John Henson, Charles A. Dana Professor of Biology, Dickinson College, Carlisle PA

Science on the Farm: An Overview of Student/Faculty Research Projects Utilizing the Dickinson College Organic Farm

Since its inception the Dickinson College Organic Farm has been the site of a number of student/faculty scientific research projects running the gamut from hydrogeology to microbiology. Research projects have been pursued as aspects of the teaching laboratories of specific courses – such as Biology of Behavior, Ecology, Infection vs. Immunity, Plant Physiology, and Health Studies – as well as part time academic year and full time summer research efforts. Specific projects have included the nesting ecology of blue birds, the orientation behavior of honeybees, aspects of integrated pest management and biological control, stream ecology monitoring, alterations in plant biochemical pathways, and the impacts of vermicompost extract on disease suppression and productivity. This latter project will be discussed in detail as an example of a full time summer student/faculty research project that integrated aspects of sustainable agriculture practices with the analysis of microbial communities and plant productivity.

*session shared with Professor Cervino

Anthony Cervino, Assistant Professor of Art, Dickinson College, PA

Farm Art, Creativity and the College Farm

College farms offer a rare opportunity to bring students out of the classroom and into an exciting environment for artmaking. Illustrated by past and current collaborative experiences between the Department of Art & Art History at Dickinson College and the Dickinson College Farm, this presentation will touch on the potential for students to make art that responds to both the physical and conceptual landscape of college farms. Additionally this talk will look at the use of farms as a non-traditional venue for exhibiting artwork.

*session shared with Professor Henson