More than half of the tenure-track faculty have participated in international research arrangements worldwide and have attracted major grants and contracts to support this work. The research also has a clear interdisciplinary focus. The faculty participate in a range of interdisciplinary programs arranged formally with other campus departments, other universities, and federal research organizations. Extension Programs The Department's Extension mission fulfills the land grant mandate by providing educational and applied research programs that address societal demands for sustainable and competitive agriculture and stewardship of the environment. Working within these programs, extension faculty deliver research-generated information to the public, assist in the application of new technologies that reduce economic and environmental risks, and lead in developing, educating, and helping clientele implement integrated pest management practices.
Students have individual work stations and access to sophisticated computer graphic facilities.
The Department also shares extensive technical expertise and scientific equipment with other departments on campus. Vast resources are available in the University's library system and nearby federal libraries. Besides the main campus, the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station has nine Research and Education Centers in the state where field and laboratory work is carried out on urban and agricultural insects. Land use and technical services at these Centers are free to faculty and students.