Riyan Charania ’26

Major

Computer Science

Project Title

Farm Project Field Assistant

Due to an increasing global demand for food, it’s important that we have more productive and environmentally friendly growing methods. To address this, we researched the “three sisters” Native American agricultural growing technique, which utilizes mutualisms between corn, beans and squash to maximize their productivity. We tested different designs of growing these crops and analyzed each configuration by collecting field data through Arable sensors. These sensors provided information about factors such as plant health, environmental temperature and precipitation. We also collected data by setting up insect traps, collecting soil moisture data and taking drone photos of the field. We then used the statistical analysis software JMP to graph and analyze the data for insights into the potential benefits of using the three sisters farming method. Through this internship, I learned just how technology can be integrated into agriculture, and I hope to continue finding innovative ways to use technology to create a more sustainable future.



Internship Year

2023

Project Category

Food Systems and Health

Organization(s)

Rubenstein Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey

Mentor(s)

Daniel Rubenstein, Class of 1877 Professor of Zoology, Emeritus, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Emeritus; Gina Talt, Project Manager, Food Systems, Office of Sustainability