Survey of Agriculture and Life Sciences Communications

Development of written, oral, visual and electronic communications relevant to agriculture and life sciences. Students develop a set of communication skills applicable to agriculture and life science contexts and for various audiences.

I collaborated with a classmate to design a survey project aimed at meeting learning objectives in agricultural and life sciences communication. We finalized a topic and audience, developed an introduction outlining research objectives and data collection methods, crafted a 15-question questionnaire, and formulated 8 labeled questions for a focus group. In the reflection, we considered participant surprises, data utility in agricultural communication, and potential research challenges.

​The feature story project, I was tasked with creating an 800-word narrative accompanied by two captioned photographs. The story required adherence to journalistic writing standards, including a headline, byline, lead paragraph, quotes, attributions, and a conclusion, all while maintaining objectivity. Additionally, I needed to ensure the accompanying photographs were of high quality, capturing the subject's impact, and included informative captions.

​ For this technical writing assignment, I chose to craft a press release. Using this format, I communicated key information about a specific topic, ensuring clarity, conciseness, and professionalism throughout. The press release was structured with clear subheadings, consistent language, and an absence of grammatical errors. The evaluation criteria included audience identification, organization, precision of language, and adherence to industry standards.
Crisis Communications Assignment we simulate managing a crisis scenario within a fictional company. The assignment includes creating a detailed company profile, forecasting two distinct crises, and crafting communication strategies for three key touch points: beginning, during, and after the crisis. Through this exercise, we developed critical thinking skills and practical communication strategies to effectively navigate and mitigate potential crises in real-world scenarios.

​ I participated in weekly roundtable discussions  and one week I co-facilitated discussions on relevant agricultural topics. Following each session, I composed a post-discussion reflection to assess our effectiveness in engaging participants and guiding the conversation. Through this reflective process, I honed my skills in leading discussions, actively listening, and articulating insights effectively. This sample to the left is from our week 8 roundtable over technology in agriculture. 
​ For this assignment, I compared three communication platforms throughout history, emphasizing their relevance in agricultural contexts. I selected an early form of communication, a later invention, and a digital platform, examining their advantages, innovations, and limitations within agriculture. Drawing on examples from agriculture and life sciences, I analyzed their evolution and impact, concluding with reflections on their cultural and societal significance in modern communication.