Collaborative Research: GP-EXTRA: Geoscience Engagement and Outreach (GEO) - High-Impact Integrated Academic and Professional Experiences

很少有学生进入本科课程，了解什么是地球科学，或者它们是科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）课程的一部分。然而，地球科学领域的高薪、高要求工作以及这些领域对多样性的需求意味着这些学生可能会错过将他们对科学的兴趣付诸实践的机会。对于在两年制院校开始本科教育的学生来说尤其如此，这些院校在高等教育领域扮演着越来越重要的角色。近54%的STEM少数族裔学生在社区学院开始他们的本科教育，努力吸引和支持这些学生，更好地为他们转到四年制大学并取得成功做好准备是非常重要的。地球科学参与与推广（GEO）项目通过招募、指导和支持一批来自代表性不足人群的两年制大学生，促进学生在科学方面的进步。活动包括教师指导的地球科学分支学科的研究，以及职业技能培养，使毕业生为未来雇主的期望做好准备。通过该项目开发的跨机构、综合研究和教育经验的潜力，为留住地球科学领域的不同学生，有助于撰写有关STEM招聘和保留的文献。该项目还有望增加教师的数量和水平，以指导本科生和促进地球科学的继续教育。GEO项目通过一项创新的三所院校合作，解决了参与、招聘和留住地球科学专业不同学生的障碍，该合作结合并利用了Santa Fe College（两年制教学机构）的优势；佛罗里达大学是一所四年制的研究机构；奥兰多科学中心，一个非营利性的非正式教育和推广场所。GEO项目为学生提供了真实的地球科学研究经验，明确地将其与实际应用相结合，并与课堂作业相结合。项目目标包括：(1)留住圣达菲学院参与地球科学的学生，并将其转入地球科学学士学位课程；(2)加强圣达菲学院教师、佛罗里达大学研究人员和奥兰多科学中心非正式科学教育者之间的合作；(3)通过为在职教师提供公共推广资源，提高学生对地球科学职业的兴趣。GEO的三个阶段的研讨会式教学，研究指导与推广项目的开发和交付，以及最终的顶点体验，将项目要素构成圣达菲学院新兴的地球科学副学士学位。该项目旨在每年支持三组学生，每组6名学生，并整合了三所院校之间的同伴和导师指导和合作。该项目的目标是招募代表性不足的人口，并将他们留在地球科学领域。佛罗里达大学的教师正在指导学生进行气象学、土壤水文学、地球科学和STEM教育等地球科学分支学科的研究。奥兰多科学中心正在监督一个为期六周的带薪暑期实习，强调沟通和拓展技能的发展。GEO的学生正在设计并通过OSC的Otronicon与不同的公众观众、教师和高中志愿者进行外展。在秋季学期，继续进行研究和拓展活动，最终完成两年制学位课程，转入四年制地球科学课程，准备继续与四年制机构的同龄人一起茁壮成长。项目评估是利用地球科学概念清单衡量学生的内容收获；此外，正在评估学生的科学身份和追求地球科学职业的潜在兴趣的增加。

Few students enter undergraduate programs understanding what the geosciences are or that they are part of a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curriculum. Yet, high paying, high demand jobs in the geosciences and the need for diversity in these fields means these students may miss an opportunity to put their interests in science to work. This is especially true of students beginning their undergraduate education at two year institutions, which are play an ever increasing role in the landscape of higher education. Nearly 54% of minority students in STEM begin their undergraduate education at a community college, making efforts to engage and support such students and better prepare them to transfer to and succeed at 4-year institutions is so important. The Geoscience Engagement and Outreach (GEO) project promotes progress in science for students through the recruitment, mentoring and support of a cohort of two-year college students from underrepresented populations. Activities include faculty mentored research in a sub-set of geoscience subdisciplines, as well as skill building for careers to produce graduates prepared for the expectations of future employers. Documenting the potential of cross-institutional, integrated research and education experiences being developed through this project for retaining diverse students in the geosciences contributes to the literature on STEM recruitment and retention. The project also is expected to increase the number and caliber of faculty available to mentor undergraduates and foster continued education in the geosciences.The GEO project is addressing barriers to engagement, recruitment, and retention of diverse students in the geosciences pipeline through an innovative three-institution collaboration that combines and leverages the strengths of Santa Fe College, a two year teaching institution; the University of Florida, a four year research institution; and the Orlando Science Center, a nonprofit informal education and outreach venue. The GEO project offers students authentic geoscience research experiences explicitly integrated with practical applications and scaffolded to classroom work. Project goals include: (1) fostering retention of the participating GEO students at Santa Fe College and transfer into Bachelor's degree programs in the geosciences, (2) strengthening collaborations among Santa Fe College teaching faculty, University of Florida researchers, and Orlando Science Center informal science educators, and (3) increasing student interest in geoscience careers through public outreach development of resources for in-service teachers. GEO's three phases of seminar-style teaching, research mentoring with outreach project development and delivery, and a culminating capstone experience scaffold the program elements into an emerging geoscience Associates degree at Santa Fe College. The project is designed to support three annual cohorts of 6 students each, with integration of peer- and supervisor-mentoring and collaborations among the three institutions. The project is targeted toward recruitment of underrepresented populations and their retention in geoscience fields. University of Florida faculty are mentoring student research in the geoscience sub-disciplines of meteorology, soil hydrology, and geoscience and STEM education. The Orlando Science Center is supervising a paid 6-week summer internship that emphasizes communications and outreach skills development. GEO students are designing and conducting outreach with diverse public audiences, teachers and high school volunteers through OSC's Otronicon. Continuation of research and outreach activities during the Fall semester culminates in the completion of a two year degree by GEO cohort students and their transfer to a four year geosciences program, prepared to continue and thrive alongside their four year institution peers. Project evaluation is measuring student content gain, using the Geoscience Concept Inventory; in addition, increases in a student's science identity and potential interest in pursuing geoscience careers are being assessed.