The UT Micro Farm is seeking BDP students who would like to engage in a research project in Spring 2014. The UT Micro Farm is enthusiastic about student research being conducted on the farm and welcomes all interested students and their ideas; the UT Micro Farm will provide the space and resources for students to conduct independent research on a topic related to the farm’s mission and goals and the student’s BDP focus.
About the UT Micro Farm
The UT Micro Farm is the University of Texas’ first student-run, on-campus organic farm! We’re growing good food for our local community, while creating and facilitating a number of opportunities pursuing innovation, education, sustainable systems, and interdisciplinary collaboration. We’ll grow vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers for UT dining halls, a campus farm stand, and a neighborhood food shelter. Our 1/4 farm is located on 2204 Leona St., a few blocks east of campus, just off of Manor Rd.More information can be found at http://utmicrofarm.wordpress.com/about/.
Possible research topics could include:
Environment BDP students – Austin permaculture, urban agricultural systems, organic composting, organic pest control, sustainable infrastructure, food biology, seed germination, water conservation, water resource management, urban agricultural policy, soil chemistry, urban farming and urban pollution, neighborhood health and urban farms, etc.
Social Entrepreneurship and Non-Profits BDP students – Urban agriculture and community well-being; food access and food banks/local farm stands, community development; organic agriculture and social entrepreneurship, environmentally sustainable organizations, policies and social effects; landscape and local economies; students, affordable food access and physiological health; food access organizations and the East Side community, etc.
Social Inequality, Health and Policy BDP students – organic agriculture and education, food deserts in the East Side communities, the effects of farming in urban settings, urban farming and gentrification, Austin urban agricultural policy and politics, local farming and economic efficiency, food access and race/class, gender and urban agriculture, social vulnerability and food sovereignty, food stamps and local, organic food production, etc.
To apply
Contact microfarm@utenvironment.org with your ideas for a research project. Apply by 1/1/14.