GP-IMPACT: Strengthening Pathways into Geosciences through Linkages between Summer Bridge and Undergraduate Training Programs

该项目的目标是加强和利用现有的合作计划，为高中和本科生，特别是那些来自代表人数较少的少数群体的学生，为过渡到地球科学的本科生和研究生课程创造一个渠道。根据劳工统计局的数据，未来十年，与地球科学劳动力相关的就业预计将以比其他领域更快的平均变化速度增长。再加上“婴儿潮一代”老龄化人口中即将出现的退休潮，预计未来几年将缺少约13.5万名地球科学家，特别是在负责监管自然资源管理和石油和天然气行业的联邦和州机构。招聘和培养学生成为下一代地球科学家的一个主要挑战是普遍缺乏对地球科学教育和就业机会的认识，特别是在代表人数较少的少数族裔学生和服务不足社区的学生中。由于地球科学往往不是高中或本科课程的必修课，因此需要采取创新的方法，让学生在教育道路上的关键时刻(例如，在高中和大学之间)参与进来。让学生参与科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)学科的真实研究体验已被证明是招收和留住STEM和地球科学学生的有效方法。这个合作项目利用了四个由NOAA赞助的地球科学合作科学中心(CSC)的资源，这些中心位于少数族裔服务机构(马里兰东岸大学、霍华德大学、佛罗里达农工大学、纽约城市大学城市学院)和伍兹霍尔机构联盟。该项目有五个主要组成部分：就地球科学的教育和就业机会向高中进行外联；为已被CSC机构之一录取的精选高中毕业生提供的为期6周的夏季桥牌计划；为暑期桥牌计划的一部分学生在第二年进行的为期10周的暑期指导研究计划；以及暑期桥牌计划参与者与研究实习生之间的虚拟互动。通过CSC院校现有的NOAA资助项目，也为参与者提供学年支持。通过CSC的外展计划，正在向高中科学教师和辅导员分发地球科学招聘材料。每年有9名被录取并准备进入大学的高三学生加入该计划。在为期6周的暑期桥牌项目中，这些学生通过讲座和动手实验室和野外活动接受地球科学方面的教育。实地考察促进了学生群体之间的凝聚力，同时提供了丰富的教育体验。数学方面的讲座和辅导正在加强实习生的量化技能，而新生研讨会课程的注册也有助于他们适应大学生活。参加桥牌项目的学员有机会在接下来的夏天参加为期10周的伍兹霍尔伙伴关系暑期教育项目(PEP)。PEP计划提供密集的指导研究、学分课程以及补充的职业和职业发展活动。学生们正在与世界卫生组织机构联合会合作，在地球科学的各个研究领域开展工作。每年从四个CSC中挑选5到9名本科生参加PEP，在那里他们参加研讨会，教他们如何设计现场和实验室研究项目，收集和分析数据，并有效地口头、以海报形式和书面形式展示他们的结果。通过跟踪和监测，在关键的教育过渡期为参与该项目的学生提供支持。这一经验将加速他们为研究生水平的工作做准备，并在STEM，特别是在地球科学领域，培养一支多样化和有能力的工作队伍。到3年助学金结束时，共有32名学生参加了该项目，全国500多名高三和高年级学生将通过他们的老师和辅导员获得地球科学职业信息。

The goal of this project is to strengthen and leverage existing collaborative programs to create a pipeline for recruiting and preparing high school and undergraduate students, particularly those from underrepresented minority groups, for transition to undergraduate and graduate programs in the geosciences. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment related to the geoscience workforce is expected to grow at a faster rate of change on average than other fields over the next decade. Coupled with the looming wave of retirements anticipated within the aging "baby boomer" population, a shortage of ~135,000 geoscientists is forecast within the next several years, particularly within the federal and state agencies that oversee natural resources management and the oil and gas industries. A major challenge to recruiting and preparing students to become the next generation of geoscientists is the general lack of awareness of education and career opportunities in the geosciences, especially among underrepresented minority students and students in underserved communities. Because the geosciences are not often a required part of the high school or undergraduate curriculum, innovative approaches are needed to engage students at critical junctures in their education pathway (e.g., between high school and college). Engaging students in authentic research-based experiences in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines has been shown to be an effective approach to recruiting and retaining students in STEM and the geosciences.This collaborative project leverages resources at four NOAA-sponsored geoscience Cooperative Science Centers (CSCs), located at minority-serving institutions (University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Howard University, Florida A&M University, City College at City University of New York), and the Woods Hole Consortium of Institutions. The project has five major components: outreach to high schools regarding education and career opportunities in the geosciences; a 6-week summer bridge program for select high school graduates who have been admitted to one of the CSC institutions; a 10-week summer mentored research program in the second year for a sub-set of the summer bridge program students; and, virtual interaction between the summer bridge program participants and the research interns. Academic year support is also provided to the participants through existing NOAA-supported programs at the CSC institutions. Through the CSCs' outreach program, geoscience recruitment materials are being disseminated to high school science teachers and counselors. Nine high school seniors admitted to and preparing to enter college are recruited into the program each year. During the 6-week summer bridge program, these students receive education in the geosciences via lectures and hands-on lab and field activities. Field trips foster cohesion among the cohort of students, while providing an educationally enriching experience. Lectures and tutorials in math are strengthening the interns' quantitative skills, and enrollment in a freshman seminar course is facilitating their adjustments to college life. Participants in the bridge program then have an opportunity to participate in the 10-week summer Woods Hole Partnership Education Program (PEP) during the following summer. The PEP program provides intensive mentored research, a credit-bearing course and supplemental career and professional development activities. Students are working in various research areas of the geosciences in collaboration with the WHOI Consortium of Institutions. Five to 9 undergraduate students are selected each year from the four CSCs to participate in PEP, where they participate in workshops to teach them how to design field and lab research projects, collect and analyze data, and effectively present their results orally, in poster form, and in writing. Through tracking and monitoring, students participating in this project are supported at key transitional educational junctures. This experience will accelerate their preparation for graduate level work and result in a diverse and competent workforce in STEM, particularly in the geosciences. By the end of the 3-year grant, a total of 32 students will have participated in the program, and more than 500 high school juniors and seniors nation-wide will have been reached with geoscience career information through their teachers and counsellors.