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University of Illinois to engage high school students through new precision ag program

High school students across the country have the opportunity to get an early start on careers in precision agriculture through a new University of Illinois program.

Assistant Professor Isabella Condotta tells Brownfield with funding from the CHS Foundation, they are offering a free two-week summer course to high school students 16 and older as well as University of Illinois freshmen, to learn the fundamentals of precision agriculture.

“Our idea here is to enable students of diverse backgrounds to start their college career knowing what precision ag is and having a firm foundation on technology.”

She says while the course is virtual in 2021, students will receive materials for hands-on activities to learn a skillset that is in high demand.

“There is a strong need from companies for their future employees to be working with technology, so we would like the students to know that and have that basic skillset starting college.”

The course will cover several topics including coding, precision management of animals, machine learning, robotics, and remote sensing.

Click here for more information, or to apply by April 16, 2021.