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

非技术性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？S，这既是因为沿海军事设施的洪水泛滥，也是因为粮食生产和经济体系中断导致的政治不稳定加剧。了解全球气候变化的影响并减轻其影响将需要地球科学家的共同努力。与此同时，我国面临着对受过地球科学培训的人的迫切需求，以满足雇主的要求？需要合格的人才。发展我们的国家有什么困难？S的地学队伍起步很早，因为大多数大学生都不熟悉地学的各个学科，也不熟悉那些接受过地学培训的人的职业前景。因此，很少有学生在进入大学时打算攻读地球科学的学位或职业。这一建议通过在学生最有可能决定其职业发展轨迹的关键时刻提供地球科学方面的有指导的研究经验，扩大和发展了追求地球科学职业生涯的学生队伍。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较低的人群的教育来发展STEM劳动力。技术指导研究机会是一种成熟的方式，可以招收、留住和提升STEM领域的学生，包括组成地球科学的不同学科，因此指导研究为培养下一代地球科学家提供了一个示范模式。这项有指导的研究计划被称为本科生珊瑚研究倡议(UCRI)，建立在美国地质调查局科学家最近的发现基础上，即在美属维尔京群岛珊瑚礁国家纪念碑海洋保护区内飓风洞的红树林支柱树根中发现了一个独特的珊瑚避难所，以抵御全球变暖。在三年的课程中，将指导至少15名学生完成研究过程的所有阶段，从培养科学素养技能开始(第一阶段)，然后是实验设计、海洋数据收集、数据分析和研究结果陈述的实用研究技能(第二阶段)。学生将在设计和执行实验中发挥核心作用，以解决促进红树林栖息地部分(但不是全部)珊瑚生存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理解和保护珊瑚免受全球变暖带来的压力。最后，将通过与四年制大学(第三阶段)的学生和教职员工进行地质学实地技能培训，为学生提供更广阔的地球科学职业前景。

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).