Mississippi Earth Science Applications Project

农业仍然是密西西比河下游三角洲地区的经济支柱。这个地区传统上是美国最多产的棉花、大米、大豆和其他主要农产品的产地之一。在90年代，农业生产者面临着美国历史上最严重的萧条之一。然而，植物病理学的最新发展和遥感、全球定位系统（GPS）和地理信息系统（GIS）等先进技术的可用性有可能大大提高农业生产力和提高作物产量。科学和信息技术的迅速应用极大地改变了包括农民在内的生产者将产品推向市场的方式。然而，农民仍然不愿意在“精准农业”上投入大量资金，因为他们不知道他们将拥有源源不断的高素质、技术熟练的工人，能够利用这项技术做出决定。密西西比三角洲社区学院与行业领导者、密西西比州立大学、美国国家航空航天局和三角洲研究实验中心合作，正在开发和实施空间信息系统（SIS）课程，以获得副学士学位。通过培训伙伴的投入，课程正在围绕行业对高级农业专家的短期和长期需求进行开发。SIS项目通过教师和讲师的强化实习、课堂体验和学生实习，培养学生的基本能力、职场价值观、技术意识和能力。从两年制到四年制的课程衔接也是项目的一个组成部分。课程可以转到其他有类似需求的社区学院。

Project SummaryAgriculture remains an economic juggernaut in the Lower Mississippi River Delta region. This region has traditionally been one of America's most prolific producers of cotton, rice, soybeans, and other major agricultural products. In the 90's, agricultural producers have faced one of the most severe depressions in American history. However, recent developments in plant pathology and availability of advanced technologies such as remote sensing, global positioning systems (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS) have the potential to greatly improve agricultural productivity and enhance crop yields. The rapid application of science and information technology have dramatically changed the way producers, including farmers, bring their products to the marketplace. However, farmers remain reluctant to invest heavily in 'precision farming' without knowing that they will have a steady stream of highly qualified, technically proficient workers capable of utilizing the technology to make decisions.Mississippi Delta Community College in collaboration with industry leaders, Mississippi State University, NASA, and the Delta Research Experiment Center are developing and implementing a curriculum in Spatial Information Systems (SIS) leading to the Associate degree. Through input from the training partners, the curriculum is being developed around short-term and long-term industry needs for an Advanced Agricultural Specialist. The SIS program is developing students' basic competencies, workplace values, and technological awareness, and competency through faculty and instructor enhancement internships, classroom experiences, and student internships. Articulation of curricula from two-year to four-year levels is also a project component. The curriculum is transferable to other community colleges with similar needs.