Sustainable grass sports fields: establishment and maintenance
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Summary: This project studies sustainable turfgrass management for sports fields. The objective is to help field managers keep athletes safe while optimizing inputs of water, fertilizer, and pesticides.
Core activities: Students will perform hands-on research including data collection in the field, lab, and greenhouse. Example analyses include: soil physical and chemical properties, organic matter content, surface firmness, and digital image analysis. Participants will also learn to analyze data using R and/or Python.
Other notes: Our lab collaborates with field managers in the MLB, NFL, and MLS, and with UMass graduates who manage golf courses, lawns, and sod farms. Note: you do not need to be a turfgrass major to participate. We welcome students interested in applying their horticultural, biology, chemistry, or other STEM background.
Essay prompt: Why are you interested in science, and what do you hope to get out of the PROPEL research experience?
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This opportunity will teach you the basics of conducting scientific research that can be applied to real-world problems. Sports turf is a unique niche in STEM which provides the chance to apply principles of biology, chemistry, and physics among others.
You will practice the entire scientific process, beginning with hypothesis generation and continuing through experimental design, data collection, analysis, and writing/reporting. Successful candidates may be invited to continue their projects as independent study or thesis projects.