Exploring Agriculture, Technology & Community Impact

Agriculture is a field built on generations of knowledge, innovation, and stewardship.  Today, Ag-STEM careers combine that foundation with science, technology, engineering, mathematics, artificial intelligence, health, food systems, and environmental sustainability to solve complex problems and create opportunities for communities around the world. 

​This activity empowers you to explore Ag-STEM pathways aligning with your interests, values, and goals, while mastering AI as a thoughtful collaborator, not merely a source of answers.

Learning Goals

By the end of this activity, you should be able to:

1. Use AI, specifically Janiyah GPT, as a thinking partner rather than an answer machine.
2. ​Build stronger prompts using context and purpose.
3. Explore Ag-STEM majors and careers aligned with your interests.
4. Critically evaluate Janiyah GPT's responses.
5. Identify at least one Ag-STEM pathway you had not previously considered.

Worksheet

Before You Begin: How Will You Use AI?

Janiyah GPT is designed to be a thinking partner, not a replacement for your thinking. As you work through this Ag-STEM Career Discovery Lab, consider the crucial difference between using AI as an assistant and using AI on autopilot.

AI Assistant

• Helps me think
• Suggests options
• Supports learning
• Requires verification
• Expands possibilities

AI Autopilot

• ​Thinks for me
• Makes decisions
• Replaces learning
• Assumed correct
• Narrows curiosity

Take a moment to reflect:

Which approach will help you learn the most?

Which approach will better prepare you for college and careers?

Which approach aligns with your goals and values?

As you move through this activity, remember: You are the decision-maker. Janiyah GPT can help you explore possibilities, ask better questions, and discover opportunities you may not have considered. However, you are responsible for evaluating information, verifying facts, and deciding what is right for you.
Before moving to Step 1, write one sentence: How will I use AI as an assistant rather than an autopilot?

Your interests can be the starting point for your academic, professional, and community journey.

Step 1: Reflect

Before engaging with Janiyah GPT, take a moment to understand your core motivations. This personal reflection will help you formulate more meaningful prompts and discover pathways that truly align with your aspirations.

Identify Your Core Interests

Write down 3-5 areas that genuinely excite you, even if they are not on the list. These will serve as a foundation for your exploration in Step 3.​​

Your future career may not exist within a single subject or discipline. It may emerge at the intersection of technology, storytelling, culture, education, community impact, creativity, and innovation. This visual organizes 50 interest areas into 11 clusters to help learners explore how their passions connect to academic pathways, careers, entrepreneurship, leadership, and social impact. By recognizing the relationships between our interests, we can begin to imagine new possibilities for ourselves, our communities, and the future we want to help create.

Deepen Your Reflection

Ponder these questions to uncover your passions and potential impact. Your responses will guide your conversations with Janiyah GPT.

• What do you enjoy learning about on your own?
• What problems would you like to help solve?
• What issues in your community matter most to you?
• What kind of impact would you like to make on the future?

Take time to jot down your answers. This clarity will empower you to use AI as a more effective thinking partner.

Step 2: Explore Ag-STEM Careers

Now that you've reflected on your interests, it's time to explore the vast and exciting world of Ag-STEM careers. This step provides examples across key sectors to inspire your journey. Review the lists and jot down any sectors or careers that stand out to you. You may include these in your exploration in Step 3.

Plant, Soil & Environmental Systems

• Agronomist
• Soil Scientist
• Plant Geneticist
• Plant Pathologist
• Precision Agriculture Specialist
• Crop Consultant
• Sustainable Agriculture Specialist
• Urban Agriculture Manager
• Conservation Scientist
• Agroecologist

Animal & Veterinary Sciences

• Veterinarian
• Veterinary Technician
• Animal Nutritionist
• Animal Geneticist
• Livestock Production Specialist
• Poultry Scientist
• Dairy Scientist
• Aquaculture Specialist
• Wildlife Biologist
• Animal Welfare Specialist

AI, Technology & Data

• Agricultural Data Scientist
• Precision Agriculture Analyst
• AI Research Scientist
• Machine Learning Engineer
• Agricultural Robotics Engineer
• Drone Operations Specialist
• Geographic Information System (GIS) Analyst
• Remote Sensing Specialist
• Smart Farming Systems Designer
• Agricultural Software Developer

Climate, Sustainability & Community Impact

• Climate Scientist
• Environmental Engineer
• Water Resource Specialist
• Environmental Data Analyst
• Renewable Energy Specialist
• Food Systems Planner
• Sustainability Coordinator
• Environmental Justice Advocate
• Community Resilience Planner
• Carbon Management Specialist

Food, Health & Nutrition

• Food Scientist
• Food Safety Specialist
• Public Health Nutritionist
• Food Supply Chain Analyst
• Agricultural Economist​
• Food Product Developer
• Consumer Behavior Researcher
• Health Informatics Specialist
• Agricultural Policy Analyst
• Global Food Security Specialist

Other Emerging & Interdisciplinary Fields

The possibilities in STEM are endless. Click here to explore more options.

