OEDG Planning Grant: Alliance for Broadening Participation of Native Americans in the Geosciences Conference

明尼苏达大学双子城分校正在与中西部的合作伙伴合作，召开一次规划会议，以发起一个新的全国联盟，以扩大美洲原住民在地球科学中的参与。NABPNAG的目的将是将地球科学家、当地领导人、教育工作者和学生聚集在一起，以推进研究、确定最佳做法、改进评估、促进教育机会和促进新的合作。会议将于2010年秋天在明尼苏达州北部的Fond Du Lac部落和社区学院举行。联盟的努力建立在改善美洲原住民在STEM领域，特别是在地球科学领域的参与的最佳实践的基础上，包括1)文化背景，2)相关性，3)考虑整个学生的整体方法，4)社区、家庭和长辈的参与，5)公共学习环境，以及6)基于问题或基于现实世界的活动。会议将讨论以下研究方向：与美洲原住民地球科学和STEM学习有关的教育和评估主题，以及影响土著社区的地球科学研究主题。参加会议的人将包括：美洲原住民K-12、本科生和研究生，以及来自部落学院和其他大学的教职员工、教师、长辈和其他感兴趣的研究人员。以下方面将促进会议的更广泛影响：合作--为所有与会者创造机会；教育和研究机会博览会，让学生接触到新的教育和研究计划；新课程和活动演示，用于探索和评估新的教育资源；以及研究海报会议，展示高中和本科生的研究以及地球科学教员的新研究。这次会议是在促进奇卡诺人和美洲土著人科学促进会(SACNAS)和美国地球物理联合会(AGU)全国会议期间举行的初步会议的基础上举行的。在NABPNAG会议之后，将通过在专业会议上组织会议和招待会、通过技术和传统手段进行交流以及通过新的正在进行的研究和教育合作来促进联盟的继续。

The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is working with partners in the Mid-West to convene a planning conference to launch a new National Alliance for Broadening Participation of Native Americans in the Geosciences (NABPNAG). The purpose of the NABPNAG will be to bring together geoscientists, native leaders, educators and students for the purpose of advancing research, identifying best practices, improving evaluation, promoting educational opportunities, and fostering new collaborations. The conference will take place in the fall of 2010 at the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Northern Minnesota. The alliance effort builds on best practices for improving participation by Native Americans in STEM fields, and particularly in the geosciences include 1) cultural context, 2) relevance, 3) a holistic approach that considers the entire student, 4) involvement of the community, family, and elders, 5) a communal learning environment, and 6) problem-based or real-world-based activities. The conference will address the following research strands: Topics in Education and Evaluation Related to Native American Geoscience and STEM Learning, and Topics in Geosciences Research Affecting Indigenous Communities. Attendees at the conference will include: Native American K-12, undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty from Tribal colleges and other universities, teachers, elders, and other interested researchers. The following strands will promote the broader impacts of the conference: Collaboration-Building Opportunities for All Participants; an Education and Research Opportunity Fair, for exposing students to new education and research programs; New Curriculum and Activity Demonstration, for exploration and evaluation of new education resources; and, a Research Poster Session for showcasing high-school and undergraduate research, as well as new research by geosciences faculty. This conference builds on preliminary meetings held during sessions at the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in the Sciences (SACNAS) and American Geophysical Union (AGU) national meetings. Continuation of the alliance after the NABPNAG conference will be fostered by organizing sessions and receptions at professional conferences, through communication by technological and traditional means, and via new ongoing research and education collaborations.