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The College of Central Florida has been awarded a $643,598 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education (NSF-ATE) program to establish The Central Florida Aquatic Workforce and Research Project. This three-year initiative will prepare associate-level graduates for technical occupations in agricultural, ecological and environmental engineering and water conservation.

The project will involve 150 associate-level students and 100 high school juniors and seniors, offering hands-on learning through fieldwork, internships and research activities. Key objectives include:

• Developing an interdisciplinary course to enhance technical skills in data analysis, geospatial technology, and water quality assessment.
• Providing industry-aligned research and fieldwork experiences.
• Expanding recruitment pathways through targeted outreach and dual enrollment programs for high school students, especially those from rural and underrepresented minority communities.

This initiative will equip students with practical skills for technician-level jobs, addressing Florida’s workforce needs in aquatic and environmental fields. By partnering with local high schools, 91��Ƭ will engage students in hands-on learning about aquatics careers through course-based field experiences, internships and research activities.

“Through this grant, we can provide our students with the hands-on experience and technical skills necessary to succeed in the aquatics workforce,” said John Ash, 91��Ƭ Dean of Business, Technology and Agricultural Sciences. “We are excited about the opportunities this project will create for our students and the positive impact it will have on our community.”

For more information about 91��Ƭ’s Business and Technology programs, visit 91��Ƭ.edu/BusTech.

The National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program has been funding innovation at two-year colleges for over 20 years. With a focus on the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation’s economy, and strong partnerships between academic institutions and industry, ATE promotes improvement in the education of science and engineering technicians at the undergraduate and secondary school levels.

To learn more about the National Science Foundation, visit NSF.gov.