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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Agricultural Genetic Resources Preservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #401023
Research Project: Efficient and Effective Preservation and Management of Plant and Microbial Genetic Resource Collections

Location: Agricultural Genetic Resources Preservation Research

Title: GRIN-U.org: Online portal for learning materials on plant genetic resources

Author
item BYRNE, P - Colorado State University
item Volk, Gayle
item NAMUTH-COVERT, D - Colorado State University
item CHEN, K - Colorado State University
item Kinard, Gary
item Gu, Lirong
item GARDNER, CANDICE - Iowa State University
item MAHAMA, A - Iowa State University
item DOUGLASS, F - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item CERIMELE, G - Colorado State University
item GRAY, S - Iowa State University
item ZARESTKY, J - Colorado State University
item MORRIS, G - Colorado State University

Submitted to: Natural Sciences Education
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/16/2023
Publication Date: 3/27/2023
Citation: Byrne, P.F., Volk, G.M., Namuth-Covert, D., Chen, K., Kinard, G.R., Gu, L.M., Gardner, C., Mahama, A., Douglass, F., Cerimele, G., Gray, S., Zarestky, J., Morris, G. 2023. GRIN-U.org: Online portal for learning materials on plant genetic resources. Natural Sciences Education. 52(1). Article e20109. https://doi.org/10.1002/nse2.20109.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/nse2.20109

Interpretive Summary: This short manuscript is published in a journal that publishes 1-page descriptions of web resources relevant to teaching. We provide information about GRIN-U.org, a training and outreach website developed by USDA scientists in collaboration with colleagues at Colorado State University and Iowa State University. The freely available videos, eBooks, infographics, and webinars are on topics related to plant genetic resources conservation and use, including plant genebank management and breeding.

Technical Abstract: Effective conservation and use of plant genetic resources (PGR) require specialized knowledge and skills. The repository website GRIN.org was established to provide free public access to a wide array of learning materials (including videos, eBooks, infographics, and webinars, as well as links to fee-based courses) that support PGR education and professional development training. The videos are also accessible through a YouTube channel, GRIN-U Education. Among the topics covered are the fundamentals of genebanking, cryopreservation techniques, conservation of crop wild relatives, applications of plant pathology, impacts of climate change, success stories of PGR use, and virtual tours of field plots and the National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation. The materials can be used in formal and informal educational settings, including high school and college academic courses, employee training, and upskilling. A wide array of targeted career paths include germplasm conservationist, plant breeder/geneticist, botanical garden curator, seed technologist, and plant science educator.