I am a second-year Ph.D. student in the School of Geography, Development and Environment at the University of Arizona. I use a combination of remote sensing and plant functional traits to study potential benefits of co-locating photovoltaic installations and agriculture on the same piece of land (agrivoltaic systems) in dryland environments. My work answers the urgent call to overhaul current land-use practices to mitigate and adapt to climate change. I have developed a low-cost near-ground remote sensing system to measure productivity, phenology, and status of crops grown in our agrivoltaic experimental field sites and production farms. I am deploying these monitoring systems at partner field sites across the world to measure crop performance accurately and consistently over a diversity of environments and agrivoltaic system designs. Now, I want to give K-12 students in southern Arizona the opportunity to engage with and learn STEM concepts through relevant real-world science.

My University of Arizona NASA Space Grant Fellowship project will bring the same near-ground remote sensing system I’m using in my research into the hands of K-12 students in the form of an accessible kit that they will install in their own agrivoltaic gardens. Students will also have the chance to run their own experiments using micro agrivoltaic system kits. These project-based learning opportunities will be complemented with a two-part curriculum focused on remote sensing and agrivoltaic systems. The curriculum will be designed with the help of partners at the University of Arizona Community and School Garden Program and direct engagement with teachers at the participating schools. Teacher training workshops will also be held to ensure that a wider audience of educators is exposed to these cutting-edge STEM concepts. Looking forward, I will make the curricula, project demonstrations, and additional resources available and accessible in an interactive website tailored to both students and teachers.

Jacob Magnusson is a University of Arizona Senior majoring in Astronomy and Mathematics. Jacob works with Eiichi Egami from the Astronomy Department on a project titled "Assessing the Performance of the JWST/NIRCam Image Simulator PhoSim-NIRCam".

Hayley Limes is a University of Arizona Junior majoring in Environmental Science. Hayley works with Erin Posthumus from the USA National Phenology Network & School of Natural Resources and the Environment on a project titled "Phenology Data to Aid Pollinator Restoration".

Brooke Carruthers is a University of Arizona Junior majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology. Brooke works with Betul Kacar from the Molecular and Cellular Biology & Astronomy Departments on a project titled "Evolution of Nitrogen Fixation on Ancient Earth".

Maia Willis-Reddick is a University of Arizona Sophomore majoring in Geology. Maia works with Stefano Nerozzi from the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory in the Planetary Sciences Department on a project titled "Investigating Magma-Cryosphere Interactions and Outflow Channel Activity in Hebrus Valles, Mars".

Jacob van der Leeuw is a University of Arizona Senior majoring in Mathematics and Computer Science. Jacob works with Lon Hood from the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory in the Planetary Sciences Department on a project titled "Stratospheric Influences on Short-Term Climate Variability".

Nicolas Tan is a University of Arizona Senior majoring in Aerospace Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering. Nicolas works with Jesse Little from the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department on a project titled "Investigation of 3D Shockwave Boundary Layer Interaction and Related Phenomena for the STORT Flight".

Sarah Stamer is a University of Arizona Sophomore majoring in Astronomy and Physics. Sarah works with Chris Impey from the Astronomy Department on a project titled "Addressing the Pandemic of Science Misinformation on the Internet".