Indiana Wesleyan University has officially opened the application for its Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) program—a summer fellowship that seeks to enhance sustainable food production using the IWU Alliance Garden and Marion Community Gardens.
Funded by a $500,000 grant from the US Department of Agriculture, the REEU program is an eight-week summer fellowship that will educate undergraduate students in the methods of sustainable gardening as well as insect, pest and pollinator management. Through hands-on learning, the research project will explore the impacts of native pollinator gardens on pollinators in and around urban gardens with and without native pollinator gardens.
Highlights of the program include strong faculty mentoring across multiple disciplines, invited speakers from industry, weekly seminars, leadership training and more. Fellows will also receive on-campus housing, a provided meal allowance, and a $4,200 stipend.
The program will accept four fellows for Summer 2022. Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a full-time undergraduate student.
- Be enrolled in a major related to the program research (Biology, Plant Biology, Entomology, Environmental Science, Sustainable Agriculture).
- Have completed at least two academic semesters of full-time study at the bachelor’s degree level.
- Be a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident of the U.S.
Dr. Jennifer Noseworthy, associate professor of biology at IWU, will direct the program in cooperation with Purdue University.
“My hope is that fellows come away from this program with greater understanding of sustainability in agriculture, the relationship between insect pests and pollinators as well as plant production,” said Noseworthy. “The research experience will enhance their critical thinking, and interaction with the community through extension workshops will enhance their ability to interact well with community members and stakeholders.”
The application deadline for the REEU program is Feb. 4, 2022. For more information or to apply, visit alliancegardens.wixsite.com/thealliancegardens/general-7.
Indiana Wesleyan University is celebrating 100 years as a Christian, global, comprehensive university providing liberal arts and professional education to approximately 14,000 students worldwide. IWU is one of the largest faith-based universities in America with rich undergraduate, graduate, masters and doctoral programs in such highly acclaimed academic units as the School of Nursing, School of Physical and Applied Sciences, College of Adult and Professional Studies, and School of Arts and Humanities. An early leader in adult and online education, IWU is known for excellence in innovation. Students live and learn on the beautiful 350-acre IWU-Marion traditional campus, and study through IWU-National & Global programs offered online and at education centers in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University, founded by the Wesleyan Church denomination and IWU, prepares Christian leaders to engage in missional ministry locally and globally. Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information, visit indwes.edu.