On November 7, 2023, third-year Applied Statistics undergraduate students and several ISRT faculty members embarked on an educational journey that extended beyond the classroom and into the heart of agricultural research. Their field trip to the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) and the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) provided these budding statisticians with a unique opportunity to witness the practical application of experimental designs in real-life settings. At BARI, they observed the implementation of Completely Randomized Design (CRD), Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), and Split-Plot designs in brinjal and rice varieties. The exploration continued at BRRI, where they witnessed a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) that grouped plots by soil type, with rice varieties randomly assigned within each block to account for soil variation. Overall, by engaging with researchers and actively participating in data collection, the students saw firsthand how their statistical expertise could address real-world challenges, particularly in agriculture, where data-driven decisions directly impact food production and livelihoods. This eye-opening experience not only deepened their understanding of experimental design but also inspired them to utilize their statistical skills to effect positive change in the world.
