USAO dean awarded National Science Foundation Grant for grasslands research
Dr. Rachel Jones, associate professor of environmental science and biology and dean of the School of Science & Kinesiology at the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma, is part of a team that has been awarded a National Science Foundation Standard Grant of nearly $500,000.
This highly competitive grant will fund research focused on the Great Plains, one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world. The project is a collaboration between faculty at USAO, the University of Oklahoma, University of Kansas Center for Research and Kansas State University. As co-principal investigator, Jones will play a key role in fostering a community of practice, advancing research capacity and developing educational initiatives to promote resilient grassland ecosystems.
"This grant is a tremendous opportunity to deepen our understanding of the critical socio-ecological challenges facing the Great Plains and to engage our students in cutting-edge research that can make a real impact," said Jones.
For her part in the project, Jones will be mentoring undergraduate research students and developing scientific communication materials on Great Plains socio-ecological systems resilience for public and stakeholder education. Students will also present their work at the Oklahoma Academy of Sciences fall conference.
The project, led by Dr. Jacqueline Vadjunec of the University of Oklahoma, aims to generate knowledge that benefits a wide range of stakeholders, including researchers, government agencies, Tribal Nations and agricultural producers. The grant will also support outreach initiatives such as science fairs, workshops and virtual cafes, fostering a deeper understanding of the connections between land, water, and people within grassland ecosystems.
About the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma
As Oklahoma’s liberal arts college, the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma provides a distinctive education in the liberal arts and sciences, supporting both its interdisciplinary core curriculum and major fields of study with superior teaching. USAO fosters diversity of thought and practice to help students realize meaningful, purposeful and productive lives as global citizens in a rapidly-changing world.