Planning for the long-term impact of the Dordt College agriculture stewardship center on basic research and education related to ecological sustainability in the rural Midwest

该奖项将为规划杜尔特学院农业管理中心（DC-ASC）对中西部农村生态可持续性相关基础研究和教育的长期影响提供支持。 该中心战略性地位于全国一些最高产和最有价值的农业土地和畜牧业生产的中心。该中心正在经历重大变化，土地征用，建筑物的变化，以及一个新的480万美元的教学和外展中心的建设。 这是一个千载难逢的机会，可以指导和大幅增加DC-ASC对中西部农村生态可持续性相关基础研究和教育的长期发展和影响，这将满足爱荷华州、明尼苏达州、南达科他州和内布拉斯加州4个州的需求。该项目将汇集农业、教育、州政府和市政府的区域领导人，大学扩展和企业制定DC-ASC长期方向和发展的战略计划，以负责任和可持续的方式最好地满足该地区的需求。 该项目将解决区域生态问题，未来的教育努力，为该地区未来的高优先级研究提供方向，并将为DC未来的基础设施发展提供方向-ASC作为一个区域服务中心，为规划过程中开发的需求提供服务。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的评估，被认为值得支持。影响审查标准。

This award will provide support for planning the long-term impact of the Dordt College agriculture stewardship center (DC-ASC) on basic research and education related to ecological sustainability in the rural Midwest. The center is strategically located in the heart of some of the most highly productive and valued agricultural land and livestock production in the nation. The center is undergoing major change with land acquisition, building changes, and the construction of a new $4.8 million teaching and outreach center. There is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to direct and substantially increase the long-term development and impact of the DC-ASC on basic research and education related to ecological sustainability in the rural Midwest that will serve needs of the 4-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Nebraska.The project will bring together regional area leaders in agriculture, education, governments of states and municipalities, university extension, and businesses to develop a strategic plan for long-term direction and development of the DC-ASC to best serve the needs of the region in a responsible and sustainable manner. The project will address regional ecological issues, future education endeavors, direction for future research of high priority in the region and will provide direction for future infrastructure development of the DC-ASC as a regional service center in service to the needs developed in the planning process.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.