GP-EXTRA: Using professional career experiences to strengthen pathways into the geoscience workforce

预计到2022年，全国将缺少13.5万名地球科学家，这将对能源和水资源的供应以及环境质量产生重大影响，这些都是维持强劲经济并确保所有美国人的健康和福利的必需品。该项目正在通过测试与职业相关的课外活动的综合计划来解决人员短缺问题，该计划旨在提高在地球科学领域获得四年制大学学位的学生的留校率和成就水平，并增加这些毕业后在劳动力市场取得成功的熟练科学家的数量和多样性。通过评估该项目的成功程度确定的最佳实践被用来建立一个其他大学可以效仿的模型。该项目正在研究体验式学习机会对地球科学领域更高的学生保留率、学习成绩的提高和成功的职业安置的影响。德克萨斯大学圣安东尼奥分校(一所为少数族裔和拉美裔服务的机构)的18名地质学专业本科生正在进行一系列三个不同地球科学领域的实习，以提供与职业相关的多种工作经验。每名学生将完成一次学术实习，包括在校园内的研究和教学活动，然后是能源、地质环境评估和水资源领域的两个实习。这四条职业轨迹为通过私营公司和政府机构进入当地就业市场提供了明确的途径。学生们还参加了一系列学术和专业研讨会，以提高能力和技能，为他们的职业生涯做准备。促进个人和职业成长的多层次指导战略和网络机会的综合计划旨在平稳过渡到地球科学劳动力队伍。正在通过系统的调查、访谈和外部审查计划对计划活动进行评估。该项目旨在改善本科教育，以解决预计的地球科学家短缺问题，促进在地球科学专业和职业中代表性不足的群体的参与，并促进加强高等教育机构与外部地球科学组织之间的伙伴关系的研究。该项目将增加进入地球科学劳动力队伍的熟练工人的数量和多样性，并导致可在其他大学实施的最佳实践战略，以对地球科学专业的留住、教育和职业发展产生有意义的影响。

The predicted national shortfall of 135,000 geoscientists by 2022 will have major consequences for the provision of energy and water resources and the quality of the environment, necessities that sustain a strong economy and ensure the health and welfare of all Americans. This project is addressing the personnel shortfall by testing a comprehensive program of career-related extracurricular activities that aims to improve retention and achievement levels of students earning four-year college degrees in the geosciences and increase the number and diversity of these skilled scientists that succeed in the workforce after graduation. The best practices defined from evaluating the success of the program are being used to build a model that can be followed by other universities.The project is examining the effect of experiential learning opportunities on higher student retention rates in the geosciences, improvement in academic performance, and successful career placement. A diverse group of 18 undergraduate geology majors at the University of Texas at San Antonio (a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving Institution) are engaging in a sequence of three internships in different geoscience fields to provide multiple career-related work experiences. Each student is completing an academic internship involving research and teaching activities on campus, followed by two placements in the energy resources, geo-environmental assessment, and water resources fields. The four career trajectories have clear pathways into the local employment market through private companies and governmental agencies. Students are also participating in a suite of academic and professional workshops to enhance competencies and skills in preparation for their careers. A multi-level mentoring strategy that promotes personal and professional growth and an integrated scheme of networking opportunities aims to smooth the transition into the geoscience workforce. Program activities are being assessed through a systematic plan of surveys, interviews, and external reviews. The project seeks to improve undergraduate education to address the projected shortfall in geoscientists, promote the participation of underrepresented groups in both geoscience majors and careers, and contribute to research on strengthening partnerships between higher education institutions and external geoscience organizations. The project will increase the number and diversity of skilled workers entering the geoscience workforce and lead to best practice strategies that can be implemented at other universities to impact meaningfully on the retention, education, and career trajectories of geoscience majors.