By Andi Anderson
The University of Iowa has been awarded a $6 million grant from the National Science Foundation to conduct a four-year study on the impact of extreme weather on agricultural communities.
The study will involve placing approximately 500 sensors across Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, and Kansas.
Jun Wang, chair of the UI Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering and a James E. Ashton professor in the College of Engineering, explained that the UI-invented weather sensors will be placed in fields and neighborhoods.
These small sensors will collect data on soil and air temperatures and humidity levels, which will help predict extreme weather events in rural areas.
Xiaomao Lin, a professor in the Department of Agronomy at Kansas State University, emphasized the importance of the study for improving water management and conservation techniques across the four states.
The project aims to manage water usage in agricultural operations, identify harmful environmental factors like heat waves or smoke, and create strategies to mitigate heat stress, thereby fostering more resilient rural communities.
The researchers will be able to analyze the data collected by the sensors in real-time, allowing for immediate insights.
"We are looking to find the tangible impacts for rural communities in Iowa," said Wang. "We want to demonstrate how these sensors can help rural communities manage and predict severe weather and climate change."
The research, which began this week, is set to conclude on July 31, 2028. In addition to technical research, the team will engage with local townships to understand residents' perceptions and concerns about climate change.
The University of Iowa leads this collaborative effort, with significant contributions from Kansas State University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the University of Arkansas.
Ann McKenna, dean of the UI’s College of Engineering, highlighted the project's significance, stating, "This significant NSF award underscores the University of Iowa’s role in creating engineering solutions to address critical issues facing our rural communities. Through collaborations such as these, we can continue to raise the bar in transformative research, benefiting all Iowans."
Faculty and staff from ten departments and schools across the UI are contributing to this study. The researchers worked with their university partners, mayors, and town leaders to determine the optimal locations for the sensors.
The federal funding is part of a $77.8 million national investment in the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, which supports science and technology research and development at colleges and universities.
Through this groundbreaking research, the University of Iowa aims to make significant strides in understanding and mitigating the impacts of extreme weather on agriculture, ultimately benefiting rural communities across multiple states.
Photo Credit: pexels-karolina-grabowska
Categories: Iowa, Education