Source: UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS submitted to
AGRICULTURAL GENOME SCIENCES AND PUBLIC POLICY TRAINING PROGRAM
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0191243
Grant No.
2001-52100-11527
Project No.
ILLU-538-612
Proposal No.
2001-04183
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 15, 2001
Project End Date
Sep 14, 2006
Grant Year
2001
Project Director
Schook, L. B.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
2001 S. Lincoln Ave.
URBANA,IL 61801
Performing Department
ANIMAL SCIENCES
Non Technical Summary
This project will help to develop scientists who can lead and participate in public policy formulation and debate. This program provides a resarch curriculum that includes learning communication and public policy skills.
Animal Health Component
25%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
75%
Applied
25%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2012499108025%
2012499110025%
3043999108025%
3043999110025%
Knowledge Area
201 - Plant Genome, Genetics, and Genetic Mechanisms; 304 - Animal Genome;

Subject Of Investigation
3999 - Animal research, general; 2499 - Plant research, general;

Field Of Science
1080 - Genetics; 1100 - Bacteriology;
Goals / Objectives
This proposal outlines the development of a unique Ph.D. training program in Agricultural Genome Sciences and Public Policy in which students will become bilingual with respect to communicating with scientists as well as the lay public. Our goal is to train students to be creative and innovative scientists who can lead and participate in the formulation of public policy. The desire to harvest the genomics promises to develop differentiated products by farmers and agribusiness is driving new scientific developments. There is a growing need to supply both the technology and the talent to secure the continued competitiveness of American agriculture. However, the pace of change driven by genomics has clearly raised many public policy issues. Daily, new questions are raised with respect to public vs. private ownership of germplasm, access to research information, and the safety of genetically modified organisms. The rapid pace of scientific change and the restructuring of the food and fiber industry have resulted in growing tensions between all sectors [consumers, producers, government and university researchers, and regulatory agencies]. Scientists are finding themselves in the firing line between their traditional role in the research laboratory and the public's desire for a safe food supply. Thus, there is a need to train scientists that are well versed in communicating not only to their colleagues but also to the public-at-large regarding policy issues associated with genomics and biotechnology. Trainees will receive extensive instruction in genomics and bioinformatics, communication (both written and spoken), ethics, developing public policy, and provided with internship opportunities.
Project Methods
This proposal outlines the training of Ph.D. students in agricultural genomics and public policy with special emphasis on developing communication and leadership skills. Internship opportunities are provided for the students to participate in the process of developing public policy. This program is unique in that External Advisory Board Members bring international and national leadership experience in public policy for agricultural biotechnology and genomics. In addition to the students having an opportunity to train with internationally recognized agricultural genomics researchers, they will also have access to recognized experts in public policy (domestically and globally), ethics and biotechnology outreach. Ethics and Scientific Conduct. Concern for the ethical conduct of research has grown with the pace of scientific advances. These two dimensions will be addressed. The professional aspects of scientific integrity, regulatory requirements and the ethics of conduct. A second dimension is the public perception of what scientists should be doing or shouldn't be doing. Communication, Leadership and Public Policy. This MGET program has an extensive training component for communication skills (oral and written). How to define the audience as well as learning how to write opinion editorials and white papers to address public policy issues will be emphasized. Biotechnology Outreach. Outreach activities will provide assistance to both producers as well as agribusiness. First, the students will be responsible for an annual public forum. The topics of these forums will be developed with stakeholders and our External Advisory Board. Another outreach activity would be for the MGET Trainees to assist in developing workshops. Core Components. The program in Agricultural Genome Sciences and Public Policy will establish specific cores for genomics and bioinformatics course requirements, public policy that includes leadership and communication skills; and outreach and internships activities. In addition to the departmental requirements (14 units of class work and 10 units of thesis research post B. S, or 8 units of class work and 8 units of thesis research, post M. S.), students in the program will be required to demonstrate proficiency in these core areas related to the multidisciplinary nature of this program. Program Structure. Ph.D. candidates in any tract [plant, microbe or animal functional genomics] are required to pass a preliminary exam usually by the end of the second year after course work is completed. The exam will focus on the research progress to date and plans for completion of the thesis. It will consist of both oral and written exams developed by the Executive Committee with questions provided by the participating faculty. The exam will address the basic core knowledge of the students on agricultural genomics, bioinformatics, and public policy. Additional questions will be provided by the trainee's mentor and if appropriate the thesis committee. A second exam is the thesis defense seminar with questions from their individual thesis committees.

Progress 09/15/01 to 09/14/06

Outputs
During the this granting period, 25 students were recuited and selected to receive fellowships through this grant. Thirty three faculty members in fields including animal genomics, plant genomics, microbial genomics and public policy participated in their training. Several new courses were developed and taught as part of the Genome Sciences and Public Policy Program. Also the Fellows organized a forum held in April of 2005 entitled Food for Thought: Biotechnology and the Consumer. This was a one-day series of lectures and panel discussions designed to give consumers, producers and policymakers alike an opportunity to voice thier concerns and to interact with experts in the field. In addition, the Agricultural Genome Sciences and Public Policy Program with the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology, hosted another forum entitled "A Future for Animal Biotechnology?" This event provided an overview of the potential benefits and concerns with cloned and transgenic animals. Over the course of the grant, several pieces of essential lab equipment needed for teaching the new and/or required core courses for the program were purchased.

