PSLA Social Media Launch!

The Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture has launched their social media accounts this fall! Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

We want to make sure we're representing our program comprehensively.  This provides a great opportunity for students, clubs, faculty and staff to share opportunities, highlights, and events within PSLA with a greater audience and we want your help to make that happen!

As you are sharing posts on instagram this semester, we want to invite you to use the “Collaborator” function to help spread the word about some great things happening in our department! Instructions on how to use this feature can be found at (https://help.instagram.com/5861247717337470/?cms_platform=android-app&helpref=platform_switcher).

If social media isn't your thing, send pictures, news and events to us at psla@uconn.edu and let us post your content for you!!

 

Like & Follow Us!

9/22: Field Trip to Coventry Farmers Market

Field Trip to Coventry Farmers Market

FREE for all interested students

Sunday, September 22, 2024
10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Come join students in PSLA’s organic vegetable production course as we go on a pleasant and relaxing visit to one of the best Farmers Markets in all of New England.

Transportation provided:

Pick-up (10:30) and drop-off (12:30) from the gazebo behind W.B. Young Building

Questions?

Contact Dr. Gerry Berkowitz at Gerald.berkowitz@uconn.edu or 860-486-1945.

Please email if you would like to attend as soon as is convenient or at the latest 9/19 to be sure you’ll have a seat in our vans.

About

Transportation provided: Pick-up from the parking lot behind W.B. Young building at 10:30, you can stroll through the lines of vendors on your own, with friends, or with students in the veggie course.

Local cheese, wool yarn making, and more. Interested in local agriculture and organic food? Then this might be the trip for you! All students invited – bring a friend! Local food, live music, and no cost! See and taste everything from local veggies to honey making, natural dyes, local cheese, wool yarn making, and more.

Come join students in Dr. Gerry Berkowitz’s organic vegetable production course as we go on a pleasant and relaxing visit to one of the best Farmers Markets in all of New England. The Coventry Farmers Market won an award as ‘best farmers market’ in New England several years ago. Talk to local growers, learn how cheese, wine, and fresh pasta are prepared, and purchase some goodies to bring home, including a bountiful range of fresh vegetables and unique prepared foods.

This Farmers Market has been cited as “One of the top ten things to do in New England this weekend” by The Boston Globe, “America’s Most Celebrated Farmers’ Market” by American Farmland Trust, “New England’s BEST Farmers’ Market” by Yankee Magazine AND selected as one of USA Today’s “Top 10 great places to shop at a farmers market!”

The market is held at the Nathan Hale Homestead, 2299 South Street, Coventry, Connecticut.

Coventry Farmers Market Field Trip Flyer

Faculty Position Opening

The Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture has an opening for an Assistant or Associate Extension Professor of Soil Science and Director of the Future UConn Plant and Soil Health Center.

View as PDF

Assistant or Associate Extension Professor of Soil Science and Director of the Future UConn Plant and Soil Health Center

Description

The Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, a part of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, at the University of Connecticut is pleased to invite applications for a full-time, 11-month, non-tenure, Assistant or Associate Extension Professor. This position will oversee operations in the existing UConn Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory. The anticipated division of duties for this role will be 70% Extension, 10% Administrative, 10% Teaching, and 10% Research. This position is anticipated to start December 1, 2024, with preference to applicants who apply by 8/31/2024. This position will be based in the Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory, located on the UConn Storrs Depot Campus in Storrs, CT.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Participation in the USDA’s federal working group – Northeast Coordinating Committee on Soil Testing (NECC-2312).
  • Coordination of the CT Master Composter Program
  • Soil Training for CT Master Gardener Program
  • Participation in the soils section of the Natural Resources Conservation Academy with NRCS soil scientists.
  • Updating and maintaining the Plant and Soil Health Center website
  • Contributing to, and ensuring the timely distribution of, the monthly PSHC newsletter
  • Writing/reviewing fact sheets pertinent to stakeholder interest
  • Coordinating Extension programming such as seminars, workshops, podcasts, and events
  • Coordinating PSHC representation at various events including the CT Flower & Garden Show, FFA Career Development Events, The Big E, Connecticut Nursery and Landscapers Association Meetings, etc.
  • Preparing annual reports of activities and surveys as well as employee evaluations
  • Develop a strategic plan for the new Plant and Soil Health Center, including key performance indicators, and annual reports for the Center.
  • Provide feedback and guidance directly to inquiries and respond to clients.

