GP-IN: Air Across Texas: Scattered and Supported: A program introducing high school students from underrepresented groups to air quality monitoring, research, and careers

全国各地的地球科学项目的入学率都在下降，这将影响地球科学的劳动力。需要一支强大的地球科学队伍来建设一个有弹性的地球，并帮助解决对国家福祉至关重要的问题，包括空气污染，环境变化，极端天气以及这些事件将产生的复合影响。地球科学领域仍然是科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）领域中最不多样化的领域。Air Across Texas（AAT）项目将支持来自科学领域代表性不足的高中生，鼓励他们攻读以大气科学为重点的STEM本科学位。该项目将为学生提供知识和研究经验，但也将支持他们的父母/监护人，使他们能够学习STEM概念和教育途径，加强对下一代科学家的支持。在项目结束时，将开发一个旅行实验套件，并分发给该地区的高中教师网络，优先考虑资源有限的农村学区。Air Across Texas将向德克萨斯州各地（主要来自农村地区）的高中生介绍大气科学主题，重点是空气质量。该项目的目标是：1）提高学生在研究和大气科学主题（重点是空气质量）方面的知识和技能。提高高中生的STEM兴趣和STEM自我效能感。3.提高父母对STEM概念，职业和大学机会的认识。4.向学生介绍大学经历和STEM职业，提高大学的吸引力。项目目标将支持学生对科学领域的参与和兴趣，强调研究过程的质量和发展。课程将透过实践和专题研习，让学生了解在面对具挑战性的科学概念或课题时，如何运用研究为本的方法。AAT将分三个阶段运作，包括虚拟和面对面的设置，强调平行主动学习和团队合作。在第一阶段，在网上设置，学生将被介绍给不同的科学主题，以增加他们的知识，并为第二阶段做好准备。在第二阶段，学生活动将侧重于研究性学习活动。每个学生将使用一个低成本的空气质量传感器，将被放置在他们的家中执行一个基于研究的项目。在第三阶段，学生将参加为期一周的夏季研究研讨会（SRS）在得克萨斯理工大学（TTU），参与队列建设和科学活动，为他们准备大学的经验。家长或监护人也将在SRS开始时参与，并了解潜在的STEM职业，大学机会以及支持孩子追求STEM的方法。在SRS结束时，学生将在会议上展示他们的研究，并准备提交大学申请。完成该项目的学生将被邀请在每年秋季学期在TTU举行的变革性本科生体验研讨会上展示他们的研究。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

Geoscience programs across the nation have seen a decline in enrollment, which will impact the geoscience workforce. A strong geoscience workforce is needed to build a resilient planet and help address issues important to the well-being of the nation, including air pollution, environmental change, extreme weather, and the compounding impacts that these events will produce. The geoscience fields remains some of the least diverse among the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The project Air Across Texas (AAT) will support high school students from underrepresented backgrounds in science to encourage them to pursue undergraduate degrees in STEM focusing on atmospheric science. The project will provide knowledge and research experiences for the students but will also support their parents/guardians enabling them to learn STEM concepts and educational avenues, enhancing the support of the next generation of scientists. At the end of the project a traveling lab kit will be developed and distributed to a network of high school teachers across the region with a preference for rural school districts that have limited access to resources.Air Across Texas will introduce high school students from across Texas (mainly from rural areas) to atmospheric science topics, with a focus on air quality. The goals of the project are to 1) Improve students’ knowledge and skills in research and atmospheric science topics (with a focus on air quality) 2. Increase STEM interest and STEM self-efficacy of high school students. 3. Increase parental awareness of STEM concepts, careers, and collegiate opportunities. 4. Introduce students to college experiences and STEM careers, increasing collegiate belongingness. The project goals will support the student’s engagement and interest in scientific fields, emphasizing the quality and development of the research process. It will use hands-on and project-based learning to foster students’ understanding on how to use a research-based approach when encountering challenging scientific concepts or subjects. AAT will operate in three phases including virtual and in-person settings, emphasizing parallel active learning and teamwork. In phase-1, in an online setting, students will be introduced to different scientific topics to increase their knowledge and prepare them for phase-2. During phase-2, student activities will focus on research learning activities. Each student will perform a research-based project using a low-cost air quality sensor that will be placed in their homes. In phase-3, students will take part in a 1-week Summer Research Symposium (SRS) at Texas Tech University (TTU), participating in cohort building and scientific activities to prepare them for college experiences. Parents or guardians will also participate at the beginning of SRS and learn about potential STEM careers, collegiate opportunities, and ways to support their children pursuing STEM. At the end of SRS, the students will present their research in a conference setting and will have university applications ready for submission. Students who complete the program will be invited to present their research at the Transformative Undergraduate Experiences Symposium held every year in the fall semester at TTU.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.