Summer 2024 | Issue 22
From the Dean
While the campus may be a bit quieter during the summer months, there is no shortage of hard work being done. Students and faculty continue to forge forward in research and learning across the campus, collaborating on projects that provide the hands-on education that Cal Poly is known for.
Cover Story
GOATS: THE LATEST LAND MANAGEMENT TOOL AT SWANTON PACIFIC RANCH
Catastrophic wildfires have elevated the need for improving the health and resiliency of forests
An unlikely crew of workers blanketed the forested underbrush of Swanton Pacific Ranch in late June in the latest fire management effort – 960 goats.
Mule Packing at Cal Poly and Beyond
During the winter and spring quarters, as the sun quietly rose over the “P” on the eastern hills of Cal Poly’s campus, a group of dedicated students gathered at the Oppenheimer Family Equine Center at 7 a.m. each week, to learn a tradition that has been passed on for generations.
Automation Gains Momentum in Ag
Agricultural robots play an essential role in meeting the increased demand and students in the BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department are at the forefront of research that seeks the use of advanced technological systems to produce more food efficiently.
Grad Receives Prestigious Research Fellowship
When Sophia Forstmann crossed the stage in June to accept her diploma after earning a bachelor’s degree in plant sciences, she did so with a solid plan in place for where her academic journey will go next: pursuing a Ph.D. in Earth system sciences from Stanford University.
‘We’re All Here to Uplift Each Other’ – 26 Hours of Science and Technology Event Embodies Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Dozens of high school students from across the state filed in through the heavy black doors of the new Boswell Agricultural Technology Center with bright eyes and energetic steps.
Cal Poly Wildland-Urban Interface Institute Forges Ahead
In early February, a series of fires swept through Chile that would become the deadliest in the country’s history. The fires killed 132 and affected more than 7,000 people in Quilpué City, Marga Marga Province and more in neighboring areas.
Photo Essay - Cultivate Summer 2024
Preparing Students to Make Headlines
Cultivate is the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences quarterly magazine, sharing student Learn by Doing stories and exploring how our faculty, staff and alumni continue to positively impact the world.