The Center for Economic Education and Research (CEER) receives large grant award

Funding will prepare CSUB students for careers in agriculture-related fields

By California State University, Bakersfield

October 28^th, 2020

Kern County and the Central Valley are at the heart of agriculture, and California State University, Bakersfield contributes to its field through economics, engineering and biology. Recently, the Center for Economic Education and Research (CEER) was awarded with a $250,000 grant award to span out over four years.

“The grant from USDA NIFA HSI Program is timely and relevant to Kern County, given the fact that we are committed to the success of students from underrepresented communities and supporting one of the major industries, agriculture,” said Dr. Angappa ‘Guna’ Gunasekaran, dean for the School of Business and Public Administration.

This grant will support undergraduate students and underrepresented groups to prepare them in agriculture-related fields. The funding for this project will provide students with opportunities through research with CSUB faculty and internships with the local USDA offices.

Each year, the School of Business and Public Administration collaborates with other schools on campus, including the School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering (NSME), to fund research projects that relate to the community.

Dr. Michieka said this is a significant milestone for CSUB because it helps in continuing to change the lives of students, especially in these current times.

“CSUB is uniquely positioned in the community to serve the region, it’s what a lot of our colleagues have been doing in the past and we’re building on that,” said Dr. Nyakundi Michieka, the principal investigator (PI) of the project and co-director of CEER.

“It also builds the relationship between the university, the industry and the local USDA offices and interschool collaboration,” added Dr. Michieka.

The collaborative research aims to find more efficient techniques of using water for agricultural purposes. Their research also includes looking at the water usage for farmers and finding ways to conserve, as well as the most cost-effective method and how it affects the soil.

The internships with USDA will allow students to be exposed to the field they’re studying in now, as well as other aspects of the industry. The hope by the end of the internship is to see what they’re most comfortable with and where they’d like to end up.

“When students are closely involved in the research endeavors of the faculty, they can become role models in their community. Research shows that the mastery and confidence that students gain through these activities is unmatched by most classic academic course activities.” said Dr. Jeroen Gillard, co-PI and assistant professor in the Department of Biology.

“Furthermore, the specific research topics of this grant relate to the use and effectiveness of smart irrigation systems,” said Dr. Gillard

Dr. Gillard’s research will specifically aim to develop methods to evaluate the effects of different irrigation modes on the diversity of microbial life that is active within all soils.

“Microbial life plays key roles in the functioning of ecosystems and the contributions of several faculty members in this area will help our university to gain further recognition in this field,” added Dr. Gillard.

“I am pleased and proud of my colleague, Professor Michieka, for his contribution to Kern County’s economy and his efforts in building relationships between CSUB and the USDA. I am sure the Center for Economic Education and Research will move to the next level of excellence with all of the success in grants and engaging students from underrepresented and marginalized populations in experiential learning and career development,” said Dean Guna.