2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Inclusive Experiential Learning for STEM Students in Sustainable Robotic Agriculture

Presented at Strategies and/or Approaches to Engage Students in Agricultural, Biological, or Similarly Named Programs

As the world grapples with challenges like climate change, population growth, and food security, sustainable agriculture has become a critical area of focus. Robotic agriculture, with its potential to improve efficiency and sustainability, is at the forefront of this transformation. STEM students, as future innovators and leaders, need to be well-equipped with knowledge and skills in this domain. However, the key to effective learning lies in inclusivity and hands-on experience. This paper aims to elucidate strategies for integrating inclusive experiential learning with sustainable robotic agriculture in STEM education.
The student participants from science and engineering explored the potential benefits and challenges of technologies such as Farmbots (an open-source farming technology that combines robotics, automation, and software to facilitate precision farming in small-scale agricultural settings) while considering the equitable distribution of resources, the three P’s (People, Planet, and Profit) of sustainability, and the well-being of communities and workers involved in agriculture. One important aspect of the experiential learning project was growing peanuts and hemp with FarmBots. Growing peanuts provided a unique opportunity to not only explore the agricultural contributions of George Washington Carver, an African American scientist in the early 20th century, but also helped shedding light on his remarkable achievements in the context of social justice. By integrating hemp cultivation on the FarmBot platform, the investigators created an engaging space that highlighted the potential of this crop while addressing the historical and contemporary social challenges faced by marginalized communities. The students honed their content on the importance of sustainable economic development, environmental stewardship, accessible healthcare, criminal justice reform, and education as crucial components of a socially just approach to hemp cultivation. Besides receiving hands-on-experiences, the STEM majors working on experiential learning projects explored how these technologies can be made accessible to small-scale farmers, disadvantaged communities, and regions with limited resources.
The experiential learning activities addressed barriers to access and promoting equity in the adoption, and use of robotic agriculture technologies. The primary and the co-authors are collaborating with community-based organizations to design and implement projects that leverage robotic agriculture and FarmBots to address those needs. Some of the initiatives like community-led urban farming projects, training programs, or cooperative models that empower and benefit the community are taken into consideration to enhance such collaborations with the community at large.

Authors

Dr. Madhumi Mitra Ph.D. University of Maryland, Eastern Shore [biography]

Dr. Madhumi Mitra is a tenured full professor in the Department of Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), specializing in Biological and Environmental Sciences. With a strong academic and research background, she also serves as the coordinator for the biology and chemistry education programs, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to fostering educational excellence. Beyond her role at UMES, Dr. Mitra's scholarly contributions extend to her position as a regional editor for the prestigious Taylor and Francis' journal, International Journal of Ambient Energy. Through her active involvement, she consistently contributes to the advancement of knowledge within her field of expertise. She completed her Ph.D. in Plant Biology at North Carolina State University in 2002. Prior to her doctoral studies, she earned a B.Sc. degree in Botany from Presidency College (now Presidency University) and a M.Sc. degree in Botany from the University of Calcutta, India.
Dr. Mitra's research interests encompass a broad range of areas, including micro and macroalgal ecology, the nutritional potential of medicinal plants such as hemp, the biomonitoring and biosorption capabilities of marine plants, bioenergy derived from algae, water quality, and sustainable robotic farming utilizing seaweeds as biostimulants. Her expertise and significant contributions in these domains have garnered numerous research and teaching awards, solidifying her reputation as a leading expert in her field. Notably, Dr. Mitra has made extensive contributions to the scientific community through her publications in reputable peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. She has also co-edited and coauthored two books: one on Bioenergy published by Springer Academic Publishers in 2020, and another on Artificial Intelligence in the 21st Century for CRC Press, a Taylor and Francis group in 2023. She has been a recipient of over 15 million dollars in research grants as a principal and a co-principal investigator, further advancing her research endeavors. Throughout her career, Dr. Mitra has held significant leadership positions within professional organizations. As the Division Chair of the Energy Conversion and Conservation Division (ECCD) of the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), she has actively contributed to the advancement of the field. Additionally, she has served on the Board of Directors for Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT) for over five years, advocating for renewable energy and climate change initiatives. Dr. Mitra's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is evident through her contributions to the ASEE's Commission on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. With over 24 years of experience as an educator, researcher, and grant writer, Dr. Madhumi Mitra's contributions to the fields of plant and environmental sciences have been invaluable. Her commitment to excellence, passion for research, and dedication to promoting knowledge dissemination have established her as a respected authority in her field.
Dr. Abhijit Nagchaudhuri University of Maryland, Eastern Shore [biography]

Dr. Abhijit Nagchaudhuri is currently a Professor in the Department of Engineering and Aviation Sciences at University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He is a member American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME), American Society for Engineering Education (
Mr. Jesu Raj Pandya University of Maryland, Eastern Shore [biography]

Currently a doctoral student in Food & Agriculture Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES),
MSc - Applied Computer Sciences at UMES,
BSc - Electrical and Electronical Engineering ( JNTU).

Interest in robotics and automation in food prod

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