| NSF Org: |
RISE Integrative and Collaborative Education and Research (ICER) |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | September 14, 2015 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | August 13, 2018 |
| Award Number: | 1540573 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Brandon Jones
mbjones@nsf.gov (703)292-4713 RISE Integrative and Collaborative Education and Research (ICER) GEO Directorate for Geosciences |
| Start Date: | September 15, 2015 |
| End Date: | August 31, 2019 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $474,909.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $525,761.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 2018 = $50,852.00 |
| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
11868 ACADEMIC OVAL PRINCESS ANNE MD US 21853-1295 (410)651-6714 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
MD US 21853-1299 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): |
Hist Black Colleges and Univ, IUSE |
| Primary Program Source: |
01001819DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 04001819DB NSF Education & Human Resource |
| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.050 |
ABSTRACT
The goal of this project is to strengthen and leverage existing collaborative programs to create a pipeline for recruiting and preparing high school and undergraduate students, particularly those from underrepresented minority groups, for transition to undergraduate and graduate programs in the geosciences. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment related to the geoscience workforce is expected to grow at a faster rate of change on average than other fields over the next decade. Coupled with the looming wave of retirements anticipated within the aging "baby boomer" population, a shortage of ~135,000 geoscientists is forecast within the next several years, particularly within the federal and state agencies that oversee natural resources management and the oil and gas industries. A major challenge to recruiting and preparing students to become the next generation of geoscientists is the general lack of awareness of education and career opportunities in the geosciences, especially among underrepresented minority students and students in underserved communities. Because the geosciences are not often a required part of the high school or undergraduate curriculum, innovative approaches are needed to engage students at critical junctures in their education pathway (e.g., between high school and college). Engaging students in authentic research-based experiences in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines has been shown to be an effective approach to recruiting and retaining students in STEM and the geosciences.
This collaborative project leverages resources at four NOAA-sponsored geoscience Cooperative Science Centers (CSCs), located at minority-serving institutions (University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Howard University, Florida A&M University, City College at City University of New York), and the Woods Hole Consortium of Institutions. The project has five major components: outreach to high schools regarding education and career opportunities in the geosciences; a 6-week summer bridge program for select high school graduates who have been admitted to one of the CSC institutions; a 10-week summer mentored research program in the second year for a sub-set of the summer bridge program students; and, virtual interaction between the summer bridge program participants and the research interns. Academic year support is also provided to the participants through existing NOAA-supported programs at the CSC institutions. Through the CSCs' outreach program, geoscience recruitment materials are being disseminated to high school science teachers and counselors. Nine high school seniors admitted to and preparing to enter college are recruited into the program each year. During the 6-week summer bridge program, these students receive education in the geosciences via lectures and hands-on lab and field activities. Field trips foster cohesion among the cohort of students, while providing an educationally enriching experience. Lectures and tutorials in math are strengthening the interns' quantitative skills, and enrollment in a freshman seminar course is facilitating their adjustments to college life. Participants in the bridge program then have an opportunity to participate in the 10-week summer Woods Hole Partnership Education Program (PEP) during the following summer. The PEP program provides intensive mentored research, a credit-bearing course and supplemental career and professional development activities. Students are working in various research areas of the geosciences in collaboration with the WHOI Consortium of Institutions. Five to 9 undergraduate students are selected each year from the four CSCs to participate in PEP, where they participate in workshops to teach them how to design field and lab research projects, collect and analyze data, and effectively present their results orally, in poster form, and in writing. Through tracking and monitoring, students participating in this project are supported at key transitional educational junctures. This experience will accelerate their preparation for graduate level work and result in a diverse and competent workforce in STEM, particularly in the geosciences. By the end of the 3-year grant, a total of 32 students will have participated in the program, and more than 500 high school juniors and seniors nation-wide will have been reached with geoscience career information through their teachers and counsellors.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
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The goal of this project was to create an effective pipeline for recruiting high school students and preparing them for transition through undergraduate and graduate programs to the workforce in geosciences. Funding from NSF and resources at four geoscience NOAA Cooperative Science Centers (CSCs) were leveraged to execute the project. The program had two major components, outreach to high schools, and a 6-week's summer bridge program. Through the outreach program, geoscience recruitment materials were disseminated to high school science teachers and counselors. The summer program provided the students rigorous education in Earth System Science via lectures and hands-on laboratory and field activities. The students also went on field trips that fostered cohesion among them, while providing an educationally enriching experience. In addition, they received lectures, and tutorials in math to strengthen their quantitative skills. Students enrolled in DNSC 100, a freshman seminar course designed to facilitate their adjustment to college life. Forty-three (43) students participated in the program from 2016 to 2019 of which 84% belonged to underrepresented minority groups and 58% were females. The students enrolled as undergraduates at various universities and colleges after participating in the program. They were prepared for success in college in the STEM areas, which increased their likelihood of being retained, and graduating in STEM disciplines, particularly geosciences. More than 600 high school students were reached with geoscience career information. The collaborating NOAA CSC institutions benefited from the program through the enrollment of many students in the institutions' undergraduate geosciences or related programs. Complementing the Bridge program was a 10-week summer Woods Hole Partnership Education program (PEP) which provided intensive mentored research, a credit-bearing course, and supplemental career and professional development activities to three students who previously took part in the geoscience bridge program at UMES. Additionally, several students took part in summer internships at other institutions. |
Last Modified: 02/24/2020
Modified by: Paulinus Chigbu
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