Livelihood Systems in Mexico 's Gulf Region: How to make research and extension relevant?
This theme invites ideas that, along with stakeholder input, could inform an "action plan" for increasing the impact of future research and extension. Related questions include:
- What is the purpose of research and extension? How does it advance "development"? (What? For whom?)
- How do information needs, interests and knowledge systems of resource-limited farmers differ from those with greater endowments?
- Which extension approaches are most promising for addressing these differing needs and interests?
- Which institutional frameworks or arrangements hold promise for increasing the effectiveness and relevance of research and extension?
- What are the roles for farmer associations or other membership organizations? university and research institutions? government agencies? NGOs? Others?
- Facilitate the formation of functional Cornell-UADY (and UV) theme groups during the trip. Activities : Informal group meetings in the evening. Group presentations during certain class meetings. Continuous interaction and information processing. Goals : problem definition for term projects and establishment of personal relationships.
- Term project presentations by theme groups (on-campus segment). Written term projects are due about one month after the field lab. Individual or contracted team-written papers are acceptable.
- Subsequently, each theme group will have two class periods to present their integrated analysis, findings, positions and recommendations, one session for Cornell members and one session for UADY members. Thereby, four videotaped sessions will be utilized for this purpose. An optional general discussion session to culminate the experience, and to set the stage for AnSc 400, may be useful.
- Four Cornell videoconferences are planned prior to the theme group presentations
