eXtension Announces Futuring Technology Committee for USDA-NIFA New Technologies for Agricultural Extension Cooperative Agreement

Through the New Technologies for Agricultural Extension (NTAE) Cooperative Agreement and In partnership with Oklahoma State University, the eXtension Foundation has formed a Futuring Technology Committee to serve as an advisor for several initiatives within the Cooperative Agreement. The committee is led by Dr. Jerry Thomas, Leader for Innovation and Change, Ohio State University.

The committee will develop a technology trends in Cooperative Extension framework and deliver it through a white paper in 2020. It will also advise eXtension’s Artificial Intelligence Fellow, David Warren, Oklahoma State University, on his work with the Ask Extension project. Ask Extension is a new national initiative that will leverage machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to pull together data sources from the Extension ecosystem to answer questions directly and accurately, and connect local citizens with their local Extension professionals, products, and services.

Additionally, the committee will be sharing insights with the NTAE Communication Leader to assist with reporting on two audience engagement initiatives. Their work will also provide input to eXtension’s first Extension Educational Technology eFieldbook, led by Dr. Rose Hayden-Smith.

Members of the Committee Include:

Bradd Anderson, Missouri University Extension

Bob Bertsch, North Dakota State University

Lendel Narine, Utah State University

Lindsey Shirley, Oregon State University

Courtney Owens, Kentucky State University

Greg Johll, University of Wisconsin

Kate Venturnini, University of Rhode Island

Todd Hurt, University of Georgia

Roberto Gallardo, Purdue University

John Diaz, University of Florida

Steve Judd, University of New Hampshire

Jamie Seger, Design Lead, University Innovation Alliance

This work is supported by New Technologies for Agriculture Extension grant no. 2015-41595-24254 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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We achieve this through our nationally funded programs made possible by member dollars and cooperative agreements with federal agencies, and through partnering on state, regional, and national initiatives with Cooperative Extension and the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP). We serve all Land Grant Universities, regardless of membership status.

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USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

This work is supported in part by New Technologies for Ag Extension grant no. 2020-41595-30123 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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