The University of Iowa (UI) recently hosted 34 undergraduates from Iowa, Arkansas, Kansas, and Nebraska for an intensive two-week summer camp focused on environmental data collection and extreme weather resilience. The KANI DARE (Kansas, Arkansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Data-Advanced Research and Education) program explored cutting-edge technologies addressing agricultural challenges related to extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, heat waves and storms.
University and community college students gained hands-on experience with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced sensor systems through interactive workshops and collaborative projects. The camp culminated in students creating 10 research posters showcasing their understanding of how technology can support rural and agricultural communities facing extreme weather events.
"Students benefit by gaining exposure to emerging technologies while developing critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities that can build resilience within rural and agricultural communities," said Shaoping Xiao, UI professor of mechanical engineering, who oversaw the camp with Marc Linderman, associate professor of geographical and sustainability sciences.
More than 30 faculty members, guest speakers, and professionals contributed approximately 20 workshops and lectures, with highlights including a field trip to the UI’s Operator Performance Lab at the Iowa City Municipal Airport.
The camp operates under a $6 million National Science Foundation EPSCoR grant, directed by Jun Wang, UI’s Lichtenberger Family Chair in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering and Iowa Technology Institute assistant director.
The research team based at UI, University of Arkansas, Kansas State University, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is investigating weather prediction challenges in agriculture-based communities disproportionately affected by severe weather change.
The DARE project seeks to establish citizen networks for real-time data collection and develop AI-assisted weather and crop-growth prediction models. By engaging communities through summer camps, field campaigns, and agricultural extension offices, the initiative focuses on building resilience for rural communities with 21st century technologies while advancing workforce education and collaboration.
“The summer camps provide an opportunity for our younger generation to collaborate in enhancing observation, understanding, and prediction of weather and crop systems at the local level—collectively addressing weather-related challenges in these communities at the neighborhood scale in the central U.S," Wang said.
Summer camp participants come from various academic backgrounds, including geography, geoscience, environmental science, engineering, science communications, and policy.Students interested in future participation in the summer camp must submit resumes, transcripts, and essays explaining how the camp aligns with their academic and career goals. The program is free for selected participants and includes housing plus a $100 daily stipend, making advanced environmental research accessible to undergraduate students across the four-state region. More information is available at https://dare.org.uiowa.edu/summer-camp.
