The Center for Experiential Learning is a collaborative project between Lincoln University, the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Natural Resources, the Jefferson Institute and the University of Missouri-Rolla to establish facilities to allow students hands-on experience in agricultural and natural resource sciences. These facilities are located in Missouri at the George Washington Carver Farm at Lincoln University, Sanborn Field at the University of Missouri, the Jefferson Farm and Gardens facility of the Jefferson Institute, and the Center for Environmental Science and Technology (CEST) at the University of Missouri-Rolla.

The objectives of the project are to enhance the learning experience and improve critical-thinking and problem-solving skills using hands-on learning activities and case studies. These experiences will assist students to integrate the knowledge they have gained from their courses to solve current problems. In addition, faculty expertise in curriculum development and delivery will be enhanced through training in case preparation and analysis. An additional goal of this effort is to recruit and retain students in the agricultural and natural resource sciences by providing experiential training which is relevant to important agricultural and environmental issues in the United States.

The Sanborn Field and Jefferson Farm and Gardens sites were selected to provide easy access for students, faculty and staff to visit and work at the facilities and to allow for environmental comparisons of urban and rural environments. Sanborn Field is a long-term agricultural field experiment located in the center of the City of Columbia, Missouri and the climate at the site is affected by its urban location. The Jefferson Farms and Garden site is located just outside of Columbia and has a more rural nature. Both sites will have automated and sensor-based equipment that will allow students to become familiar with use of modern environmental monitoring equipment and to compare urban and rural-based environments. These equipment include wind speed and directional sensors mounted at several heights to monitor pollutant dispersal, portable gas measuring equipment to determine greenhouse gas flux, and soil water content and temperature sensors to determine several environmental factors that affect the rate of gas emissions.

Funding for this project is from a generous grant supplied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 1890 Institution Teaching and Research Capacity Building Grants Program.