Current Research Concerns and Emerging Technologies in Agriculture, Family, Industry, Health and Education

Home Economics came into being as early as the 19th century when the principles of applied domesticity were being taught. However, the term “Home Economics” was not applied until the early 20th century due to efforts of Ellen Swallow Richards (1842-1911) which culminated in the 1899 formation of Lake Placid Conferences that led to the coining of the term Home Economics. By 1862, the Morrill Act was passed in the United States of America, establishing land-grant colleges which were open to women, and that were mandated to foster research and instruction in practical areas of endeavor. At this time, the application of scientific theories and techniques modernized activities associated with Home Economics, such as cooking, laundry, sewing, housecleaning, care of the sick, and sanitation. Thus, by 1908, the American Home Economics Association was formed; which went on to lobby Federal and State governments for funding to facilitate the research and teaching of Home Economics (Stage and Vincent, 1997; Biography.com Editors, 2014).