| NSF Org: |
RISE Integrative and Collaborative Education and Research (ICER) |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | December 3, 2021 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | December 3, 2021 |
| Award Number: | 2136143 |
| 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: | January 1, 2022 |
| End Date: | December 31, 2023 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $10,300.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $10,300.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
695 PARK AVE NEW YORK NY US 10065-5024 (212)772-4020 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
NY US 10065-5024 |
| 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): | GOLD-GEO Opps LeadersDiversity |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| 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
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) represent one of the fastest growing demographics in the U.S. today and yet lag in participation and representation in geoscience graduate programs compared to other STEM fields. Thus, new programs are needed that specifically recruit AAPI STEM undergraduates to geoscience graduate programs and enhance belonging of AAPI geoscientists as a whole. The proposed activities will focus on Minority Serving institutions (MSIs) that serve AAPI. This project will expose as many as 1,000 undergraduates from MSIs in geoscience-adjacent STEM fields to geoscience research and careers, provide a new research internship opportunity and create national cross-career stage connections between AAPI geoscientists to produce a cohort of geoscience leaders from a group often left out of diversity discussions. AAPI scientists desire to relate their work to local populations and problems relevant to their communities; therefore, diversifying geoscience graduate programs with those identifying as AAPI will have a direct impact on communities facing important geoscience problems of the 21st century such as climate change, natural hazards, and resource scarcity.
This project supports pilot programs to enhance participation and belonging for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in geosciences. The proposed activities include: 1) Establishing a researcher visit program to recruit undergraduate AAPI into geosciences via visits to AAPI-serving MSIs from geoscience researchers; 2) A pilot research internship program for undergraduates at these institutions to carry out research with AAPI mentors; 3) Organizing virtual and in-person events and a career development workshop to enhance belonging, identity, and leadership within the AAPI geoscience community across career stages and sectors. The outcomes of this combination of the proposed activities will help to develop geoscience programs, and create a cohort and community of Belonging, Access, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (BAJEDI) leaders of AAPI geoscientists.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) represent one of the fastest growing demographics in the U.S. today and yet lag in participation and representation in geoscience graduate programs compared to other STEM fields. The NSF-funded AGILE (AAPI in Geoscience: Inclusivity, Leadership, and Experience) project created pilot programs to enhance participation and belonging for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in geosciences. First, the AGILE program offered three internship programs (summer 2022 academic year 2022-2023, and summer 2023). In total, 15 undergraduate students completed AGILE research internships, and over half of the interns presented their research at national conferences (e.g., AGU, GSA, Ocean Sciences) during the project period. Based on our evaluations the overwhelming impact of the internship program was an increase or improvement in researcher skill building and self-efficacy, method and skills. All participants indicated that the internship enhanced their undergraduate experience and that they have increased understanding and confidence in their knowledge of geoscience careers. Additionally, three AAPI graduate students gained mentorship experience in fostering community and leading professional development meetings for the undergraduate interns.
Second, AGILE provided opportunities for STEM undergraduate students in Minority-Serving Institutions to learn about geoscience research and career opportunities. Researcher visits were organized at Hunter College (New York City; 2x), Wharton County Community College (Houston), and Bellevue College (Seattle). About 40 to 60 AAPI students attended each event, with students coming from diverse STEM majors. The researcher visits were overall successful in providing greater exposure to the geosciences, and several collaborating institutions involved plan to continue to host similar events in the future with ongoing plans to acquire the necessary funding.
Last, AGILE supported AAPI geoscience researchers through collaboration with the AAPIiG (AAPI in Geoscience) affinity group. AGILE provided support for professional development and community-building events, opportunities for mentorship of undergraduate interns by five AAPI geoscientists (with mentors ranging in career stage from postdoctoral researchers to tenured faculty), and opportunities to network at the AGU Town Hall (2022), AGU Pods (2023), and GSA Meet-Up (2023). These virtual and in-person events enhanced belonging, identity, and leadership within the AAPI geoscience community across career stages and sectors. This support for key AAPIiG events from the AGILE support has helped behind the scenes build the affinity group up towards a self-sustaining mode including tentative plans to become a non-profit organization in the future.
In sum, the AGILE project activities achieved the objectives of providing breadth and depth of geoscience research and professional development to AAPI undergraduate students, and enhancing the overall community of AAPI geoscientists in the United States.
Last Modified: 05/06/2024
Modified by: Randye L Rutberg
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