Impacts
This training grant has been able fund 25 students during their Ph.D. programs. It has also funded two public forums on biotechnology dealing with biotechnology's impact on the consumer and the benefits and concerns about transgenic and cloned animals.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period


Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05

Outputs
During the first years of the grant we were able to fund 25 students in the MGET program. They students put together and hosted a forum: Food for Thought: Biotechnology and the Consumer on April 2, 2005. The forum was well received throughout the community and the University. Currently the Pew Biotechnology Initiative has invited us to co-host a Forum in Chicago on Animal Biotechnology to be held on Dec 5, 2005.

Impacts
This training grant has been able fund 25 students during their Ph.D. programs. It has also funded a public forum in 2005.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period


Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
Fellowships for the program have provided students with a stipend of $18,000 annually plus a tuition waiver of $10,500 and health benefits of approximately $1,000 per year. Total funding is approximately $59,000 per student for a two year fellowship. The first training grants for the program were awarded in 2003. Fifteen students applied for fellowships and twelve of those students were awarded fellowships in the fall and a thirteenth student began the program in the spring of 2004. Seventeen students applied for consideration for fall semester 2004. Ten students were selected for the program and began in the fall with one additional student to receive training and support in 2005. The students in the program are outstanding Ph.D. candidates. The group has received more than 36 individual scholarship awards, grants and fellowships. The program began with twenty-seven faculty members. The current number of faculty members involved in the program has increased to thirty-two. There has been a strong response by faculty members to support the training program. The faculty members participating in the program are committed to graduate training. They have demonstrated leadership in dealing with public issues and outreach in genomics and biotechnology. Core requirements were identified in the USDA grant and courses were developed to support the program goals. The required courses include A Biotechnology Forum seminar taught each fall semester, a two-part course entitled Law and Regulation of Biotechnology followed by Economics of Biotechnology in the spring semester. Recommended electives include Ethics in Biotechnology, Recombinant DNA Laboratory and Applied Bioinformatics. One of the initiatives for the outreach program was to challenge students to develop a public policy forum. The Agricultural Genome Sciences and Public Policy Fellows are currently organizing a spring 2005 Forum Food for Thought: Biotechnology and the Consumer. The goal of the Forum is to address the role of biotechnology within the food market and its impact on the public sector. The program will address the increasing role that biotechnology is playing within the food market today and its role in the future. The program will be a one-day series of lectures and panel discussions designed to give consumers, producers and policymakers alike an opportunity to voice their concerns and to interact with experts in the field.

Impacts
24 students have been accepted into the Agricultural Genome Sciences and Public Policy Training Program. Several students will graduate in 2005 and the rest will graduate at a later date.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period


Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03

Outputs
This grant has allowed us to recruit 12 students into the progam. One of the students was recruited from an historically black college. Recruiting for the program is ongoing and has recently focused on the underrepresented student groups. The first semester of the program allowed each to do a rotation in 3 laboratories to gain knowledge of the different research underway in the labs of the MGET faculty. Students are now finalizing their advisor selections. The first of the new classes: Special Topics 492 Agricultural Genomics Sciences and Public Policy Seminar (0.5 Units credit) was taught this semester. The 2-part Public Policy Course will begin in the upcoming 2004 Spring semester. The sections are titled: Semester Economics of Biotechnology Policy (0.5 Units) and Law and Regulation of Biotechnology 0.5 Units.

Impacts
Twelve students were awarded fellowships and have completed their first semester in the program.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period


Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02

Outputs
The Agricultural Genome Sciences and Public Policy Program has not admitted any Ph.D. students in to the program as of yet. The first group of students will enter the training program in the fall of 2003. Organizing the program and recruiting students for 2003 has been the primary objective of the faculty and staff for this year. A. Organization of the program 1. Most of the summer of 2002 has been spent organizing the program and preparing materials. Informational brochures and pamphlets have been produced and distributed. 2. A web site has been designed for the program. The web site has information about the program that is accessible to everyone. 3. A recruiting presentation has been produced with assistance from the Information Technology and Communication Service (ITCS)group on campus. The production is state-of-the-art with embedded video clips of current Ph.D. students at the University of Illinois. The student video clips are used to encourage perspective students to attend the U of I and the Agricultural Genome Sciences and Public Policy Program. 4. Newsletters and e-mails were sent to faculty with program updates and information. 5. Executive committee meetings were held as a means of discussing ideas and implementing plans for the program. Topics of the meetings included curriculum ideas, budget, recruiting plans, selection of students, and program updates. B. Recruiting efforts 1. Established a list of universities where we wanted to visit and recruit students. For 2002, we decided to visit universities in the midwest within a 500 mile radius of the University of Illinois. We also established a list of universities that we would like to send recruiting information, but we would not be visiting the campus. 2. Contacted universities and set up recruiting visits to give a presentation. The recruiting efforts have gone well. We visited thirteen campuses this fall 2002. We have received eight applications from students at this point, and we anticipate that additional students will apply shortly. 3. A recruiting weekend is planned for March 6-8, 2003 with a tentative agenda. Students who have applied to the program will be invited to visit the university, meet the faculty and student peers, learn about research programs and tour the facilities.

Impacts
Students will receive extensive training in genomics and biotechnology, bioinformatics, communication, ethics and developing public policy. These scientists will serve to provide academic and scientific communities as well as government agencies with collegues who are well versed in communicating policy issues associated with genomics and biotechnology. The impact will be: 1) An expansion of the traditional role of scientists and 2) Development of better communicators who can address the concerns of the general public about biotechnology issues.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period