Step 3: Build Your Career Discovery Prompt

Crafting an effective prompt is key to unlocking Janiyah GPT's full potential. The more context you provide, the more tailored and insightful its responses will be from the AI. Use the template below to structure your thoughts and interests into a clear request.

A Strong Prompt

Your Prompt Template

Copy and paste the structure below into Janiyah GPT, replacing the placeholders with your context, personal interests, aspirations, and what you jotted down in Steps 1-2. Once complete, submit your prompt by using the Return Key, Enter Key or click the Send Prompt button. If you receive an error message, then select "Retry".

Hi Janiyah, I am a rising _____ grader interested in ____________. I enjoy ____________. I also care about ____________ and want to learn more about ____________. Suggest three Ag-STEM careers that align with these interests and explain what someone in each role actually does in regular everyday language.

Why Does This Prompt Work?

Explaining "Who I Am + What I Enjoy + What I Care About + What I Want To Learn" helps Janiyah understand your unique background and learning objectives, leading to more relevant career suggestions.

Compare these two prompts:

Prompt 1: Tell me about agriculture jobs.

Prompt 2: I am a rising 10th grader interested in environmental science, technology, and helping my community. Suggest three Ag-STEM careers that align with these interests.

Reflection

Which prompt gives Janiyah more information?
Which prompt provides more context and purpose?
How might that influence the response you receive?

Remember: The quality of the response depends on the clarity, context, and purpose in the prompt.

Step 4: Investigate Further

Now that Janiyah GPT has provided some initial career suggestions, it's time to dive deeper into a pathway that genuinely sparks your interest. Choose one Ag-STEM career from Janiyah's response to explore further.

Refine Your Inquiry

Copy and paste the following questions into Janiyah GPT, filling in the chosen career. This will help you uncover specific educational and experiential opportunities.

I want to learn more about [Chosen Ag-STEM Career].
​
What majors, certifications, apprenticeships, internships, or training pathways could prepare me for this career?
What skills should I begin building now?
What clubs, organizations, competitions, or volunteer opportunities would help me gain experience?

Why Ask Follow-Up Questions?

By asking detailed follow-up questions, you're leveraging AI as a powerful research tool, gaining actionable insights to shape your educational and career journey.

Follow-up questions can help you:

• Discover new opportunities
• Identify important skills and qualifications
• Learn about educational and career pathways
• Explore real-world experiences and expectations
• Gather information that can help guide your academic and career decisions
  ​

Remember: Strong researchers rarely stop after the first answer. They keep asking questions, exploring possibilities, and seeking deeper understanding.

Each new question can help you uncover information, opportunities, and perspectives you may not have considered before your initial exploration.

Step 5: Trace the Legacy & Expand the Story

Every field has a rich story of discovery, innovation, and ingenuity. Innovation often begins by recognizing the diverse individuals and communities who laid its foundation. As you delve deeper into your chosen career, dedicate time to learning about the pioneering minds who shaped it.
​
This step encourages you to connect with the human element of progress. Understanding these legacies not only inspires but also provides critical context for the work being done today. It deepens your appreciation for the journey of knowledge.

Prompt for Janiyah GPT

Copy and paste the structure below into Janiyah GPT, filling in the chosen career. ​

Hi Janiyah,

I am exploring a career in [insert career].

Identify examples of Black, Latina, Afro-Latina, or other historically underrepresented women whose work, leadership, research, entrepreneurship, or innovation has contributed to this field.

Where possible, explain how their contributions addressed community needs, expanded opportunity, advanced knowledge, or challenged existing barriers.
​
​ Help me understand how their stories connect to the work being done in this field today.

Reflection

• What surprised you most about their stories?
• Whose journey and impact resonated with you the most?
• How did these individuals apply their knowledge to serve their communities?
• How might their experiences inspire or inform your own pathway?

