Project Outcomes 2021-2024. LDEO REU Site Jointly Funded by NSF Ocean and Earth Sciences

             The LDEO REU Site has a long history of inclusion and improvement over time, especially during the last three years of this award.  The number of students from groups under-represented in the Earth and Ocean Sciences has steadily climbed, as has the number of first generation college students.  We have also had a large increase in the number of students from small schools (mostly community colleges) with no research opportunities in the Earth and/or Ocean Sciences (Figure 1). 

            The success of the program is also exemplified by the numbers of students who obtain bachelor’s degrees in Earth and Ocean Sciences and ultimately PhDs in science (Figure 2).  Both women and members of under-represented groups have obtained PhDs at rates equal to those of men.

            During the last three years, forty four percent of our interns have come from groups under-represented in the Earth and Ocean Sciences.  If one includes Asians, who are under-represented in Earth Science and parts of Ocean Science, fifty six percent of our interns have come from groups under-represented in Earth and Ocean Science. We have also had increasing success at attracting first generation college students. During the past three years, thirty seven per cent of our interns were first generation college students. This is a big increase from prior to 2016, when at most one or two REU funded interns per year were first generation college students.  Finally, we are attracting interns from small schools where opportunities to conduct research are limited or non-existent, primarily students from community or tribal colleges.  During the past three years, fifty one percent of our REU funded interns have come from small schools.  The PIs have also gained experience and improved their knowledge, during the life of the award, on how to engage with students from small schools to increase the number of applications to the LDEO program. In addition, the PIs further developed workshops to increase skillsets and knowledge of the summer students in the program, including those under-represented in the Earth and Ocean Sciences and from small schools. By increasing the diversity of the backgrounds of our REU funded students, and strengthening interns’ skill sets overall, we strengthen science in the US and build for the future. 

            Our interns have been extremely successful at disseminating their research to the broader community. Out of 43 interns funded by our REU site, 30 (70%) were coauthors on an abstract presented at a national scientific meeting.  We consider this a high success rate, as some of our interns decide that they are interested in other fields after their summer at LDEO. In addition, the PIs are aware of mentors who plan to use the interns’ efforts in publications in the near future.

Last Modified: 06/25/2024
Modified by: Dallas H Abbott