Retrospective evaluation of the effectiveness of the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Multicultural Program

该奖项为汉普顿大学的Ben Cuker博士和美国研究所（AIR）的Roger Levine博士提供资金，用于评估美国湖泊与海洋学学会少数族裔项目（ASLOMP）的结果，该项目旨在增加未被充分代表的少数族裔选择从事水生科学职业的人数。该项目面向对水生科学感兴趣的少数民族学生、教师和专业人士，以及在历史上少数民族学院和大学（HMCU）工作的教师。与会者将获得ASLO的免费会员资格，并获得参加年会和特别会前讲习班的支持。虽然ASLOMP项目的结果每年报告一次，但这次评估将重点关注该项目在20年期间的成果。库克尔博士在2010年收集的数据表明，1990年至2009年期间，共有1109名学生参加了会议，其中包括704名不同的学生（差额由参加了不止一次会议的学生弥补）。通常每年有65名学生参加。大约80%的学生最初以本科生的身份进入该项目，许多人以研究生的身份返回。总共有232名研究生和546名本科生参加了研究。在整个项目过程中，女性占参与者的65%，但近年来超过了80%。虽然非正式的和可靠的数据表明，该计划培养了许多优秀的参与者，他们已经在水产或相关科学领域进行了高级研究和职业生涯，但确定其整体有效性很重要。ASLOMP的长寿提供了一个独特的机会来衡量其对水生科学界多样性的影响。这样的研究还将指出项目的那些方面，这些方面在留住和促进该领域的参与者方面显得最重要。它的发现也将为其他对推进科学多样性感兴趣的人提供信息。

This award provides funding for Dr. Ben Cuker at Hampton University and Dr. Roger Levine of American Institutes for Research (AIR) to evaluate results of the American Society of Limnology and Oceanograhy Minority Program (ASLOMP), a program designed to increase the numbers of under-represented minorities electing careers in aquatic sciences. The program targets minority students, faculty and professionals interested in aquatic sciences, as well as faculty working at Historically Minority Colleges and Universities (HMCU). Participants received a free membership in ASLO and support to attend the annual meetings and special pre-meeting workshops. Although results of the ASLOMP program are reported annually, this evaluation will focus on outcomes of the program over a 20 year period. Data collected by Dr. Cuker in 2010 indicates that between 1990 and 2009 there have been 1,109 student participations, comprised of 704 different students (the difference being made up by students who participated in more than one meeting). Typically 65 students participated each year. Some 80% of the students first entered the program as undergraduates, with many returning as graduate students. Overall, 232 students participated at the graduate level and 546 as undergraduates. Over the course of the program females comprised 65% of the participants but in recent years over 80%. While informal and antidotal data suggest that the program produced many excellent participants that have gone on for advanced studies and careers in the aquatic or related sciences, it is important to determine its overall effectiveness. The longevity of the ASLOMP presents a unique opportunity to gauge its impact on the diversity of the aquatic science community. Such a study will also point to those aspects of the program that appear most important in retaining and advancing the participants in the field. Its findings will also inform others interested in advancing diversity in the sciences in general.