UNH Cooperative Extension has funded graduate assistantships since 2006 to increase faculty and student involvement in engagement and outreach, provide graduate students experience working with community partners, and increase Extension’s ability to provide programming that improves the lives of people living in New Hampshire.

This effort was in response to both Extension's Strategic Plan and UNH’s Academic Plan, promoting and supporting university engagement and partnerships between Extension and UNH’s academic departments. Nine high-quality proposals were reviewed by the Leadership Team this year and I'm pleased to announce the 2008 awards:

Becky Grube, Extension Associate Professor/Specialist in Sustainable Horticulture, teamed with Kelly Cullen in the Department of Resource Economics, Robert Mohr at the Whittemore School of Business and Economics, and Charlie French, Extension Associate Professor/Specialist, Community Development, to submit the successful proposal, On-Farm Biodiesel Production and the Establishment of the New England Energy Consortium. The objectives of this project are to comprehensively examine the viability of on-farm and community-scale biodiesel production in New England, create research-based educational materials about on-farm and community-scale biodiesel production, and network with other researchers, farmers and educators to compile information about innovative strategies for a sustainable energy future for New England.

Matt Tarr, Extension Assistant Professor/Specialist, Wildlife, and Kim Babbitt, professor in the Department of Natural Resources, were also awarded a graduate assistantship for their project, Vernal Pool Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Wetland Policy Analysis for the State of New Hampshire. This project will help New Hampshire communities better conserve and manage wetlands through analysis of the ecologic, social, political and economic processes controlling wetland stewardship. The project has two phases. In Phase I, BMPs for forestry activities near vernal pools will be developed, widely communicated, and incorporated into a guidance document in cooperation with NH Fish and Game and the NH Dept. of Environmental Services. Phase II will be a much-needed evaluation of the efficacy of existing wetland-related policies in New Hampshire, resulting in planning tools designed to improve community-level wetland management decision-making.

Both projects were funded for two years with a full graduate assistant stipend, tuition wavier, and graduate student health insurance. Congratulations and we look forward to sharing the results of these exciting projects.