Last fall, the University of Texas at San Antonio announced a new $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. This second award to the BioEnergy and Water for Agriculture Research and Education (BE AWARE) network will advance research, technology development, student training, and the diversity of students in data analytics.
According to the USDA, the department needs to increase the number, quality, and diversity of students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.
Five years ago, the BioEnergy and Water for Agriculture Research and Education (BE AWARE) network was set up at the University of Texas at San Antonio with a similar USDA grant. The project brings together Hispanic -Serving Institutions (HSIs), community colleges, and USDA agencies, all working towards a unified objective.
“This type of research, which directly impacts our communities while engaging a broad network of academic and government partners, is a perfect example of how UTSA and the College of Engineering seek to serve our society,” said JoAnn Browning, dean, University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) College of Engineering. “The work that Dr. Castillo and her colleagues will complete helps us to shape the future economic prosperity, health, and food security of our region for generations to come.”
Krystel Castillo is director of the Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute, the GreenStar Endowed Associate Professor in Energy, and vice president of energy efficiency for the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute.
Castillo also leads BE AWARE 2. The consortium includes the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley, the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, San Antonio College, South Texas College, and multiple U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies.
“The BE AWARE 2 team will work towards addressing the shortage of trained workforce in data analytics to optimize smart agriculture with a holistic systems perspective,” Castillo said. “The holistic approach and training in data-driven integrated systems will allow fellows to address challenges from a science, experimental, analytical, and computational integrated approach.”
According to the University of Texas at San Antonio, BE AWARE 2 aims to engage students in research projects showing the integrative nature of biofuel production and water remediation, and train a workforce with a strong understanding of data-driven agriculture systems.
BE AWARE 2 will expand efforts to provide opportunities and transdisciplinary training in IoT security, data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence for the optimization and design of integrated bioenergy and water systems.
Castillo said the long-term impact will be to create a competitive workforce, able to manage smart agriculture systems to increase the economic competitiveness of the United States.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been tasked with…
Brown and Caldwell, a leading environmental engineering and construction firm,…
Humboldt State University, one of four campuses within the California…
