The forestry program at University of Arkansas at Monticello is working to expand the forestry workforce, and has received grant funds to help with those initiatives.
In her first year as assistant professor, Pipiet Larasatie has received two federal grants to address recruitment in forestry.
The first grant is part of an outreach project that will match 11 students from rural Arkansas high schools, vocational-technical institutions, or community colleges with 11 students from UAM in a mentoring program. The program is designed to increase participation of underrepresented populations in forestry science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.
The $107,000 grant provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture provides funding for students to spend a week of summer camp at UAM and eventually prepare a project for a science competition in 4-H, Future Farmers of America, or science fairs.
The summer camp will be June 3-6 and its application period is open through April 1. Anyone interested can apply at https://www.competitive-forest.com/wamsfor or email [email protected] for more information. Most Arkansas residents are eligible to apply.
Michael Blazier, dean of the UAM College of Forestry Agriculture and Natural Resources, supports the mission.
"I think the action of doing these camps in and of themselves is important because even if these students that go through the program don't necessarily go right into forestry, it may open their eyes to similar opportunities," Blazier said.
"It unlocks new potential in them. That is the win that we at UAM get immediately from this. These students may be attracted to us sooner because they get quality time with our faculty, staff, and students while on campus. The longer-term benefit I'm hopeful for is that what we learn from these students will help our recruiting efforts by not only being better at reaching students geographically but culturally. That will be vital to our long-term success as a college and providing a workforce for the forestry profession," he said.
While most high school students spend their summers earning money at part-time jobs, this program will pay participants a $1,000 stipend for their time at summer camp and science project development.
Larasatie explained further.
"We have launched an open call," Larasatie said. "We will initially interview 15 high school students, and depending on what motivates them, we will match the high school mentees with college mentors so that they can help them with their science journey and prepare for the science competitions. Once on the UAM campus, the mentee and mentor will spend time bonding to determine the student's science interests."
"They can choose their science project with the end goal that they will go to competitions such as 4-H, FFA, and Science Fair."
The mentors will also receive mentorship training before the camp. After the UAM camp, the mentee and mentor will continue working on the science project online until the actual presentations, Larasatie said.
"The project is twofold. The first goal is to give them more exposure and opportunities to be involved in STEM-based forestry science projects and then be able to compete in the science competition," Larasatie said.
A second long-term goal is to encourage these young talents to enter forest sector workforce, Larasatie said.
GRANT TO RESEARCH ATTITUDES OF WORKFORCE
The second grant that Larasatie is involved in focuses on identifying the existing workforce and exploring issues and opinions around recruitment and retention. The Forest and Wood Products Sector Inclusion Council funds the $146,100 grant, led by the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities.
Larasatie is particularly pleased about receiving this grant.
"This is an honor for us because this opportunity recognizes that we are doing the right thing," she said.
"This research is targeting all actors in the forestry and wood products workforce including students, employees, and recruiters. It includes participants along forest chains who manage forest ecosystem services across the United States' urban and rural landscapes," Larasatie said.
Larasatie is joined by graduate student Kamana Chamlagain, who completed her undergraduate degree in forestry study in Nepal and then worked as a conservationist with tigers and red pandas.
For Chamlagain, her master's thesis will investigate the patterns of entry into the forestry workforce and the value of seeking natural resources careers.
"To sustain the forestry workforce, we want to make sure that we're recruiting students from a broad array of backgrounds, and we want to make sure that we're placing them in good jobs and continuing to be a resource for them," said Blazier.
Participants in in the forestry and natural resource sector are asked to fill out a survey at https://uark.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1NVKtClRXIG4SlE.
Lon Tegels is the former communications director at the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Arkansas Forest Resources Center.