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

该奖项由2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)资助。密西斯比州立大学(MSU)地球科学系和电子显微镜中心(MSU)与三角洲州立大学(DSU)和东密西西比社区学院(EMCC)合作，共同致力于通过参与研究来促进文化转型，增加非洲裔美国学生在地球科学领域的人数。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来吸引那些可能没有考虑过地球科学职业的非裔美国学生，2)鼓励优秀的非裔美国学生主修与地球科学相关的领域。该项目的第一阶段将通过在密歇根州立大学的地球科学入门课程和/或密歇根州立大学和EMCC的基础科学课程以及整个地区的K-12课堂上向学生展示动态的实践地球科学演示，向学生介绍地球科学的学习和职业发展计划。这将增加学生对地球科学的感知相关性。该项目的第二阶段是让学生参与真正的研究。在密歇根州立大学、密歇根州立大学和经济合作与发展中心的一期课程中，来自密歇根州立大学、密歇根州立大学和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，准备演示文稿，并提交摘要以供发表。密歇根州立大学的学生还将参加每周一个学分的研讨会，旨在将他们介绍给基础广泛的跨学科地球科学研究网络的教职员工。研讨会参与者还将被告知在地球科学领域的职业道路，并通过精心设计的练习，向他们传授专业成功所需的关键技能。密歇根州立大学的参与者将与校园内的研究小组进行匹配，在那里他们将参与研究项目，并得到教职员工以及接近同龄人的高年级学生和研究生的指导。让学生参与研究将鼓励他们在地球科学方面继续深造和追求职业生涯，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有效、可持续方案的长期目标。

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.