High-Impact Introduction to the Geosciences through the Undergraduate Coral Research Initiative

许多前高级军事和国家安全官员认为全球变暖对我们的国家构成了威胁。由于沿海军事设施的洪水增加，以及粮食生产和经济系统的破坏导致的政治不稳定加剧，美国的安全受到威胁。了解全球气候变化的影响并减轻其影响需要地球科学家的共同努力。与此同时，我们国家迫切需要受过地球科学培训的人才来满足雇主的需求。需要合格的人员。发展我们国家的困难是什么？美国的地球科学工作队伍起步较早，因为大多数大学生不熟悉作为地球科学一部分的各种学科，也不熟悉受过地球科学培训的人的职业前景。因此，很少有学生一开始就打算攻读地球科学方面的学位或职业。在学生最有可能决定自己的职业轨迹的关键时刻，该提案通过在地球科学领域提供指导研究经验，扩大和发展了追求地球科学职业的学生群体。通过为两年制大学的学生提供接受四年制大学和联邦机构科学家指导的机会，该计划通过加强传统上代表性不足的人群的教育来发展STEM劳动力。技术指导研究机会是在STEM领域（包括构成地球科学的不同学科）招募、留住和提升学生的一种有效手段，因此，指导研究为培养下一代地球科学家提供了一个典范。这个被称为大学生珊瑚研究计划（UCRI）的指导研究项目，建立在美国地质调查局科学家最近在美属维尔京群岛珊瑚礁国家纪念碑海洋保护区飓风洞荫蔽的红树林支柱根中发现的一个独特的珊瑚避难所的基础上。在三年的课程中，至少15名学生将在研究过程的各个阶段得到指导，从发展科学素养技能（第一阶段）开始，然后是实验设计、海洋环境下的数据收集、数据分析和研究成果展示（第二阶段）方面的实践研究技能。学生将在设计和执行实验中发挥核心作用，以解决促进部分（但不是全部）红树林栖息地珊瑚存活的生物和非生物因素。由于珊瑚礁是海洋生态系统的重要组成部分，学生们的工作将有助于我们了解和保护珊瑚免受全球变暖造成的压力。最后，通过与四年制大学的学生和教师进行地质领域技能培训，为学生提供更广阔的地球科学职业前景（第三阶段）。

Non TechnicalMany former senior military and national security officials believe global warming poses a threat to our nation?s security, both through increased flooding of coastal military installations and via increased political instability from the disruption of food production and economic systems. Understanding the impacts of global climate change and mitigating its effects will require the concerted effort of geoscientists. At the same time, our country faces a critical need for people with training in the geosciences to fulfill employers? need for qualified personnel. The difficulties developing our nation?s geoscience workforce starts early, as most college students are unfamiliar with the various academic disciplines that are a part of the geosciences and the career possibilities for those with training in the geosciences. Consequently, very few students begin college with an intention to pursue a degree or career in the geosciences. This proposal expands and develops the pool of students pursuing careers in geosciences by providing mentored research experiences in the geosciences at the critical junction when students are most likely to be deciding their career trajectory. By providing students at a two-year college the opportunity to receive mentorship from scientists at four-year universities and federal agencies, this program develops the STEM workforce through enhanced education in traditionally underrepresented populations.TechnicalMentored research opportunities are a proven means to recruit, retain, and advance students in STEM fields, including the diverse disciplines that make up the geosciences, and mentored research therefore provides an exemplary model for developing the next generation of geoscientists. This mentored research program, called the Undergraduate Coral Research Initiative (UCRI), builds upon the recent discovery by USGS scientists of a unique coral refuge from global warming among the shaded mangrove prop roots in Hurricane Hole, within the US Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument Marine Reserve. Over the course of three years, at least fifteen students will be guided through all phases of the research process, beginning with developing science literacy skills (Phase I), followed by practical research skills in experimental design, data collection in a marine context, data analysis, and presentation of research findings (Phase II). Students will play a central role in designing and executing experiments to address the biotic and abiotic factors that promote coral survivorship in some, but not all, parts of this mangrove habitat. Because coral reefs are a keystone component of marine ecosystems, the work conducted by students will contribute to our understanding of, and ability to protect, coral from the stresses induced by global warming. Finally, students will be provided a broader perspective of careers in geosciences through geology field skills training with students and faculty at a four-year university (Phase III).