Diversity Enhancement of Geosciences through Research Experiences (DEGReE): Mentoring African Americans through Research and Professional Development (Track 1)

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案资助的密西西比州立大学（MSU）的地球科学系和电子显微镜中心与三角洲州立大学（DSU）和东密西西比社区学院（EMCC）合作，共同的目标是增加非洲人的数量，美国学生在地球科学通过使用参与研究作为文化转型的催化剂。 这个OEDG项目有两个预期的结果：1）通过增加他们对地球科学的感知相关性来吸引可能没有考虑过地球科学职业的非洲裔美国学生，2）鼓励优秀的非洲裔美国学生主修地球科学相关领域。 该项目的第一阶段将通过在MSU的介绍性地球科学课程和/或DSU和EMCC的基础科学课程以及该地区的K-12教室中向学生展示动态，动手地球科学演示，向学生介绍地球科学的学习和职业道路计划。 这将增加地球科学对学生的感知相关性。 该项目的第二阶段是让学生参与真实的研究。 在密歇根州立大学的闭会期间课程，来自密歇根州立大学，DSU和EMCC的学生将参与并为正在进行的研究项目做出贡献，进行实地考察，准备演讲，并提交摘要供出版。 MSU的学生还将参加每周一个学分的研讨会，旨在向他们介绍基础广泛的跨学科地球科学研究网络的一部分。 研讨会的参与者还将了解地球科学的职业道路，并通过精心设计的练习，他们将被教导专业成功所需的关键技能。 MSU的参与者将与校园内的研究小组相匹配，在那里他们将参与研究项目，并由教师以及近同行的高年级学生和研究生指导。 让学生参与研究将鼓励他们进一步接受教育，追求地球科学事业，同时为他们提供实现这些目标的技能。 在项目的每个阶段，将进行评估，以确定如何最好地实现建立一个有效的，可持续的计划的长期目标。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).The Department of Geosciences and the Electron Microscopy Center at Missississppi State University (MSU) in partnership with Delta State University (DSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC) share the goal of increasing the number of African-American students in the geosciences by using participation in research as the catalyst for cultural transformation. This OEDG project has two desired outcomes: 1) to attract African-American students who might not have considered geoscience careers by increasing their perceived relevance of the geosciences, and 2) to encourage outstanding African-American students to major in geoscience-related fields. The first phase of the project will inform students about programs of study and career paths in the geosciences through dynamic, hands-on geoscience demos presented to students in introductory geoscience courses at MSU and/or basic science courses at DSU and EMCC as well as in K-12 classrooms across the region. This will increase the perceived relevance of the geosciences to the students. The second phase of the project is to involve students in real research. During an intersession course at MSU students from MSU, DSU and EMCC will participate in and contribute to an ongoing research project, take field trips, prepare a presentation, and submit an abstract for publication. Students at MSU will also participate in a weekly one-credit-hour seminar designed to introduce them to faculty members who are part of broad-based interdisciplinary geoscience research network. Seminar participants will also be informed about career paths in the geosciences and, through carefully designed exercises, they will be taught critical skills needed for professional success. Participants at MSU will be matched with research groups across campus where they will participate in research projects and be mentored by faculty as well as near-peer upper classmen and graduate students. Involving students in research will encourage them to further their education and pursue careers in geoscience while providing them with skills to achieve such goals. During each phase of the project, assessments will be carried out to determine how to best achieve the long-term goal of establishing an effective, sustainable program.