Beach, Pozderac, and Shuman

Undergraduate students from the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) competed in two undergraduate research forums at The Ohio State University. The University’s Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum and the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Undergraduate Research Forum were both held virtually during the first week of April.

Schelby Beach, a senior studying agricultural communication from Findlay, Ohio, participated in both undergraduate research forums with her research project “Consumers’ Perception of Ethics and Lab-Cultured Proteins.” She was mentored by Dr. Annie Specht, associate professor of agricultural communication.

Jacob Shuman, a senior studying community leadership from Chillicothe, Ohio, presented his research at the CFAES Undergraduate Research Forum. For his project, “Quantifying Attributes of Drone Congregation Areas,” he was mentored by Dr. Reed Johnson, associate professor of entomology in the Department of Entomology at Ohio State.

Milan Pozderac, a senior studying agriscience education from Fredericktown, Ohio, presented his research at the CFAES Undergraduate Research Forum. He was awarded second place in the social science category for his project, “Career Choice and Beliefs: Insights from Second Generation Agriculture Teachers.” He was mentored by Dr. Tracy Kitchel, professor of agriscience education and senior associate dean and director of faculty and staff affairs for CFAES.

“I’m proud of our students who completed these research projects during an unusual time of both virtual learning and research,” said Dr. Shannon Washburn, professor and chair of ACEL. “The research they completed will help them in their future careers to improve the communities, programs and people they will work with each day.”

The CFAES Undergraduate Research Forum provides a means for undergraduate students to share their research with members and friends of the OSU community; recognizes the significant contributions to research by OSU undergraduates; and facilitates exchange between students, faculty, and the public. Students enrolled in any undergraduate degree program in College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and the School of Environment and Natural Resources are invited to participate, provided they have a CGPA of 2.5 or higher and are engaged in supervised research projects in the area of their major.

Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, currently in its 26^th year, is a University-wide research forum that provides a means for undergraduate students to share their research with members and friends of the Ohio State community; recognizes the significant contributions to research by Ohio State undergraduates; and facilitates exchange between students, faculty, and the public.

Undergraduate students in ACEL study agricultural communication, agriscience education or community leadership. These three bachelor of science degrees prepare students working with youth and adults of age to promote agriculture and positive change in communities. For additional information on undergraduate in the areas of agricultural communication, education and leadership visit acel.osu.edu.

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Students from the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) presented at undergraduate research forums at The Ohio State University. The University’s Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum was held on March 3, 2020.

Because of the closure of Ohio State’s physical campus, the Undergraduate Research Forum for the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences was cancelled and the University’s annual Spring Undergraduate Research Festival was moved to a virtual edition from April 14-21, 2020.

Hickman

Caleb Hickman, a senior studying agriscience education from Mount Vernon, participated in the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum. For his research project, “Exploring the Factors that Influence Post-Secondary Enrollment in Rural Communities,” Hickman was mentored by Dr. Jera Niewoehner-Green, assistant professor of community leadership.

Stollar

Marlee Stollar, a senior studying agricultural communication from Marietta, participated in the Undergraduate Research Festival. Her research project, “The Impact of Labels and Preconceptions on Ohio State Students’ Food Buying Habits” was presented at the virtual version of the event. She was mentored by Dr. Annie Specht, assistant professor of agricultural communication, and Dr. Amanda Bowling, assistant professor of agriscience education.

Oglesby

Meredith Oglesby, a senior studying agricultural communication from Hillsboro, also participated in the virtual Undergraduate Research Festival. Her research project, “Engaged audiences through social media in colleges of agricultural and environmental sciences,” she was mentored by Dr. Emily Buck, professor of agricultural communication.

“We’re extremely proud of our undergraduate students who have taken the imitative to perform research that will answer questions related to post-secondary enrollment, food purchasing habits and social media usage of colleges of agriculture,” said Dr. Scott Scheer, professor and interim chair of ACEL. “It is clear these students advanced their research skills by putting in many hours as they collected and analyzed data, along with preparing their results for presentation.”

ACEL prepares communicators, educators and leaders in the food, agricultural, and environmental sciences to integrate research-based learning, practice and engagement, in ways that will advance positive changes that strengthen individuals, families and communities. For more information on the academic programs and research available in ACEL, or to donate to student scholarships, please visit acel.osu.edu.