Increasing the impact of integrated pest management education with 3D printing

Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a new tool in the extension educator’s toolbox. 3D printing allows users to print novel, cost-effective, and as-needed products to demonstrate key Integrated Pest Management concepts to stakeholders, such as plant damage patterns. 3D printing is underutilized in extension education but can have large impacts in the implementation and education of integrated pest management. Using 2 case studies, we demonstrate the broad impact of 3D printing in invasive species education and integrated pest management practice implementation. First, we developed 3D printed spotted lanternfly egg masses to train stakeholders to properly identify infestations. Second, a soybean defoliation tool was designed to showcase threshold estimations allowing stakeholders to visually calibrate the amount of leaf damage caused by soybean leaf defoliators. We assessed the impact of these tools on stakeholder education. In both cases, we found >15% increases in stakeholder knowledge and skill compared to pre-test values. Most stakeholders (~80%) stated that they enjoyed the inclusion of 3D printed products in the extension events. These case studies demonstrate the use and efficacy of utilizing 3D prints in extension education to improve IPM programming.