As land grant universities, the University of Wisconsin – Madison and the University of Georgia apply their research to benefit the economic, intellectual, and social endeavors of citizens. Our project will provide fundamental insights into nitrogen fixation on corn aerial roots, and this is critical to developing new strategies to reduce the dependence on energy-intensive chemical fertilizers in developed countries and to provide more nitrogen to small-holders in developing countries.
The results of this project are shared with growers and the general public through programs like field demonstrations, radio shows, and newsletters to commodity groups.
To increase the participation of underrepresented groups in these activities, we take advantage of already established tools, such as REU programs, that regularly recruit a significant number of minority students. We aim to train a new generation of scientists with the confidence to tackle the most pressing global issues.