As a member of the Sustainability Opportunities in Agricultural Research-Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (SOAR-REEU) 2025 intern cohort, Hans Arvidson-Hicks has embraced both the cutting edge of agriculture science research and the day-to-day experience of nonprofit urban farming. "This summer, I’m working on a project that uses convolutional neural networks to identify and score disease-resistant grapevines quickly," says Arvidson-Hicks. "Hopefully, in the long term, an AI system can be used to find suitable vines that have disease-resistant traits for further crossbreeding."
With the rewarding, hands-on experience as a research assistant and participant in day-to-day operations of the University of Minnesota's Horticultural Research Center, Arvidson-Hicks has been kept busy, but the program also encompasses seeing the operations of several urban farms, such as Urban Roots. "I’m also grateful for the way the SOAR-REEU program has connected me with the local Twin Cities farm network through the weekly field trips," he says. "As a longtime resident of the Twin Cities area, I hope that in the future I can be a volunteer at some of the nonprofit farms I’ve been able to visit."
For the rest of Hans Arvidson-Hicks's reflection piece and more photos from the field, visit the SOAR-REEU newsletter.