Collaborative proposal: Track 1 Increasing Diversity in the Geosciences Through Experiential Learning

这个为期两年的项目的总体目标是增加霍华德大学和宾夕法尼亚州立大学地球科学专业的非洲裔和西班牙裔美国学生的入学率。核心目标是制定策略，招收和留住少数民族学生，目标是进入地球科学博士课程或加入专业队伍。在整个学年中，本科生将参加支持性的同伴和教师指导活动。同侪导师将包括住校研究生和大四本科生，包括大多数学生。教师导师将与本科生一起进行研究活动，包括实践和基于探究的方法。少数民族和多数民族学生都将参与联合研究项目。春季学期将组织专题讨论会，让学生练习如何展示科学成果。同时，将组织暑期研究工作坊，让学生在高年级毕业生和教师的指导下进行研究活动。夏季研讨会的重点将是吸引本科生利用现代技术追求体验式研究方法。将组织务虚会，讨论研究生院和专业队伍的机会。通过与学生一起工作整整一年，将有可能评估吸引少数民族从事地球科学作为其潜在职业的最合适方法。

The broad goal of this two-year project is to increase the enrollment of African- and Hispanic-American students in geosciences at Howard University and Pennsylvania State University. The core objective is to develop strategies to recruit and retain minority students with the goal to enter doctoral programs in geosciences or join the professional ranks. Throughout the academic year, undergraduate students will participate in supportive peer and faculty mentoring activities. Peer mentors will include resident graduate students and senior undergraduates, including majority students. Faculty mentors will work with undergraduates on research activities involving hands-on and inquiry-based approaches. Joint research projects will be carried out involving both minority and majority students. Symposia will be organized during the spring semester to allow students to practice how to present scientific results. Likewise, summer research workshops will be organized to engage students in research activities under the guidance of senior graduates and faculty members. Emphasis of the summer workshops will be on engaging undergraduates to pursue experiential research methods utilizing modern technologies. Retreats will be organized to discuss opportunities in graduate school and professional ranks. By working with students for a full calendar year, it will be possible to evaluate the most suitable approaches to attract minorities to pursue geosciences as their potential career.