Teachers invited to Summer Soybean Institute

Lincoln, Neb. —Why do we grow so many soybeans in Nebraska?

Twenty middle school and high school teachers will explore this question at the 2024 Summer Soybean Institute to be held May 29-30 and July 16-18. Registration deadline in March 18 and priority will be given to cross-curricular teams of teachers.

Teachers will obtain the tools to help their students become soybean enthusiasts through the exploration and inquiry of the Nebraska Soybean Story. Content experts from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the Nebraska Soybean Board and local teacher leader collaboratives will lead the sessions. Teachers will learn and apply systematic thinking to gain an understanding of the soybean as a system.

“This year, we are encouraging cross-curricular teams of teachers to apply, so students can see how soybeans is not only a good fit for science, but has strong connections to data collection, mathematics, economics, business and other areas,” said Bailey Feit, CASNR/LPS focus program coordinator.

Participants will choose to attend at one of the two following locations.

• West Central Research, Extension, and Education Center in North Platte.
• FEWS2 Hub, 114 Food Industry Complex, East Campus, University of Nebraska–Lincoln in Lincoln.

Teachers who complete all five days of the institute will receive a stipend of $1,050, $250 lesson plan implementation bonus and up to $1000 supply budget.

"As a member of the planning team for SSI 2024, I am very excited to see the creativity our teachers can bring to their classrooms," Feit said. "Educators everywhere are very innovative, and the SSI will allow them to learn about soybeans, how important they are to Nebraska, and integrate them into their teaching."

The program team for WCREEC includes:

• Abia Katimbo, Assistant Professor and Irrigation Management Specialist, Daughtery Water for Food Global Institute Faculty Fellow
• Nicolas Cafaro La Menza, Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, WCREEC
• Tammera Mittelstet, CASNR Statewide Education and Career Pathways Coordinator
• Julie Peterson, Associate Director, WCREEC, and Professor of Entomology, Department of Entomology
• Milos Zaric, Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, WCREEC

The program team for East Campus at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln include:

• Christian Elowsky, Assistant Professor of Practice, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture
• Bailey Feit, CASNR and Lincoln Public Schools Early College and Career Pathways Coordinator
• Dylan Mangel, Extension Plant Pathologist and Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Pathology
• Justin McMechan, Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology
• Leah Sandall, Associate Professor of Practice, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture
• Meghan Sindelar, Associate Professor of Practice, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture

The Summer Soybean Institute is supported by Nebraska Soybean Checkoff and Nebraska Extension.

Email k12partners@unl.edu with any questions. More information and registration is at go.unl.edu/2024ssi.