A world class student experience, top five for undergraduate entrepreneurship, 300 study abroad destinations, 2 Nobel laureates, and 6 Pulitzer Prize winners. These are some of the University of Maryland’s signature selling points. But what might be the biggest unsung hero at the university is its research enterprise. And here in AGNR, research does not stagnate in an academic silo, it is performed to advance the lives and livelihoods of citizens across the globe in a truly applied sense. To support this mission, the college’s research and public education footprint is having a critical moment in time with rapid expansion all across the state.
A New Headquarters and Much More
At the Central Maryland Research and Education Center (CMREC) in Clarksville, Md., you will be greeted by a brand new 13,000 square foot building which serves as the new headquarters for University of Maryland Extension’s (UME) Home and Garden Information Center, Master Gardener Program, and pest management for greenhouse, landscape, nursery, and cut flower operations. This will be a highly utilized space to convey AGNR research to members of the public as well as commercial horticulturalists.
“There is currently no real teaching laboratory space for UME at any of our research centers,” said Alan Leslie, center director for the Central Maryland, Lower Eastern Shore, and Western Maryland RECs. “This is the first time we will be able to offer real hands-on opportunities for the public. Landscapers, backyard gardeners, and nursery greenhouse managers will all be able to take advantage of this new building as a dedicated university teaching location.”
The building will also serve as new office space for over 20 members of AGNR’s workforce, provide shared office space for faculty who conduct research at CMREC, and feature a new full service plant entomology and pathology lab combined with a teaching facility operated by Stanton Gill and David Clement, two of UME’s leading experts in Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
“With this lab we will be able to conduct hands-on lab diagnostic sessions on entomology, pathology and IPM for the commercial horticulture industry in Maryland,” said Gill. “Our first big session utilizing this lab will be a two day biological control conference for horticulture industry professionals from Maryland and adjacent states, and we will follow up throughout the spring and summer with additional sessions. The lab, with its advanced scopes and liquid screens will help students in identifying disease and insects, which will help us move the industry forward.”
The new building will also have capacity for almost 100 individuals in its main hall space, with the ability to subdivide into three classrooms. This will enrich the hands-on and field trip experience for UMD students, allowing them to learn directly from faculty and staff conducting research and operations at CMREC. And since this building will house the Master Gardener program, it would not be complete without professional caliber landscaping. As part of her master’s thesis, State Master Gardener Coordinator, Stephanie Pully, will redesign the landscaping around the building to make it an outdoor teaching and learning resource for the public.
Aspen Institute Land Donation Expands WyeRec
Maryland is often referred to as “America in miniature,” and AGNR has RECs situated all across the state to fit the distinct research needs specific to each region.
Cross the Bay Bridge into Queen Anne’s County, and you’ll see the Wye Research and Education Center (WyeRec) situated on 1,000 beautiful acres of bayside land.
Much like CMREC, the Wye is experiencing a moment of rapid growth. In 2022, The Aspen Institute donated 330 acres along with existing buildings to the University of Maryland for continued use by the Wye Angus program, a research and education program built around a carefully bred herd of cattle used for breeding nationwide and occasionally appearing on UMD dining hall menus. In addition, UMD purchased another 233 acres for a total land acquisition of 563 acres. While enhancing the WyeREC’s research activity, this land will meet the needs of the public and expand educational opportunities for UMD students.
“We have appreciated the partnership with the Aspen Institute as the owners and stewards of this land for 40 years, and their generous gift, along with the purchase of additional acres allows us to continue and expand our research excellence in genetics and sustainable food production,” said UMD President Darryll J. Pines. “We have a responsibility to address grand challenges and serve the public good for all of humanity, and we look forward to using this as an opportunity to find new ways to improve food security for the world’s growing population.”
UMD is a research powerhouse, bringing in a total of $834M in awards for research and other sponsored activities in fiscal year 2023. AGNR extramural funding has consistently increased from $44 million in 2019 to a record setting $64 million in 2022. With an average of over $54 million extramural funding in the last three years, AGNR places in the top 4 awarded colleges at the university.
“Sometimes we’re engaged in research projects at our RECs that no farmer would ever do,” said Leslie. “We can try things that are wild and crazy but if some aspect worked, it might become a recommendation for local farmers to improve their bottom line and reduce the nutrients into the Chesapeake Bay. Our RECs are a living laboratory, and we’re very proud of that.”
by Graham Binder