CULTIVAR DEVELOPMENT: ACCELERATED INTROGRESSION OF SYNTHETIC HEXAPLOID DERIVED DIVERSITY INTO AN APPLIED HARD WINTER WHEAT BREEDING PROGRAM

<p>Environmental justice (EJ) is an academic and policy framework intended to evaluate the societal costs of decisions about environmental management, food production, and other activities within the scope of agricultural and natural resources.Although EJ work often focuses on inequities in environmental conditions experienced by low-income or racially marginalized communities, agricultural and natural resources scientists rarely encounter EJ in their academic training, research, or hands-on practical experiences - even at land-grant institutions, whose missions include deep community engagement and service.This program will recruit and mentor three Ph.D. Fellows for an innovative experience that integrates EJ theory, practice, and methods into training within the Targeted Expertise Shortage Area (TESA) of Forest Resources.Fellows will undertake coursework and dissertation research in pursuit of a Ph.D. in Forestry and Environmental Resources and will receive hands-on training through external experiences.The program will recruit Fellows from diverse backgrounds, especially those with demonstrable commitments to marginalized communities on whom EJ policies often center.To accomplish this, the program will leverage North Carolina State University's critical mass of EJ scholars and existing partnerships with community-based organizations and Native American Tribes.Careful recruiting, mentoring, and training will ensure that Fellows graduate prepared to enter a workforce as scientists capable of evaluating EJ implications of their work throughout their careers.Community-based internships, an international experience, and specialized training will prepare Fellows for future leadership.Success will be evaluated against the USDA goal of "increas(ing) the number, quality and diversity of students in the food, agricultural and related sciences."</p>