From UF/IFAS
In Summary:
The UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education is conducting a statewide survey to gauge Floridians' knowledge of UF/IFAS and the challenges they want it to address. The 10-minute questionnaire, available in English and Spanish, aims to capture input from a broad range of residents beyond the agriculture sector. Researchers say the results will help shape future programs, improve outreach, and ensure UF/IFAS remains responsive to the state’s evolving needs.
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Without Googling, do you know what UF/IFAS is?
That’s one question a team of public policy researchers from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) wants to answer.
Related: UF/IFAS launches agricultural entrepreneurship program to prepare students to create farming, AgTech businesses.
The UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education (PIE Center) is asking Floridians to complete a brief questionnaire about how much they know about UF/IFAS and the problems they hope UF/IFAS will help solve.
“We’re hoping UF/IFAS will be able to stay in touch with the needs of Floridians as they change,” said Erica Odera, UF/IFAS PIE Center associate scientist. “UF/IFAS is here for the public good, and we want to make sure the programs and efforts we invest in are addressing the needs of all residents.”
The three-part questionnaire takes about 10 minutes to complete. It will be used to help make decisions about future research initiatives, Extension outreach and educational programming. The questionnaire is available in English and in Spanish.
While the PIE Center has already surveyed people who work in the agriculture industry, they particularly want to hear from people who work in other industries across Florida.
Ricky Telg, PIE Center director, said the questionnaire’s results will help UF/IFAS understand which problems across Florida UF/IFAS is equipped to assist with, but also which issues the institute is already addressing – but public awareness may be lacking about those programs.
In addition to this part of the study, the PIE Center has asked for input from industry professionals in agriculture, natural resources, non-profits, county governments and other groups.
“All of these findings are intended to be actionable and will be used to make UF/IFAS even stronger,” Telg said. “This project helps us understand which work we’re doing in research, teaching and Extension aligns with the public’s needs.”
Key Points:
- UF/IFAS PIE Center is surveying Floridians to measure public awareness of UF/IFAS and identify priority issues residents want addressed through research, Extension, and education.
- The statewide survey seeks input from people beyond agriculture to reveal service gaps, improve public awareness, and guide UF/IFAS program planning.
- The survey is available in English and in Spanish.
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human, and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries and all Florida residents.
For more information, go to ifas.ufl.edu.
