The mission of land grant colleges of agriculture

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Zimdahl
Keyword(s):  
Public Perception ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Leadership Role ◽  
Land Grant ◽  
Agricultural Community ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
Practical Education ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Colleges Of Agriculture ◽  
Post Industrial

AbstractThis paper examines what land grant colleges of agriculture were designed to be and do and, using their published mission statements, discusses what they now claim to be and do. Teaching ‘such branches of learning as are related to the agriculture and the mechanic arts’ and ‘to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes’ is what land grant colleges were designed to do; it is the land grant mission. The paper asks whether these things are what land grant colleges of agriculture do now. The original mission has been amended with new challenges that must be met in a time of declining public support for higher education, societal distrust of science and a negative public perception of agricultural technology, in a culture that wants cheap food. The agricultural community, including colleges of agriculture, has been slow to accept the challenges and opportunities inherent in the questions agriculture now faces. Agriculture remains an essential human activity in our post-industrial, information-age society. Colleges of agriculture are in trouble, and this paper suggests that the sensible thing to do may be to turn away from self-interest in survival to take a leadership role with emphasis on the obligations of service and humanism.

Suggestions for a Modified Approach Towards Implementation and Assessment of Ganga Action Plan and Other Similar River Action Plans in India

2003 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 607-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinod Tare ◽  
Purnendu Bose ◽  
Santosh K. Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
River Water ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Nutrient Loading ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
River Water Quality ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Action Plans

Abstract In India, the implementation of river-cleaning operations through River Action Plans (RAPs) conventionally focuses on a reduction in concentrated or point sources of organic loading to the river, and is assessed by monitoring the consequent improvement in river water quality. However, in the case of Indian rivers or river stretches having substantial background pollution due to distributed or non-point loading of organic matter and nutrients, elimination of point sources of pollution may not substantially impact or improve river water quality. It is suggested that implementation of River Action Plans in India under such circumstances must be conducted using a multi-tier approach. The initial emphasis in such cases should be on the selection of priority stretches of the river, where pollution control will have maximum beneficial impact on the citizens, and interception and diversion of all concentrated or point loads of pollution from these stretches. In addition, measures to minimize non-point pollution and visible pollution to the river and initiation of riverfront restoration and development projects are necessary in these priority stretches. Such measures would result in aesthetic improvements, increase the beneficial uses of the river and its surroundings, and generate favorable public perception towards RAPs, though they may not be sufficient to enhance the river water quality to the desired levels. However, as a result of the above actions, public support for funding more expensive and longer-term river cleaning schemes, resulting in comprehensive reduction in organic and nutrient loading to the river from point and non-point sources all along its length, may be generated. The need for this alternative methodology for implementation and assessment of RAPs in India has been illustrated by taking the example of the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) and assessment of its implementation near the city of Kanpur in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, as a test case.

Inequality, Self-Interest, and Public Support for “Robin Hood” Tax Policies

2013 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 923-937 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Franko ◽  
Caroline J. Tolbert ◽  
Christopher Witko
Keyword(s):  
Public Support ◽  
Tax Policies ◽  
Robin Hood ◽  
Self Interest

scholarly journals Making Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Viable: Private Choices, Public Support, and Systems Constraints

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 18-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Noonan ◽  
Shan Zhou ◽  
Robert Kirkman
Keyword(s):  
Public Perception ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Green Technologies ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Private Interests ◽  
Public Survey ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Infrastructure Investments ◽  
Individual Use ◽  
The One

Sustainable cities will require major infrastructure investments coupled with widespread behavioral change. Examples of smart, green technologies abound, but evidence for actual use lags. This partly owes to the tension between public support and private choices: individuals thinking as members of the public may see solutions as smart for the city, but thinking of their private interests may see those same solutions as not smart for themselves. This also owes to the disconnect between private and public choices, on the one hand, and the workings of complex systems, on the other. Even if public and private interests align, existing built environment systems may resist change. This article examines public perception and use of the Atlanta BeltLine, a pioneering sustainability initiative to transform the auto-dependent city into a greener, denser city. Analyzing a general public survey reveals widespread support for the BeltLine alongside reticence from residents to change their commute or greenspace use. The findings also show that drivers of public support and prospective use of the BeltLine differ. Public support may be insufficient if individual use decisions do not follow. Yet, private adoption decisions may not follow until and unless the systems in which they are embedded are already changing.

scholarly journals Medical Education in the 21st Century: Students Driving the Global Agenda

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Singh ◽  
J. McCool ◽  
J. Weller ◽  
A. Woodward
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Curriculum ◽  
International Health ◽  
Leadership Role ◽  
Individual Student ◽  
Host Institution ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Student Exchanges ◽  
The Individual ◽  
High Level

This descriptive article examines the potential for student-led initiatives in international health to be better integrated with formal medical education systems. Students have embraced the challenges and opportunities provided by globalisation to take a leadership role on international issues. Medical students are involved with a diverse portfolio of international activities, including work to internationalise the medical curriculum, the establishment of “hands-on” development projects, efforts to promote student exchanges, and engagement with high-level international policy fora. Such experiences not only add to the personal and professional development of the individual student, but also have the potential to contribute to the academic environment of the host institution as well as more broadly influencing the determinants of international health outcomes. There are challenges and risks associated with independent student initiatives, however these risks can be mitigated if institutions work in partnership with their students and peers internationally.

