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�鶹ӳ�� our College

A founding college of the University, we have a long tradition of excellence in teaching, research and engagement programs that benefit the health and economic vitality of �鶹ӳ��. We offer programs in:

• agriculture, horticulture, rangeland & veterinary sciences
• biochemistry & molecular biology
• children, youth & families
• community & economic development
• health & nutrition
• natural resources & environmental science

University-trained firefighter volunteers to help Australia

Rangeland Ecology and Management Program student and Bureau of Land Management �鶹ӳ�� firefighter Matt Petersen joins international taskforce

Ashley Andrews

Photo courtesy Bureau of Land Management �鶹ӳ��.

"I am not surprised that Matt volunteered to help out with the wildland fires in Australia," Tamzen Stringham, a professor with the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, said. "He is a good-natured individual who is truly interested in the ecology and management of rangelands."

Petersen learned a lot about the subject as a student in the College's Rangeland Ecology & Management Program.

The University-taught program was developed by Stringham and fellow University ecologist , with support from the College's . It helps Bureau of Land Management fire professionals to protect and restore �鶹ӳ�� lands.

Although the program is crafted for arid-land fire professionals, its information is helpful in a variety of situations.

For example, Stringham said the program "provided Matt with knowledge of fire effects on vegetation and soils, along with the knowledge that fires burn across a diversity of landscapes and rehabilitation is not a one size fits all proposition."

The educational program for �鶹ӳ��, through Petersen's volunteerism, has now helped Australia too.

Extension introduces economic development initiative across �鶹ӳ��

Collaborative University project aims to improve county data for planning efforts

Tiffany Kozsan

A collaborative statewide initiative, led by the , is underway to provide counties with timely economic data and analytical tools to improve county-level planning and policy assessment efforts.

The �鶹ӳ�� Economic Assessment Project (also known as “NEAP”) aims to provide county, state and federal agencies, and their partners, with quantitative and qualitative baseline data and analyses to better understand trends in each county’s demographic, social, economic, fiscal and environmental characteristics.

The project is led by and , who are both community economic development specialists with Extension. Harris is also director of the University Center for Economic Development.

The project is currently active in Elko, Esmeralda, Humboldt, Lincoln and Nye Counties, and will be launched in the other �鶹ӳ�� counties over the next 18 months. Each county process takes about five months and includes data collection and analysis, economic impact model development, asset mapping and county workshops, all based on local input.

The project’s contributing members include the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources; the College's ; University Center for Economic Development;  ; ; ; and the .

Extension presents Youth Livestock Conference & Workshop

Interactive experience Feb 15. helps youth, adults learn how to care for animals

Ashley Andrews

The event's classroom and hands-on learning experiences will prepare youth for fair and ranch events. Photo by Lindsay Chichester.

's is presenting its first annual Youth Livestock Conference & Workshop Feb. 15. The event will be held 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. at the Bristlecone Convention Center and White Pine County Fairgrounds in Ely, �鶹ӳ��.

It will prepare youth for fair and ranch events by providing classroom instruction and hands-on learning in the areas of Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA), livestock nutrition and feeding, animal handling and showmanship, meat quality, and carcass grading. 

The event's workshops will be conducted by and Mozart Fonseca, with �鶹ӳ��'s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources; , with the College's Extension; and Haden Davis, with Utah State University.

4-H youth and families are invited to attend. The event is also open to FFA youth and others, including adults.

The event cost is $65 and includes snacks, lunch and materials. Advanced registration is encouraged. To register, contact .

Hannah Alfaro

Mozart Fonseca, an associate professor in the Department of Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences, discussed the effects of cattle nutrition on epigenetics. Photo by Robert Moore.

�鶹ӳ�� held the annual Cattlemen’s Update across �鶹ӳ�� Jan. 6-10, 2020, focusing on cattle markets, cattle grazing, and upcoming and ongoing research projects that impact the �鶹ӳ�� beef industry. The event provided current research-based information about important management practices and issues that may affect the efficiency, productivity, profitability and sustainability of the state’s cattle production businesses.

The five-day event with seven locations across the state was a partnership led by the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, and its and units. Other program partners included local sponsors and . Each day, the three- to four-hour program was held at a different location, where experts discussed pertinent topics with participants.

�鶹ӳ�� Rancher Magazine published an article about the event summarizing its key takeaways.

Hannah Alfaro

Marina MacLean hopes to increase outreach and interest in biochemistry fields. Photo by Robert Moore.

Marina MacLean has joined the �鶹ӳ��’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources as a lecturer for molecular biology labs in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.

MacLean has a background in investigating how insects communicate with each other, with her most recent research focusing on collecting and presenting information that could lead to new ways to manage pine bark beetles, which are extremely destructive forest pests. She is investigating insect lipid metabolism, which is how insects turn their food into energy and cells. Specifically, she’s studying the enzymes involved in creating an oil that covers the insect’s skin and acts as a communication signal.

In 2018, MacLean presented her work at the and published her work in Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. In 2019, she completed her doctorate degree in biochemistry at the University. In addition to her research, MacLean has taught general chemistry at Sierra College and has supervised undergraduate and biotechnology students at the University.

“One of the best things about the University is the access students have to world-class research,” MacLean said. “As a student, I was grateful for the willingness of all the professors I had to help with experimental design and problem-solving. As a member of the teaching faculty in the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Department, I am excited to pay that forward to my future students and help them gain confidence while conducting molecular biology research.”

As a lecturer with the University, MacLean aims to use her experience as a chemistry instructor and researcher to increase interest in science among college and high school students through outreach and curriculum development. She also wants to continue her research into insect biochemistry as part of the College’s .

“MacLean is an integral part of the department,” said Bob Ryan, department chair. “Along with her assigned duties as a lecturer, she manages the laboratory and has stepped in when we were short on instructors. She’s a terrific resource and overall great person to have in the department.”