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，通过真实的研究进行地球科学教育将重点关注高中生和本科生对相关地球科学研究的参与。由于学生在高中接触地球科学的机会有限，他们不太可能在大学里选择地球科学作为主修课程。该项目将为未被充分代表的高中生和非地质学专业的学生提供一个机会，让他们在地质学入门课程中规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课程学习中的作用的认识。该项目还将进一步了解这类经历如何影响代表性不足的学生，以及他们上大学、选择地球科学专业和职业的决定。它旨在为那些可能没有考虑过从事地球科学职业的学生创造一条途径。该项目还将提高人们对地球科学问题、它们与社区和地区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实的地球科学研究，在地球科学领域看到相关的学习和职业选择。第2部分：通过真实的研究进行地球科学教育高中（特别是那些来自代表性不足的人口）和本科生将进行研究，重点是城市社区花园和住宅土壤中的传统重金属污染。学生们将直接与俄亥俄州托莱多的社区园丁和托莱多grow组织的工作人员一起工作，该组织管理着125多个花园。BGSU本科生将通过地质学入门课程“地质学1010”的实验部分参与该项目。来自托莱多公立学校自然科学与技术中心（NSTC）的学生将与BGSU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。学生小组将在BGSU实验室学习如何制备和分析样品。学生们将使用虚拟通信方式分享结果，并进行联合演示。仅在第一年，就将有130多名学生参与该项目。地质学1010的重新设计和BG视角（通识教育）课程的提议将允许每年多达300名本科生注册这门课程，因此，将为大量学生提供进入地球科学的途径。此外，该项目将产生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，以提醒他们注意潜在的问题，并建议他们采取最佳做法，以尽量减少他们的接触。这些结果不仅与俄亥俄州托莱多地区有关，而且与其他类似规模和年龄的城市中心有关。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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.