Environmental Dynamics Program Leads Bruce to Food Security Research, Community Involvement

Cassandra Thomas

Terrius Bruce

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Since arriving at the U of A as an environmental dynamics doctoral student, Terrius Bruce has worn many hats — entrepreneur, researcher, farmer and author. But it's a path he never would've found had it not been for a divination reading seven years ago.

"In this reading, I was going through a task list of incompletions," he said. "Finishing a bachelor's degree was on the list; the person doing my reading told me to focus on the environment."

That urging was the catalyst Bruce needed to return to school. Originally interested in psychology, Bruce returned to school at Tallahassee Community College, then to Florida A&M University and completed his bachelor's degree in environmental studies with a minor in agricultural studies. While an undergraduate, he came across a U of A recruiter at a career fair and was invited to attend the university's Attracting Intelligent Minds Conference in 2019.

"The U of A was a nice place, and people were really open to trying to learn more about what I do and what I want to do," he said of his campus visit. "I talked to professors in environmental dynamics and also JoAnn Kvamme. It was a great conversation with her from beginning to end."

Ultimately, the interdisciplinary nature of the Environmental Dynamics doctoral program drew him to the U of A.

"One of the things I love about the program is that the idea of silos to us is crazy," he said. "I see a ton of challenges in the environment — you cannot do anything without the environment around you. What really got me interested was to see how many factors can change the environment and how many can be reconciled and improved."

As an environmental dynamics student, Bruce has become involved in a program focused on community climate change adaptation through sustainable agriculture, with an emphasis on increasing food security and individual agency. This year, he created a nonprofit organization called Rhythmic Alliance for Community Sustainability, which promotes food security and sustainability in underserved communities through agriculture.

He's also assisting in two sustainable agriculture initiatives. Greener Horizons is a collaborative effort between Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools, the Rhythmic Alliance for Community Sustainability — a nonprofit organization Bruce founded — and the local community aimed at addressing food insecurity through sustainable agriculture and inspiring sustainable development and environmental stewardship. The Sankofa Agriculture & Innovation Lab, a pilot program funded by the Economic Development Administration and U.S. Department of Commerce, aims to address immediate economic challenges and pave the way for the city of Wrightsville, Arkansas, and Pulaski County to move towards a brighter and more sustainable future.

"I realize that in the direct community I was in, one of the biggest burdens was food security," he said. "I started paying attention to food, and that's how I'm here now."

Bruce is also conducting research into reducing and recycling household waste by feeding waste to mealworms that would be fed to fish and utilizing the fish's waste for hydroponics.  

"The end goal is to close the loop with more sustainable farming practices, as well as policies that lead to more producers of alternative proteins for animal feeds and for human consumption as we equip society for more climate-smart solutions to the future demand of food to feed our communities," he said.

After graduation, Bruce plans to continue supporting food security efforts in Arkansas. He's also interested in international travel, as he owns a farm and Ghana and would like to return there at some point in the future.

"My goal is to offer my expertise everywhere, not just in the United States," he said.

He's also written a children's book, The Young Garden King, that will be released Dec. 12, telling the story of Imhotep, a young boy who transforms his community by planting a garden in his backyard. The Young Garden King has also been selected as the featured book for the Footnotes Book Club meeting Nov. 28.  

"I wanted to take all the stuff we're doing in environmental dynamics on a high level and make it digestible for children," he said. "I want them to not just be able to process this information, but see how they can apply it for the betterment of their communities."