OXYTOCIN RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST PRIOR TO PARTNER PREFERENCE TESTING. THIS RESEARCH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THE SHARED VERSUS UNIQUE BRAIN MECHANISMS UNDERLYING COMPLEX SOCIAL BEHAVIOR ACROSS SPECIES WHO DISPLAY PAIR BONDING BEHAVIORS AND REPRESENTS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO INVESTIGATE THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIR BOND LOSS. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

CAREER: AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING EVOLUTION IN HETEROGENEOUS ENVIRONMENTS

LISTENER TRAINING FOR IMPROVED INTELLIGIBILITY OF PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT PEOPLE WITH DYSARTHRIA DUE TO PARKINSON'S DISEASE (PD) FREQUENTLY PRESENT WITH REDUCED INTELLIGIBILITY, WHICH CAN HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES, INCLUDING REDUCED PARTICIPATION IN SITUATIONS INVOLVING COMMUNICATING WITH OTHERS AND RESULTING IN SOCIAL ISOLATION.1–5 FEW EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS EXIST TO EASE THE INTELLIGIBILITY BURDEN OF DYSARTHRIA IN PD, AND MOST REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT COGNITIVE AND PHYSICAL EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE SPEAKER TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN GAINS.6,7 ONCE PEOPLE WITH PD HAVE PROGRESSED BEYOND THE EARLY STAGES OF THE DISEASE, AND THEIR COGNITIVE AND PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS LIMIT THEIR ABILITY TO USE TRADITIONAL SPEECH THERAPY TECHNIQUES, THEY ARE NOT REALISTIC TREATMENT CANDIDATES FOR CURRENT INTERVENTIONS; AND NO OTHER INTERVENTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THEIR COMMUNICATION. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND CONSEQUENTIAL GAP IN CLINICAL CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH PD. THE CURRENT PROPOSAL ADDRESSES THIS CRITICAL GAP BY SHIFTING THE WEIGHT OF BEHAVIORAL CHANGE FROM THE SPEAKER TO THE LISTENER, SPECIFICALLY KEY COMMUNICATION PARTNERS SUCH AS FAMILY. INDEED, FOR OLDER ADULTS, MOST OF THEIR TIME SPENT WITH OTHERS IS SPENT WITH FAMILY MEMBERS.8 FURTHER, KEY PARTNERS OF PATIENTS WITH PD WISH TO HAVE A MORE SIGNIFICANT AND ACTIVE ROLE IN COMMUNICATION REHABILITATION.9,10 A LISTENER-TARGETED REMEDIATION APPROACH FOR INTELLIGIBILITY IMPAIRMENTS IN PEOPLE WITH DYSARTHRIA AND PD IS FIRMLY GROUNDED IN THEORETICAL MODELS OF PERCEPTUAL LEARNING11–13 AND RIGOROUSLY SUPPORTED BY OUR DECADE-LONG RESEARCH PROGRAM TARGETING PERCEPTUAL LEARNING OF DYSARTHRIC SPEECH.14–30 TO DATE, THIS LINE OF INVESTIGATION HAS CHIEFLY TARGETED THE THEORY OF LISTENER ADAPTATION TO THE DEGRADED SIGNAL; HOWEVER, ROBUST INTELLIGIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS OF UP TO 20 PERCENT ACROSS STUDIES HAVE BEEN OBSERVED.15 WITH A RIGOROUS ACCOUNT OF HOW AND WHAT LISTENERS ADAPT TO, WE ARE IDEALLY POSITIONED TO MOVE THIS WORK FROM BENCH TO BEDSIDE, ESTABLISHING LISTENER (I.E., PERCEPTUAL) TRAINING AS A CLINICAL INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE INTELLIGIBILITY IN PEOPLE WITH PD. HERE, WE ESTABLISH THE EFFICACY OF LISTENER TRAINING FOR PATIENTS WITH PD AND THEIR PRIMARY COMMUNICATION PARTNERS USING A REPEATED-MEASURES, RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL (SA1). IMMEDIATE ACQUISITION AND RETENTION OF INTELLIGIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE EXAMINED AS A FUNCTION OF SPEAKER SEVERITY. WE THEN EVALUATE THREE THEORETICALLY AND EMPIRICALLY-MOTIVATED COMMUNICATION BENEFITS OF LISTENER TRAINING THAT EXTEND BEYOND INTELLIGIBILITY, INCLUDING LISTENING EFFORT, COMPREHENSION, AND COMMUNICATIVE PARTICIPATION (SA2). FINALLY, WE ENGAGE STAKEHOLDER INPUT TO INFORM CLINICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF LISTENER TRAINING USING QUALITATIVE SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS (SA3) WITH PATIENTS WITH PD AND THEIR PARTNERS. THIS WILL PROVIDE INSIGHTS INTO THE EFFECTIVENESS AND FEASIBILITY OF THE INTERVENTION APPROACH, ENSURING THAT THEIR NEEDS AND PREFERENCES ARE CONSIDERED AND THAT THEY FEEL EMPOWERED AND MOTIVATED FOR A LISTENER TRAINING APPROACH. THUS, IN THREE INDEPENDENT AIMS, THIS PROPOSAL WILL ADDRESS A CURRENT VOID IN OUR CLINICAL TOOLBOX, ESTABLISHING A NEW REALM OF CLINICAL PRACTICE IN WHICH COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES IN PD ARE MANAGED BY TRAINING PARTNERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE DEGRADED SPEECH.

UTAH SBDC

TARGETING INDUCTION OF CALCIUM BUFFER PROTEINS FOR TREATMENT OF VIRAL ENCEPHALITI

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY LONG-TERM TRAINING GRANT PROPOSAL