The Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center (AEC) was founded in 2008 as a platform for the College of Agricultural Sciences to develop partnerships with critical external stakeholders in government, industry, and the nonprofit sector to advance science that informs policy and practice.
An AEC staff member and volunteer engaged in restoration activity
Our Mission and Vision
The AEC seeks to solve challenges related to impacts of agriculture and other land uses on water, ecosystems, and the environment. Our vision is to embody Penn State’s land grant mission by applying solutions learned from scientific research, conducting high impact Extension education and training, involving students who learn through engaged scholarship, and engaging farmers, landowners, stakeholders, and communities as partners working together to achieve solution-oriented outcomes.
Our Locations
The AEC has two offices. Its University Park office in the Ferguson Building is embedded within the College’s Institute for Sustainable Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Science (SAFES) and allows for collaboration with SAFES directors, staff, affiliates, and associates, as well as Penn State students and central Pennsylvania partners.
The AEC’s Lower Susquehanna Office is located at the Harrisburg Campus, with work frequently occurring at the College’s Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SEAREC). From this office we facilitate watershed partnerships, work closely with state policy makers in Harrisburg, and support faculty research initiatives in the Lower Susquehanna region, a priority “hot spot” for agriculture and environment issues in the Commonwealth.
Our Work
We build and sustain partnerships and integrate the College’s education, research, community outreach and Extension assets to facilitate collaborative, partnership-based problem solving related to agriculture and the environment at multiple scales.
Partner with Stakeholders
We meet regularly with a diverse set of public and private sector stakeholders in agriculture and the environment, pursuing opportunities for collaboration and increasing the impact of the College's research, education, and Extension. We represent Penn State and the College in important policy venues related to land, water, agriculture and the environment.
Amplify Research Impact
We work collaboratively with SAFES and the College’s Office of Research and Graduate Education to engage stakeholders in and provide support for research development initiatives that apply research findings and amplify impact. We actively participate in research projects to deliver “shared discovery” platforms involving stakeholders and researchers in the co-production of knowledge and application of results. We play a critical role in advancing research in Pennsylvania’s “hot spot” of the Lower Susquehanna, with a focus at the College’s Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SEAREC).
Offer Education and Training
As part of Penn State Extension, we offer innovative, impactful, hands-on education and training to help professionals and citizens address impacts of agriculture and other land uses on water, ecosystems, and the environment.
Enrich Student Experience with Engaged Scholarship
We work closely with the Environmental Resource Management (ERM) Program and other College undergraduate programs to provide students with an enhanced educational experience through engaged scholarship. We leverage our extensive partnerships with agriculture and conservation interests in government, NGO, academic, and private sectors to provide unique and enriching opportunities for Penn State students, including internships with the AEC and its partners, and active participation in the innovative, solution-based initiatives we facilitate.
Engage Communities
Our innovative community watershed engagement model, where Penn State researchers, educators, and students work collaboratively with partners toward local watershed solutions, is a hallmark of our work. Through the Conewago Creek Initiative and subsequent growth of our Lower Susquehanna Regional Partnership, the AEC has established itself as a leader in building watershed restoration partnerships in Pennsylvania. Our projects in the Commonwealth's "nutrient hot spot" of the Lower Susquehanna continue to be a focus of our work, while our work in central Pennsylvania watersheds provides increased engaged scholarship opportunities for Penn State students.
