To help more Nebraska students of all ages gain an understanding of science and agriculture, Farm Credit Services of America has given $100,000 to bolster the Science Literacy Initiative at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation will support the university's efforts to integrate agriculture and natural resource education into pre-K through 12th grade curriculum through a combination of programs and research at the local, state, national, and international levels.

"This gift will significantly enhance the initiative's capacity to foster science literacy in Nebraska and beyond," Cory Forbes, Science Literacy Initiative coordinator, said. "We're deeply appreciative of Farm Credit's generous support and thankful for its shared commitment to this important endeavor."

About making the gift, Bob Campbell, FCSAmerica senior vice president, said, "The University of Nebraska has a vital role in promoting science literacy as an important means of supporting the country's food and agricultural workforce now and in the future, which makes this contribution and investment especially meaningful for us and all those we serve."

FCSAmerica is one of the region's leading providers of credit and insurance services to farmers, ranchers, agribusiness and rural residents. Its gift to the Science Literacy Initiative is part of its centennial celebration, which is focused on supporting agriculture for the next 100 years.

The Science Literacy Initiative promotes a scientifically literate society capable of making decisions grounded in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) so individuals can address challenges associated with food, fuel, water and more. These efforts are being pursued through several multidisciplinary programs, including pre-K through 12th grade programs with learning experiences for students in formal and non-formal settings, professional development programs for teachers and education experiences for future teachers. More information about the Science Literacy Initiative is available at http://casnr.unl.edu/grow-eat-learn.

The university's science literacy efforts have also received federal support. UNL received a $50,000 grant in 2014 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to launch the National Agricultural Literacy Center. The center works to promote the Science Literary Initiative and to develop K-12 STEM curriculum materials focusing on the science behind agriculture.

Farm Credit Services of America has had a longtime philanthropic partnership with the University of Nebraska. Past gifts have supported the new Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center under construction in Lincoln, the High Plains Agriculture Laboratory north of Sidney, a new education center building at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, the Feedlot Management Specialization program and the Nebraska Beef Industry Scholarship.

UNL News Release