Collaborative Research: Building Strong Geoscience Departments II- Developing Resources and Networks to Address Priority Challenges

该项目的总体目标是通过网络和协作帮助地球科学部门蓬勃发展。有没有一个强大的部门计划作为单个部门的目标，以及他们所面临的挑战和机遇，是高度依赖于他们的机构的背景下的单一模式。然而，地球科学部门可以大大受益于分享他们所面临的关键问题和成功的战略，他们已经制定了利用机遇，迎接挑战，在今天迅速变化的研究和教育环境的信息。该项目利用专题研讨会、专业协会的活动和调查作为机制，发起对地球科学部门今天面临的关键问题的广泛讨论。将建立一个网站，传播这些讨论的结果以及成功战略和方案的具体实例。这一信息将支持各部门在全面了解全国其他部门经验的基础上创造自己的最佳做法。该网站还将提供可搜索的地球科学部门说明，可用于绘制全国地球科学部门的综合图，并说明地球科学部门分组内的活动。一个咨询委员会将编写综合文件，为地球科学部门提供发言权，供其机构内的个别部门或地球科学界在向国家领导人介绍地球科学在科学研究和教育中的作用时使用。许多工作都集中在帮助教师最大限度地发挥他们作为研究人员和教师的潜力。然而，相对较少的努力已经进入支持部门在创造环境，让这些教师在他们的工作中脱颖而出。该项目使用开发的技术，以支持个别教师通过面对面的活动和网络开发一个消息灵通的部门网络。这样一个网络和它提供的信息是必不可少的，在今天的快速变化的时代，在设计方案，使良好的决策，并作出令人信服的情况下，教师或管理程序的支持。这一网络将有助于确保地球科学系不成为被淘汰的目标，并确保作为蓬勃发展系的特点的成功事例更加广泛。

The overall goal of this project is to help geoscience departments thrive by networking and collaboration. There is not a single model for a strong department program as the goals of individual departments, as well as the challenges and opportunities they face, are highly dependent on the context of their institution. However, geoscience departments can benefit substantially from sharing information about key issues they face and the successful strategies they have developed to capitalize on opportunities and meet challenges in today's rapidly changing research and educational environment. This project uses topical workshops, activities at professional societies, and surveys as mechanisms for initiating widespread discussion of the key issues facing geoscience departments today. A website will be developed to disseminate the results of these discussions as well as specific examples of successful strategies and programs. This information will support departments in creating their own best practice based on a thorough knowledge of the experiences of other departments nationwide. The website will also feature searchable descriptions of geoscience departments that can be used to develop an integrated picture of geoscience departments nationwide and to characterize the activity within sub-groups of geoscience departments. An Advisory Board will create synthesis documents providing a voice for the community of geoscience departments that can be used by individual departments within their institutions or by the geoscience community as it speaks to national leaders regarding the role of geosciences in science research and education. Much work has focused on helping faculty maximize their potential as researchers and teachers. However, relatively little effort has gone into supporting departments in creating environments that allow these faculty to excel in their work. This project uses the techniques developed to support individual faculty via face-to-face activities and the web to develop a network of well-informed departments. Such a network and the information it provides are essential in today's era of rapid change to make good decisions in designing programs and to make a compelling case to faculty or administration for program support. This network will help to ensure that geoscience departments are not targeted for elimination and that the success stories that characterize thriving departments become more widespread.