January marks the season for resolutions: exercising more, eating well and being more organized. But in the research world, resolutions may not be that simple.
I don’t think that University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers could be any more “resolved” in finding ways to fight citrus diseases and ways to improve how citrus is grown in Florida.
But I do think we can use this opportunity to reflect on how we communicate about our research and engage with our partners across the state. Over the last 18 months, we all have learned how to work together over a Zoom link or from remote offices. And sometimes those methods are effective. But we’ve noticed as we start to offer more face-to-face seminars and meetings that our attendance has been lower than expected.
SHARE YOUR IDEAS
It might be that some of the information is best delivered in an online format. Or perhaps we are not offering the information at the best time or a convenient location. Maybe we need to rethink the topics that we are offering or what information growers really want.
That’s where we need your help.
Let me know what you want to hear about from our researchers and how you want to get that information. We’ve set up a special email account where you can let me know your ideas directly. Drop me a line at Citrusgrowerconnection@ifas.ufl.edu. It’s an account that goes directly to me and is dedicated to hearing from growers. Let me know what you think!
RESEARCH PRIORITIES
The start of a new year is also a good time to …..
Michael Rogers, the director of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred, tells us more about Resolved to Give Growers What They Need on the Citrus Industry website.