Image Credit: Edwin Remsberg
Last week, the University of Maryland announced the official launch of and participation in the National Land-grant Impacts website, a centralized online resource that highlights the teaching, research, and extension efforts by Land-grant universities. Specifically, the website provides access to university or regional-specific impact stories, which document the research and Extension programming planned, performed, and implemented by the University of Maryland and other Land-grant universities. The website, as a cooperative effort of the Land-grant universities, represents a single voice for the Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension arms of the Land-grant universities.
“The Land-Grant Impacts website is a new tool that will better inform the American people and the international community of the significant agricultural research, education and extension impacts taking place at land grant universities across our nation, which offer practical solutions to today’s critical societal challenges. This website will help policy makers and the public learn more about this work that is partially supported with NIFA funding,” said Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy, director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Impact statements relay the results and impact of research and Extension education programming. Information lists include contact information for university research and Extension project leads and updates on funding, project implementation, or Extension education impact. Impact statements are categorized according to six focus areas: Food Security; Nutrition and Health; Youth, Family, and Communities; Environmental Stewardship; Agricultural Systems; and Energy and Bioproducts.
“Articulating positive changes as a result of the Agriculture Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension research and education is critical today. The Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA) celebrates the launch of this web site,” said Barbara Allen-Diaz, vice president, University of California, and chair, BAA Policy Board of Directors. “Having a searchable source for outcomes of our work will help to communicate the value of our research and extension programs in our land grant universities.”
The website also informs users about the history of the Land-grant university system and how its mission has evolved since the systems’ founding. The University of Maryland, like all Land-grant universities, is committed to a three-fold mission of teaching, research and Extension. The website fully demonstrates why teaching, research, and Extension are interrelated and how they better University of Maryland students, improve communities in Maryland, and benefit the nation.
“The University of Maryland is proud to serve as the Land-grant university for our great state and informing the public about our efforts in research, education and Extension is a top priority,” said Cheng-i Wei, Dean and Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station & University of Maryland Extension. “The launch of this website will help us communicate our commitment to providing solutions in communities throughout Maryland.”
The University of Maryland is one of the 238 public research universities, Land-grant institutions, state university systems, and affiliated organizations represented by The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. The Land-grant university system has affiliations in all 50 states, the four U.S. territories, the District of Columbia, Mexico, and Canada.