Step 6: Visualize the Role

Career titles can sometimes feel abstract and distant. This step encourages you to use AI to bridge that gap by generating a visual representation of your chosen Ag-STEM career, making the role more tangible and sparking deeper reflection.

Prompt Janiyah GPT to Create an Image

Copy and paste the following prompt into Janiyah GPT, replacing the placeholder with your chosen Ag-STEM Career.

Janiyah, create a detailed image that represents someone working in the field of [Chosen Ag-STEM Career]. Include what they are doing, the tools they use, and their work environment.

Click Image to Learn More

Reflect on the Visualization

After viewing the image generated by Janiyah GPT, consider these questions to deepen your understanding and personal connection to the role:

• What surprised you most about this career as depicted in the image?
• Did the image match your initial expectations for this role? Why or why not?
• Who was represented in the image, and what activities were they doing?
• Who might be missing from this representation, and what does that tell you?

Step 7: Verify Then Trust

AI is a helpful tool, but it's not infallible. Strong AI users always verify information before acting on it. This step guides you in critically evaluating Janiyah GPT's responses.

Verify with Janiyah:

After receiving a career suggestion or any information, prompt Janiyah with these questions:

• What are the limitations or potential biases in the response you just gave me about [insert career(s) or topic(s) of information]?
• What information should I verify using .edu or .gov sources?

Visit at least one official website (.edu or .gov) and compare the information provided by Janiyah GPT to confirm that it is accurate, current, and complete.

Reflect on Your Findings:

• Did Janiyah miss any important details?
• Was any information outdated or incomplete?
• Did the AI present multiple perspectives, or just one?

Step 8: Community Impact Challenge

Ag-STEM is not just about individual career paths; it's a powerful force for positive change. This step challenges you to explore how these innovative fields can address critical issues in underserved communities, transforming challenges into opportunities for individual and collective growth and well-being.

Challenge Janiyah GPT

Hi Janiyah, what are three Ag-STEM careers that could help address [food insecurity, environmental justice, climate resilience, or community health] in underserved communities?

Reflect on Your Impact

After reviewing Janiyah's suggestions, take a moment to consider:

• Which challenge interests you most?
• How might your talents help address that issue?
• What role could you imagine yourself playing?

Step 9: Choose Your Next Step

Now it's time to put your learning into action! Select just ONE of the options below and commit to completing it within the next two weeks. This practical experience will deepen your understanding and help you explore your interests further.

Research a Major

Choose one major connected to your career interest.
​Research:
• What courses are required?
• Which colleges offer the major?
• What careers, industries, and future opportunities are connected to this major?
Create a one-page summary of your findings.

Research a University

Identify three colleges or universities with programs connected to your selected career. Compare their majors, scholarships, student organizations, and research opportunities. Present your findings in a comparison chart.

Interview a Professional

Find a professional, professor, graduate student, extension agent, entrepreneur, researcher, or community leader working in a related field.
Ask:

• What do you enjoy most about your work?
• What skills are most important in your field?
• What advice would you give a high school student interested in this pathway?
• Who inspired you, mentored you, or helped shape your journey?
• Are there individuals, communities, or cultural traditions whose contributions to this field are often overlooked?

After the conversation, write a reflection about:

• What you learned about the career
• What surprised you
• How mentorship, community, or cultural knowledge influenced the person's journey
• How you might contribute to this field in your own way

Join a Club

​Identify one STEM or Agriculture organization at your school or in your community (e.g., FFA, 4-H, Robotics Club, Science Olympiad, or Environmental Clubs). Attend at least one meeting and reflect on your experience.

Build a Portfolio Project

Create something that demonstrates your learning.
Examples:
• Research infographic
• Short video
• Digital presentation
• Community garden proposal
• Career profile
• AI-supported data project
Add it to a digital portfolio.

Learn a New Skill

Choose one skill connected to your career interest.
Examples:
• Coding
• GIS Mapping
• Public Speaking
• Data Analysis
• Scientific Writing
• Drone Technology
• Plant Identification
• AI Prompt Engineering
Create a plan to practice that skill for at least 30 minutes per week.

Final Reflection

​AI literacy is not about getting answers. It is about asking better questions.

Agriculture is not just about food. It is about technology, health, sustainability, community, and innovation. Your future pathway may not exist in a single discipline. It may exist at the intersection of Ag-STEM, AI, and the needs of your community.

Continue Exploring

Discover new connections and possibilities.

Continue Questioning

Challenge assumptions and seek deeper insights.

Continue Building

Create solutions that make a real impact.

AI for Academic Success