NSF INCLUDES: Engaging Local Communities in Geoscience Pathways

第一部分-就在美国各地的社区都在努力应对气候变化、韧性和环境正义的同时，美国面临着能够致力于这些问题的地球科学家的短缺。这种短缺对边缘化和服务不足的社区尤为严重。通往地球科学事业的道路上的差距早在中学就开始了--这是许多学生最后一次在课堂上接触到地球科学内容。为了应对这些挑战，该项目将为三个不同社区(佐治亚州亚特兰大、加利福尼亚州圣贝纳迪诺和俄克拉何马州)的学生创造机会，在他们从中学到大学乃至以后进入劳动力市场的过程中发展他们的科学技能和知识，同时致力于解决真正的当地问题。第二部分-项目设计的依据是研究结果，即当学生与当地社区关注的问题联系在一起时，他们对学习科学的参与和投资更多，使用真实的、有指导的、现实世界的研究经验可以增加记忆和坚持不懈。项目组将把领导过相关的、成功的国家努力的合作伙伴与三个区域的合作伙伴聚集在一起，设计并开始实施包容性路径，从早期对地球感兴趣到需要地球科学技能和知识的职业。每条途径将为学生提供多个机会：1)在引人注目的地方问题背景下学习地球科学；2)利用地球科学解决当地的挑战；3)探索地球科学的职业道路。初步方案伙伴和区域试点所获得的经验将用于建立国家支助结构，以发展综合地球科学途径和扩大伙伴关系的集体行动框架。

Part I - At the same time communities all over the US are struggling to deal with climate change, resilience, and environmental justice, the nation faces a shortage of geoscientists who can work on these issues. This shortage is especially acute for marginalized and underserved communities. Gaps in the pathways to careers in geoscience begin as early as middle school?the last time many students encounter Earth science content in the classroom. To address these challenges, this project will create opportunities for students in three diverse communities (Atlanta, GA; San Bernardino, CA; and Oklahoma) to develop their scientific skills and knowledge while working on authentic, local problems as they progress from middle school to college and beyond, into the workforce. Part II - The project design is informed by research findings that students are more engaged and invested in learning science when it is connected to issues of concern to their local community and that use of authentic, mentored, real world research experiences increase retention and persistence. Bringing together partners who have led relevant, successful national efforts with partners in the three regions the project team will design and begin implementation of inclusive pathways that lead from an early interest in Earth to careers that require geoscience skills and knowledge. Each pathway will include multiple opportunities for students to 1) learn geoscience in the context of compelling local issues, 2) use geoscience to address local challenges, and 3) explore geoscience career pathways. Experience gained by initial program partners and regional pilots will be used to create national support structures for developing integrated geoscience pathways and a collective action framework for expanded partnerships.