Rural Sociology

Sociology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Garcia ◽  
Linda Lobao
Keyword(s):  
Rural Poverty ◽  
Institutional Development ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rural Sociology ◽  
Land Grant ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
Land Grant Universities ◽  
Colleges Of Agriculture ◽  
Sociology Departments

Rural sociology is a unique area of sociological inquiry. Its institutional development leaves it perhaps the most independent of all sociological subfields. Rural sociology in the United States emerged in the early 20th century when federal funding was earmarked to the land grant universities (public universities) to study and assist the farm population. Separate “rural” sociology departments appeared gradually within colleges of agriculture that paralleled the substantive areas found in general sociology departments. Thus, one finds in rural sociology a replication of many core areas in general sociology but with a rural twist—inequality, demography, work/labor markets, race/ethnicity, gender, community, and so forth. Over time, additional rural-oriented specialty areas emerged, notably the sociology of agriculture and natural resource/environmental sociology. Rural sociology has also expanded globally. As a consequence, the substantive scope of contemporary research is large and varied. What knits the work together is a focus on the geographic periphery, that is, the places, populations, and forms of social activity found in rural areas globally which has provided boundary and meaning to the field. In addition to its broad substantive scope, rural sociology is characterized by a distinct research approach. Research tends to be comparative: rural places and populations are often set in contrast with regard to their urban counterparts to ascertain similarities and differences. In this way, rural sociological research is often said to challenge the urban bias of general sociology. Disciplinary practice is also distinct. While there are few departments with rural sociology in their name today, courses and specializations in the field are found across many land grant universities. There is a long tradition of cross-disciplinary linkages particularly with agricultural economics, the environmental sciences, and more recently geography. Rural sociologists have been highly active in federal, state, and local public policy circles and in public sociology efforts that contribute to community development, sustainable agricultural and food systems, and social and environmental justice. In terms of work in the profession, rural sociologists also work outside of colleges of agriculture, within government agencies, international development agencies, and across governmental and non-governmental institutions. Although rural populations will continue to decline globally, there is reason to think that rural sociology will have broad influence in the future because the research areas it encompasses are of growing interest to social scientists, policymakers, and the public at large. Issues addressed by rural sociologists pertaining to the sustainability of the food system, climate/environmental change, and rural poverty are among the most pressing public concerns today.

scholarly journals Gender climate in Indian oncology: national survey report

ESMO Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. e000671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyoti Bajpai ◽  
Sharada Mailankody ◽  
Reena Nair ◽  
Shylasree T Surappa ◽  
Sudeep Gupta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Disparity ◽  
Women In Leadership ◽  
Leadership Role ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Representation Of Women ◽  
Survey Report ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Men Managers ◽  
Oncology Practice ◽  
Training Programmes

IntroductionThere is evidence of under-representation of women in leadership roles and publications in oncology. However, there is little knowledge about their perceptions of professional environment, unique challenges and opportunities compared with male counterparts. The problem is more prominent in lower-income and middle-income countries like India and merits exploration.Materials and methodsA survey, ‘Exploratory Study on the Challenges of Female Oncologists in India’, was conducted among oncology professionals. We included questions on demography, working team details, role at work, perceived challenges for advancement of career, gender-related values brought into the team and the measures for improvement of gender disparity. Lead authorship data were collected from two Indian oncology journals.ResultsOf the 324 respondents, 198 (61.1%) were women. Majority of the respondents were medical oncologists (46.3%), ≤45 years old (69.4%) and working in universities and corporate hospitals (71.6%). One hundred eighty-nine (58.3%) respondents worked in teams with male majority, 50 (15.4%) in women-majority teams, while 85 (26.2%) worked in teams with gender equality. Of the 324 respondents, 218 (67.3%) had men managers, while 106 (32.7%) had women managers. Men led 160 (84.7%) male-majority teams; 45 (52.9%) gender-equal teams; and 13 (26%) female-majority teams (p<0.00001). Age >45 years was found to be associated with a leadership role (43% vs 25%, p=0.0012). The most significant barrier perceived for advancement of career for women was finding a work–life balance. Most respondents suggested provision of flexible training programmes to improve the disparity. Of the 558 journal publications inspected, 145 (26%) articles had a female first or corresponding author.ConclusionsThe study brought out the current figures regarding gender climate in oncology practice and academia across India. We identified lead thrust areas and schemes to improve the gender bias. There needs to be action at international, national and personal levels to bring about an efficient gender-neutral workforce.

Globalization and the Economy: What Students Think

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Patricia C Borstorff ◽  
Mark W Hearn ◽  
Falynn Turley
Keyword(s):  
Student Attitudes ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Trade Agreements ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Trade Disputes ◽  
Economic Expansion ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
Government Interference

Do attitudes toward globalization change with economic conditions? This paper compares student attitudes during an economic expansion with student attitudes during an economic recession. Globalization has resulted in lower prices, more choices, and a blurring of the lines of national identity for many products. Its impact also includes loss of domestic jobs, trade disputes, and challenges to national sovereignty by organizations, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO). Two surveys were administered in the College of Commerce and Business Administration at an AACSB-accredited southeastern United States university. The first took place in 2003 while the region was enjoying low unemployment and a vigorous economic expansion. The second was administered in 2009 during a time of significantly higher unemployment and economic recession. The 2003 survey found very positive views towards most aspects of globalization. In contrast, the second survey during markedly more depressed economic times found students were more concerned with their own self-interest, preferring less government interference and less globalization. The results suggest that attempts to promote trade agreements should consider economic conditions as part of their process of developing public support.

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