It wouldn't be a Human-Plant Systems Lab if we didn't have outreach materials for the humans!
Below are just a few of our educational outreach materials for some of the projects from the lab. Click on one to expand and learn more about the project.
Outreach Materials
Green Horizons: Empowering Minnesota Higher Ed Through Urban Landscape Science
Green Horizons: Empowering Minnesota Higher Ed Through Urban Landscape Science
Currently, the integration of managed urban landscape curricula into Minnesota’s higher education natural and social science programs remains largely unknown. These landscapes, primarily turfgrass-dominated spaces like parks and lawns, intersect with diverse activities ranging from seed production and research to management and everyday recreation. This project aims to assess current curricula across two- and four-year institutions, then develop and distribute modular coursework and research frameworks. By integrating these resources into existing courses, we seek to enhance agricultural literacy and expose students to growing career opportunities in related industries.
Below are education modules. Each module contains a presentation and instructor notes. Many contain activities to be used in undergraduate courses in a variety of courses including geography, urban planning and development, environmental sciences, and more.
Turfgrass Species and Identification
Lawns as Social-Ecological-Technological Systems
Lawn Ecosystem Services and Disservices
Turfgrass Policies and Ordinances
Turfgass Attitudes Norms and Behaviors
This project was supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Higher Education Challenge Grant under award number 2021-70003-35498. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.
Materials are under the CC license, CC BY-NC-SA.