Initial Publication Date: August 20, 2024

Gaea Hock

Professor, Kansas State University

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About Me

I am a teacher educator who works to prepare and support the best agricultural educators possible. I am a previous high school teacher and have been in academia as a professor since 2012. I am a Kansas native who cares about the future of our state. I love to spend time with my two children, help on the farm beside my husband, and travel.

Focus of current FEW-Nexus-based education work

I am engaged with educating the next generation of agriculturalists via the preparation of high-quality educators. I want to engage with scientists in other fields to communicate and educate across disciplines. I have worked on several projects connected to the High Plains Aquifer and look forward to continuing that work.

FEW-Nexus-based education experience, expertise and interests

I am currently working on an interdisciplinary research project focused on utilizing information and data from the KSU-Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) Program. The project is funded by the Kansas Water Institute.

The KSU-TAPS program is an innovative, "citizen-science" approach that combines interactive learning with interdisciplinary research. The KSU-TAPS program invites Kansas producers to join a farm-management competition where they will make real-time decisions which will be implemented in replicated plots on the same field. The competition is structured to enable direct comparison and evaluation of each team's production, efficiency, and economic outcomes. (https://www.k-state.edu/next-gen/key-initiatives/interdisciplinary-institutes/water-institute/projects/taps.html)

This project will create new and novel case studies based on real-life examples from KSU-TAPS program participants. These case studies will engage learners in evaluating how they would make management decisions on their "farm." Agronomic, weather, economic, and social aspects of each "case" will be incorporated into to narrative to deepen the learning experience. Each "case" can be integrated into existing courses at the secondary and post-secondary levels to strengthen key academic skills.

Would welcome the opportunity to partner with economists, agronomists, and energy experts to develop the case studies for use with a variety of audiences.

 

Publications, presentations, and other references