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National Collaborative for Research on Food, Energy, and Water Education (NC-FEW)

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1856040 and 2242276 (ECR-EHR Core Research), National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award #1006539 and #2017-06281, and the Network of STEM Education Centers/APLU. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of these funding agencies.

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NC-FEW Information

What is NC-FEW?

What is FEW-Nexus-based education?

What can you expect from NC-FEW?

How can you engage with NC-FEW?

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NC-FEW Updates & Introductions

What is NC-FEW?

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NSF Research Coordination Network (RCN) - current funding

“Supports networks that foster communication and new collaborations among scientists, engineers and educators who share a common interest…”

“RCN awards also do not support primary research. Rather, the RCN program supports

  1. the means by which investigators can share information and ideas,
  2. coordinate ongoing or planned research activities,
  3. foster synthesis and new collaborations, develop community standards, and
  4. in other ways advance science and education through communication and sharing of ideas.”

“Proposed networking activities directed to the RCN program should focus on a theme to give coherence to the collaboration, such as a broad research question or particular technologies or approaches.”

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Major resource challenges are grounded in the

Food-Energy-Water-Nexus (FEW-Nexus)

Food systems

Water systems

Energy systems

  • Framework for natural systems and their human dimensions
  • =
  • coupled human-natural systems

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Major resource challenges are grounded in the

Food-Energy-Water-Nexus (FEW-Nexus)

Food systems

Water systems

Energy systems

Assertion: The FEW-Nexus affords a novel theoretical and analytical lens through which to understand and effectively foster teaching and learning.

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Need for a collaborative to innovate education research

FEW-Nexus transcends disciplinary boundaries

Research to understand teaching and learning in the FEW-Nexus is emerging

Few efforts to study strategies, processes, and outcomes of FEW-Nexus-based education efforts

Recent efforts show promise

National Collaborative for Research on Food, Energy, and Water Education

NC-FEW

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National Collaborative for Research on Food, Energy, and Water Education (NC-FEW)

A hub for people who are interested in expanding and improving FEW-Nexus-based education through research and/or practice

Goals moving forward:

  • Identify and promote best practices in education research on educational programming grounded in the FEW-Nexus
  • Foster collaboration among community members representing diverse disciplines, fields, expertise, and institutions
  • Enhance capacity for extramural funding in support of education research on educational programming grounded in the FEW-Nexus
  • Cultivate a community identity among NC-FEW participants

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NC-FEW Leadership Team

NC-FEW Director & co-Directors

Postsecondary

Working Group

Informal/

non-formal

Working Group

PK-12

Working Group

Working Group Chairs

Leadership Team, Working Group Members, and Advisory Board are listed on our website at https://serc.carleton.edu/nc-few/people.html

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NC-FEW Directors

Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education

Virginia Tech

Dr. Hannah Scherer (PI/ Director)

Behavior, Decision Making and Sustainability

The Ohio State University

Dr. Nicole Sintov (Co-PI/co-Director)

Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication

Purdue University

Dr. Hui-Hui Wang (Co-PI/co-Director)

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NC-FEW Working Group Chairs

PK-12 Education

Dr. Doug Lombardi

Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology

University of Maryland, College Park

Post-secondary Education

Dr. Chelsie Romulo

Department of Geography, GIS, & Sustainability

Northern Colorado University

Informal/non-formal education and communication

Dr. Anil Kumar Chaudhary

Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education

Penn State

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NC-FEW Updates & Introductions

What is FEW-Nexus-based education?

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FEW-Nexus-based education is…

  • inherently inter-/trans-disciplinary
  • complex systems thinking
  • grounded in real-world sustainability challenges
  • involves stakeholders
  • local to global scales

Defined by

NC-FEW

  • argumentation/evidence-based reasoning
  • citizen science
  • equity and environmental justice
  • informed decision-making
  • STEM/FANH science literacy
  • civic engagement

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FEW-Nexus-based education is…

Undergraduate and graduate programs

Informal educational environments, non-formal programs, communications

PK-12 classrooms across different subjects

happening in many educational contexts

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FEW-Nexus-based education is…

evolving to address challenges

Broader contextual factors

Limitations of educational structures

Lack of resources and support

Individual barriers

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Intentional integration of food, energy, and water systems

Centering decision making about management of natural resources

Nexus perspective utilized in consideration of tradeoffs in solutions

Features in design and delivery of FEW-Nexus-based education for NC-FEW

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NC-FEW Updates & Introductions

What can you expect from NC-FEW?

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NC-FEW Website: central hub

  • Key Features (current)
    • NC-FEW information
      • vision, mission, goals, and funding
      • List of NC-FEW leadership team and working group members
    • Events
      • Past and future conference information
      • Registration and logistics
      • Workspace for participants
    • Webinars and Newsletters
      • Archive
      • Registration for upcoming webinars
      • Suggest topics/speakers
  • Join the Listserv for updates on NC-FEW and additions to webspace
    • Searchable community list forthcoming

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FEW-Nexus-based education research and practice training series

  • Quarterly Web-based Series
  • Supporting participants in advancing education research and educational programming grounded in the FEW-Nexus
    • Emphasis on Design Based Research & Critical Research and Perspectives
    • Theoretical and analytical perspectives and approaches
    • Showcasing individual Nexus-focused educational programs/research
  • Synthesis document will be posted for each webinar

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Newsletters

  • Quarterly
  • Highlighting information relevant to the community
    • Showcasing work of NC-FEW community members
    • Sharing information about relevant funding programs and conferences
    • Discussing and soliciting feedback on ongoing efforts
    • Community news and events

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Publications and Resources

  • An NC-FEW community vision for FEW-Nexus-based education
    • Live on website, we invite your input and feedback
  • Working Group publications specific to educational contexts
    • In prep
  • Training module specific to FEW-Nexus education research
    • Developed with recordings and resources from webinars
  • FEW-Nexus-based Education Research and Practice briefs
    • Submissions from community, based on conference proceedings
  • Final report with stories, lessons learned, and recommendations for future research and networking

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Invited Conferences

  • Example activities
    • Keynote speakers
    • Interactive poster sessions
    • Sharing and synthesis of working groups and community products
    • Fostering collaboration
    • Generating grant proposal ideas
    • Overall community-building

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NC-FEW Updates & Introductions

How can you engage with NC-FEW?

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NC-FEW – How can I engage?

Listserv is the primary mode of communication

  • Updates from leadership team
  • Community members are invited to post
    • Share upcoming opportunities
    • Seek collaborators
    • Share your FEW-Nexus-based education work

Newsletter features of your work

Attend webinars and conferences

Contribute scholarship to community products

Input on Community Vision: https://serc.carleton.edu/nc-few/vision.html