In 1914, Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act to disseminate agricultural knowledge and research-based farming practices to the public through each state’s land-grant institution. Cooperative extension systems were established to share information and work directly in communities. Since then, UConn has developed a variety of educational programs and services that assist local residents in solving problems related to food, health and sustainability.
Using the extension model of outreach and engagement, UConn is continuing to innovate in ways to support Connecticut residents with the creation of the Environment Corps (E-Corps). The University received a $2.25 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the E-Corps project, entitled “Redefining Public Engagement at the University of Connecticut: Studying the Impact of an Innovative STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Math] Service Learning Model on the University Community.”
The E-Corps seeks to address the environmental challenges facing Connecticut communities, including climate adaptation, stormwater management and the remediation of abandoned sites, through STEM teaching, outreach and student-led service learning projects.
“Our goal is to create a program that benefits both the students and the towns, and in doing so also serves to strengthen UConn’s relationship with the communities of Connecticut,” says Extension Educator Chet Arnold, a principal investigator of the project.
