GP-EXTRA: Geoscience Education through Authentic Research

第一部分：为了扩大学生对地球科学的参与，通过真实研究进行地球科学教育将侧重于让高中生和本科生参与相关的地球科学研究。由于学生在高中对地球科学的接触有限，他们不太可能在大学选择地球科学作为一门主修课程。这个项目将为地质学入门课程中人数不足的高中生和非地质学专业的学生提供一个机会来计划和执行真正的地球科学研究。它将促进对参与本科生研究在选择和维持地球科学研究课程方面的作用的了解。该项目还将促进对这种类型的经历如何影响代表不足的学生以及他们决定上大学和选择地球科学专业和职业的了解。它寻求为学生创造一条途径，让他们在地球科学领域追求自己的职业生涯，否则他们可能没有考虑过。该项目还将提高对地球科学问题、其与社区和区域的相关性以及解决这些问题的研究途径的认识。最终目标是让两组学生通过进行真正的地球科学研究，在地球科学领域看到相关的学习和职业选择。第二部分：通过真实研究的地球科学教育，高中学生(特别是那些来自代表性不足的人群)和本科生将重点研究城市社区花园和居民区土壤中遗留的重金属污染。学生将直接与俄亥俄州托莱多的社区园丁和托莱多种植组织的人员合作，该组织负责监督超过125个花园。北卡罗来纳州立大学的本科生将通过地质学入门课程的实验室部分参与这个项目，地质学1010。来自托莱多公立学校自然科学和技术中心(NSTC)的学生将与北卡罗来纳州立大学的学生一起确定样本地点，并使用GLOBE和其他协议收集和表征样本。这些学生小组将在北京州立大学的实验室工作，学习如何准备和分析样品。学生将使用虚拟交流手段分享成果，并开发联合演示文稿。仅在第一年，就有130多名学生参加了这个项目。地质学1010的重新设计和BG观点(通识教育)课程的拟议增加将允许每年最多300名本科生参加该课程，因此，将为大量学生提供一条进入地球科学的途径。此外，该项目还将生成一个关于城市社区花园中重金属浓度和分布的大型数据库。参与的学生将把他们的结果传播给园丁和其他社区成员，以便提醒他们注意潜在的问题，并就尽量减少暴露在环境中的最佳做法提出建议。这些结果将不仅与俄亥俄州托莱多地区相关，也将与其他类似规模和年龄的城市中心相关。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Part 1:In order to broaden student participation in geosciences, Geoscience Education through Authentic Research will focus on the engagement of high school and undergraduate students in relevant geoscience research. Because students have limited exposure to geoscience in high school, they are unlikely to choose it as a major course of study in college. This project will provide an opportunity for underrepresented high school students and non-Geology majors in an introductory Geology course to plan and execute real geoscience research. It will advance knowledge on the role that participation in undergraduate research has in choosing and maintaining a course of study in the geosciences. The project will also advance knowledge on how this type of experience can impact underrepresented students and their decision to go to college and to choose a geoscience major and career. It seeks to create a pathway for students to pursue a career in geoscience who may not have otherwise considered one. The project will also create an awareness of geoscience issues, their relevance to the community and region, and research avenues to address these issues. The ultimate goal is for both groups of students to see relevant study and career options in the geosciences through conducting authentic geoscience research. Part 2:Through Geoscience Education through Authentic Research both high school (particularly those from underrepresented populations) and undergraduate students will do research focused on legacy heavy metal contamination in urban community gardens and residential soils. Students will work directly with community gardeners in Toledo, OH, and personnel from the Toledo GROWs organization, which oversees over 125 gardens. BGSU undergraduates will participate in this project through a laboratory component of an introductory Geology class, Geology 1010. Students from Toledo Public Schools' Natural Science and Technology Center (NSTC) will work with BGSU students to determine sample sites and to collect and characterize the samples using GLOBE and other protocols. The groups of students will work in BGSU labs to learn how to prepare and analyze samples. The students will share results using virtual means of communication and develop joint presentations. In just the first year, over 130 students will participate in the project. The redesign of Geology 1010 and proposed addition to the BG Perspective (general education) curriculum will allow up to 300 undergraduates a year to be enrolled in the course and therefore, would provide a pathway into geosciences for a large student population. In addition, the project will generate a large database on heavy metals concentrations and distribution in urban community gardens. The participating students will disseminate their results to gardeners and other community members in order to alert them to potential issues and advise them on best practices for minimizing their exposures. These results will be not only be relevant to the Toledo, OH area but also to other urban centers of similar size and age.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.