    Minium Qualifications

    • Earned doctoral degree in soil science, soil chemistry, plant science, agricultural engineering, Doctor of Plant Medicine/Doctor of Plant Health degree, or closely related disciplines.
    • For the Assistant Extension Professor title, at least three years of relevant experience is required.
    • For the Associate Extension Professor title, at least five years of experience as an Assistant Extension Professor or the equivalent is required.
    • Three to five years of public, private, or academic experience operating or directing a soil, plant analysis, or environmental analysis laboratory.
    • Proven communication skills, including writing and presentation skills as evidenced in the applicant’s curriculum vitae.
    • Understand, develop, and implement laboratory standard operating procedures, protocols, safety guidelines, chemical hygiene plans, and operational workflows and pipelines, such as analytical instruments.
    • Computer literacy, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite. MS Access is used as the SNAL laboratory information management system (LIMS), with support from Agstar programmers. Knowledge of alternate LIMS may be considered.
    • Experience serving in supervisory and leadership positions, particularly within an academic or service center context.
    • Experience with budgets, spending plans, and fiscal management for a laboratory, academic setting, or service center.

      Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a successful candidate is selected. Apply Now!

      All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at  http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp

      Apply

      Senior Liz Helmin wins CTASLA Honor Award

      Senior Liz Helmin won a CTASLA Honor Award for her project for LAND 3430: Design III.

      Project Description: The goal in redesigning downtown Storrs was to provide a seasonally inclusive space that emphasized the importance of placemaking opportunities for visitors, Mansfield residents, EO Smith students, and UConn students. The design included wind and solar/heat mitigation tactics such as the implementation of water in Betsy Patterson Square and shade options including vegetation throughout the downtown. The design pitch emphasized these interventions to take place over a certain period of time and in different stages, allowing there to be time for proper construction documentation and funding to take place. This experience allowed students to meet with Storrs community members and officials, provide design options including site furnishings, stormwater management, and wind mitigation methods, as well as strengthen presentation/communication skills when in dialogue with this community.

      Comments from judges: "I really appreciated the process illustrated by the submission. The work clearly illustrates how analysis informed the process of design and allowed the designer to create a unique design that related to the specific site. The graphics were simplistic and powerful allowing for me to visualize the final design and understand the concepts included. I appreciated the thoughts put into not only the user experience but some of the technical aspects of design such as stormwater and materials...

      Guest Speaker February 26th

      If you are interested in working for USDA agencies, such as ARS and NRCS as a soil scientist, and would like to learn their requirements and job application processes and tips, please join the on-line Q&A event. We have invited USDA-ARS soil scientist Dr. Curtis Ransom and USDA-ARS hiring manger Melinda Nunnally to discuss tips and processes to prepare yourself to become a USDA soil scientist or certified soil scientist and answer questions you may have. The event is at 3:00-4:00PM next Monday, Feb. 26th.

      Please RSVP by Friday, Feb. 23 at https://uconn.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cZ4BcSWo2OAqh9Q.

      The WebEx link will be sent to you after your RSVP.

      EPA Worker Protection Standard Training

      Travis Clark will be offering a training for the EPA Worker Protection Standard training for Plant Science employees that couldn’t attend the first session at YOUNG RM 122 on Thursday, February 22nd from 10:30am-11:30am.  This one-hour training session is federally mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency concerning working with and around pesticides.

      What is the EPA Worker Protection Standard?

      As of January 1, 1995, the EPA Worker Protection Standard requires workers and pesticide handlers to be trained in the hazards, precautions (posted signs, protective equipment, etc.), personal cleanup, and other safety items associated with applying pesticides or working with pesticide contaminated plants, soils, etc.

      Who falls into this category? 

      Any full or part time faculty, staff, or student employee who comes into contact with pesticides in the “production” of agricultural plants on a farm, forest, orchard, nursery, or greenhouse.  (Anyone who works in one of our greenhouses or farms at any level).

      Beginning January 2017, this EPA mandated training must be updated annually.

      Check the UConn EH&S website to verify when you were last trained for the WPS.

      Research uses of pesticides are not exempt.

      ***If you need this training and cannot make it this Thursday, please email travis.clark@uconn.edu and we can set up a time to meet.**

      PSLA Administrative Office Closed 12/25/23 – 1/1/24

      The PSLA Administrative Office will be closed from Monday December 25th, 2023 through January 1st, 2024 for the holiday break. Limited staff will be working remotely on Dec 27-29 and the PSLA mailbox will be monitored, during that time. We will return to the office on January 2nd, 2024. Please plan accordingly.

      We hope you have a peaceful and safe holiday season!