NSF INCLUDES: Engaging Local Communities in Geoscience Pathways

与此同时，美国各地的社区都在努力应对气候变化、恢复力和环境正义，美国面临着能够研究这些问题的地球科学家的短缺。对于边缘化和服务不足的社区来说，这种短缺尤其严重。在通往地球科学职业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地球科学内容。为了应对这些挑战，该项目将为来自三个不同社区（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，让他们在从中学到大学及以后进入劳动力市场的过程中，在解决真实的当地问题的同时，发展他们的科学技能和知识。第二部分-研究结果表明，当科学与当地社区关注的问题相关时，学生更愿意参与和投入科学学习，并且使用真实的、有指导的、真实世界的研究经验可以提高学生的记忆力和持久性。项目团队将把在相关国家工作中取得成功的合作伙伴与三个地区的合作伙伴聚集在一起，设计并开始实施包容性途径，将早期对地球的兴趣引导到需要地球科学技能和知识的职业。每条路径都将为学生提供多种机会：1)在引人注目的当地问题背景下学习地球科学，2)利用地球科学解决当地挑战，3)探索地球科学职业道路。最初的项目合作伙伴和区域试点所获得的经验将用于建立国家支持结构，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.