ARS science education website open to student and educators
Following the success of other programs, AgLab is geared toward K-12 students interested in food and science and shows how agricultural research affects everyone every day.
AgLab builds on the past successes of its predecessor, Sci4Kids, in educating students about the critical intersect of science and agriculture in their daily lives, such as wrinkle-free cotton, edible coatings that keep apple slices from turning brown, a low-glycemic sweetener, DEET insecticide and a bounty of new varieties of fruits and vegetables.
Geared toward k-12 students with an interest in food and science, AgLab offers a variety of content to promote a greater understanding of how agricultural research is helping meet the food, fiber, feed and fuel needs of a growing world population while also safeguarding our environment and natural resources.
For example, students considering career fields in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) may be especially interested in AgLab’s “20 for 30” offering. It profiles young researchers on the rise at ARS – starting with Jaqueline Serrano, an entomologist who is with the agency’s Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research Unit in Wapato, Washington.
Other features include:
- An interactive map showing what ARS research is underway at locations near you
- Mobile apps like “FoodData Central,” where you can learn about what ingredients are in the food you eat and nutritional info about them
- Learn and explore sections that help students discover the wonders of agricultural science
Check back often to view new AgLab content, including videos, games, contests, experiments and recipes.
The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in agricultural research results in $17 of economic impact.