Speaker: Al Fournier, IPM in Schools Coordinator,
Abstract:
People adopt or fail to adopt IPM based on how well they feel it fits their needs and priorities. Extension educators and other change agents working to promote IPM adoption by schools could benefit from a research-based understanding of school personnel’s pest management goals, perceptions, activities, and the operational and social context of IPM in the school environment. Based on a literature review and original research with Indiana school districts, the presenter will discuss social and educational factors that can affect adoption and implementation of IPM in schools, and strategies for overcoming some of the challenges.
Biography:
Al Fournier has served as coordinator of the IPM Technical Resource Center at Purdue University since 2000, helping schools, child care centers, and pest management professionals in the Midwest to develop and implement effective IPM programs. He will complete his Ph.D. at Purdue in May 2005, where he has conducted research on “factors affecting the adoption and implementation of IPM in Indiana school districts.” He has an M.S. in entomology from the University of Maryland (1997).