GP-GO:Providing Educational Access to Research & Learning in geoscienceS (PEARLS)

地球科学是科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)中差异最小的学科之一。该计划将应用经科学批准的最佳实践，为非传统地学专业、女性、服务不足和代表性不足的少数民族(URM)提供地学研究和学习(珍珠)的教育机会。这项工作将提高人们对地球科学的认识和接触，并将培养一支多样化的、具有全球竞争力的STEM劳动力队伍。该项目将通过课外体验和培训让学生参与地球科学。该项目在马里兰大学学院园区(UMD)提供了一个具有综合经验的地球科学学习生态系统，以帮助来自非传统地球科学专业的本科生高年级学生和寻求硕士学位的学生过渡到地球科学并从事地球科学研究。这些经验将帮助学生更成功地进入地球科学研究生项目和地球科学工作场所。该项目将为学生从事跨学科的地球科学工作创造催化经验。学习设计由三个关键目标组成。PI将i)创建一个导师计划，其中包括一个终身学习丰富计划，最终在学者以及州和地方政府中获得国家认可的认证和/或学徒资格。Ii)设计和测试桥梁计划，以帮助非地球科学领域的本科生过渡到地球科学研究生计划，以及iii)促进学术界与当地私营部门或州/地方政府部门之间的职业协调合作，以促进本科生/研究生计划与地球科学工作人员之间的过渡。拟议的学习生态系统模式提供了三条不同的途径，在虚拟和面对面的平台上增强非传统地学专业的技术专长和知识。技术知识和促进增长得到了垂直分层的导师网络的支持。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。

Geoscience is one of the least diverse disciplines in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This program will apply scientifically ratified best practices to Provide Educational Access to Research & Learning in geocienceS (PEARLS) for non-traditional geoscience majors, women, under-served, and underrepresented minorities (URM). The work will increase the awareness and access to the geosciences and will develop a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce. The project will engage students in the geosciences through extracurricular experiences and training. The project provides a geoscience learning ecosystem with integrated experiences at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) to help undergraduate upperclassmen from non-traditional geoscience majors and master’s degree-seeking students transition into geosciences and engage in geoscience studies. The experiences will help students matriculate more successfully in geoscience graduate programs and the geoscience workplace. This project will create catalytic experiences for students to engage in interdisciplinary geoscience work. The learning design is composed of three critical objectives. The PIs will i) create a mentorship program that includes a life-long learning enrichment program culminating in nationally recognized certification and/or apprenticeship with academics, as well as with and the state and local governments. ii) design and test bridge programs to help post-undergraduate students from non-geoscience fields transition into geoscience graduate programs and iii) foster career-aligned collaborations between academia and the local private sector or state/local government sector that facilitate transitions between undergraduate/graduate programs and the geoscience workforce. The proposed learning ecosystem model offers three distinct pathways to enhance technical expertise and knowledge of non-traditional geoscience majors in virtual and in-person platforms. The technical knowledge and promotion of growth is supported by a vertically tiered mentor network.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.