University of Arizona - Desert Yearbook (Tucson, AZ)

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Wildlife and Fisheries science is another department in the College of Agriculture that is predominantly preoccupied with the growth of lifes natural resources. In addition are concerned with the management of resources for water, wood, forage, recreation, wildlife, fish- eries, soil and aesthetic values. The department also provides students with a broad background for a professional career with state fish and game departments, with federal fish and wildlife or other natural resource management agencies, or for graduate study. In addition to the course requirements, it is recommended that stu- dents seek summer employment in related work with a state or federal agency. The main concern of the department as well as with all the others is that communities everywhere have not been well-informed on the field of agri- culture. Generally comments tend to be on the negative end of criticism. People do not think that nothing productive is coming from agriculture since urbanization has moved into the land. • Maria Altamirano There is a question line forming around Pro- fessor Hamilton during his weed science lab. Although lab is de- signed for study time of specimen, Hamilton is ready to answer any questions. Note: Paper in hand looks like a test. Photo by GREG BERG 20 ACADEMICS With Professor Dobrenz present during the plant science lab was a relief to these students. He helped them get started with the draw- ing and labeling of their given specimen. Note: Designer label on striped T-shirt. Photo by SPENCER WAL- TERS There seems to be some- thing peculiar about this students particular study specimen because it has caused Professor Dobrenz to come and make a personal survey of it. Note: Curious look on Professors face. Pho- to by SPENCER WAL- TERS

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onto Of CHANOe Urban Development A Growing Threat Everybody has to eat food and wear clothes, agriculture ' s teaching and research is specifi- cally in that area, said Professor Albert K. Dobrenz. The College of Agriculture is naturally responsible for producing the resources used in making those items, said Dobrenz. Agriculture itself is too broad a field for study and discussion. But the departments are the ones that deal with further specific discussion and research in those different areas. There does seem to be a misunderstanding among people in general about agriculture, said Dobrenz. True it is not the most glamorous field to work in and the students that are looking for a glamorous, high-paying job are the first ones to turn away. But if the student is looking for a field in which they will be doing fulfilling work, agriculture is the one to take a serious look at. Agriculture students, already decided on their major, are often provoked into thinking about changing it. The reason being is that there is not a great demand for agriculture graduates anymore. They do however have the choice of continuing with research, which does not really give the graduate hands-on experience. Pro- fessor Dobrenz did say that in his 23 years at the UA he has never failed to place a student in a good job. He says that not enough recruiting is done either. Advancements within the college, said Dobrenz, have been shown to have increased in the area of transferring genes from plant to plant. This pro- cess is also used on animals. Altering genes is another area where there has been a large amount of advancement, he said. There is also a greater understanding of genetic engineering and mor- phology, physiology and of anatomy growth and development. • Maria Altamirano A person could get quite confused and lost without the lifesaving system that lab pro- fessors intuitively cre- ated. It was named PARTNERS. Lab be- comes less stressful and more interesting. Note: Students seriously re- cording data. Photo by SPENCER WALTERS AGRICULTURE 19

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GMWINO AMD PLANTING TECHNIQUE HIGHLY CRITICIZED Agriculture Is Said To Be Wasting Water The year of the undergraduate was not nearly as successful as it should have been. Pro- fessor Keith C. Hamilton said. Being a part of the faculty in the college of a griculture made him more aware of the situation, since it rose in the college. Since the college is in a period of change, it (the loss of attention to students) does not improve the college ' s situation much either, he said. He does not feel he can say where the department of plant sciences is going but, ask me that same question in another 50 of 60 years and then I will know for sure where it will be. Hamilton did say that the truly interested and dedicated students would stay regardless of the changes and problems that the college is going through. Attitudes towards the field of agriculture have been for the most part saddening because of the fact that the public is not being properly informed on the responsibilities the college actually has. Hamilton estimates that only in the recent 10-15 years has there been a significant decline of inter- est in agriculture. Urban development in the communities is causing the problems but at the same time, Hamilton admits, it is creating new opportunities for those students interested in that area. Hamilton said the opening of shopping malls and golf courses are part of the urbanization. As a result many of the older jobs such as working on farms have become almost nonexistent. So the new jobs in actuality are just replacing the quickly vanishing ones. IMHI r AGRICULTURE 21