Embracing Science - Start with Science Fair

SDSM&amp；T与奥格拉拉·拉科塔学院（OLC）校区之间的合作旨在为南达科他州的美国原住民学生建立新的机会，通过参加高平原地区科学与工程博览会参与地球科学教育，该博览会隶属于英特尔国际科学与工程博览会（ISEF），并在SDSM&amp；T举行。这个计划拨款项目致力于实现以下目标：1)通过准备科学展览项目，让美国土著学生及其大家庭成员接触到地球科学；2)为SDSM&amp；T和OLC校区的美国原住民学生在准备科学展览项目中提供指导经验；3)通过OLC/ SDSM&amp；T合作伙伴关系，为南达科他州地区学区和高等教育之间的合作创建一个模式，该模式可以在整个达科他州复制；4)由SDSM&amp；T的教师和研究人员与OLC的科学教师和联络人组成团队，为初高中学生提供跨机构的指导和指导；5)鼓励教职员工和研究人员在拉皮德城本土文化课堂上学习拉科塔文化和语言课程，以增强他们对文化差异的理解；6)提高土著美国人对地球科学教育的认识并改善他们接受地球科学教育的机会。规划拨款提案的重点是建立SDSM&amp；T， OLC和拉皮德城，黑山和松岭保留地地区学区之间的合作，并解决该地区印第安学生参与科学展览的极少数机会。

This collaboration between SDSM&T and the Oglala Lakota College (OLC) campuses seeks to establish new opportunities for Native American students in South Dakota to become involved with geoscience education through participation in the High Plains Regional Science and Engineering Fair, which is affiliated with the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and held at SDSM&T. This planning grant project is working to achieve these objectives: 1) expose Native American students and members of their extended families to geosciences through preparation of science fair projects; 2) initiate mentoring experience for the Native American students on the SDSM&T and OLC campuses in the preparation of the science fair projects; 3) create a model for collaboration between Area School Districts and higher education for South Dakota through the OLC/ SDSM&T partnership that can be replicated throughout the Dakotas; 4) team faculty members and researchers at SDSM&T with science faculty members and liaisons from OLC to offer cross-institutional mentoring and guidance for middle/high school students; 5) encourage faculty members and researchers to take Lakota culture and language classes at the Rapid City Native culture classes to enhance their understanding of cultural differences; and 6) raise awareness and improve access for Native Americans to geoscience education. The planning grant proposal is focused on establishing the collaborations between SDSM&T, OLC, and the Area School Districts of Rapid City, Black Hills and Pine Ridge Reservation and addressing the very small participation of Native American students in this region in science fair opportunities.