UMEB: Melding Science with Traditional Ways of Knowing

北方亚利桑那大学（NAU）将继续通过环境生物学本科生导师（UMEB）计划培训来自代表性不足的少数群体的学生。在2004-05学年，超过18%的NAU学生是美洲原住民或西班牙裔（分别为1,300和2,200名学生），提供了充足的人才库。大约20名教师导师，参与六个不同的研究领域，致力于在UMEB计划共同努力，以实现两个主要目标：1）招募和留住有才华的学生在环境生物学;和2）准备学生在环境生物学的职业生涯，包括进入研究生课程。北方亚利桑那大学的UMEB计划结合了课程，指导，个人研究和推广活动。 所有学者都参加UMEB研讨会：研究基础（ENV 499）。 在第一学期，学生被介绍给所有的研究导师和一系列的研究机会，从中选择。在秋季学期结束时，每个学者选择自己的导师;在第二学期，每个人都根据自己的兴趣准备一份研究计划书。 过去的经验表明，通过参与四个层次的支持，UMEB学者的保留率得到了极大的提高：计划工作人员，导师，同伴支持，以及特别适合为学生提供文化敏感支持的大学服务（多元文化学生中心，美洲原住民学生服务和应用土著研究部门）。UMEB计划的主题：“将科学与传统的认知方式融合”是基于第一个UMEB计划期间获得的经验。美国原住民学生经常面临在现代科学和时代智慧之间找到平衡的挑战。对这些学生的指导使他们进一步了解了传统知识的深刻价值，特别是在解决复杂的环境问题方面。欲了解更多信息，请联系南希约翰逊在南希。约翰逊@ nau.edu，戴安娜安德森在戴安娜。安德森@ nau.edu或贾尼英格拉姆在贾尼英格拉姆@ nau.edu。

Northern Arizona University (NAU) will continue to train students from under-represented minority groups through the Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology (UMEB) program. During the 2004-05 academic year, more than 18% of NAU's student body were Native American or Hispanic (1,300 and 2,200 students, respectively), providing an ample pool of talented students. About twenty faculty mentors, involved in six different research areas, are committed to work together in the UMEB program to achieve two main objectives: 1) recruit and retain talented students in environmental biology; and 2) prepare students for careers in environmental biology including entry into graduate programs. Northern Arizona University's UMEB program combines coursework, mentoring, individual research, and outreach activities. All scholars enroll in the UMEB seminar: Foundations of Research (ENV 499). During the first semester, students are introduced to all of the research mentors and the array of research opportunities from which to choose. At the end of fall semester each scholar selects his or her own mentor; and during the second semester, each one prepares a research prospectus based on his or her interest. Past experience has shown that retention of UMEB scholars is greatly enhanced by engaging four layers of support: program staff, mentors, peer support, and university services particularly suited to provide culturally sensitive support for students (Multicultural Student Center, Native American Student Services, and the Department of Applied Indigenous Studies). The theme of the UMEB program: "melding science with traditional ways of knowing" is based on experiences gained during the first UMEB program. Native American students are often challenged to find a balance between modern science and the wisdom of ages. Mentoring these students has brought an increased understanding of the profound value of traditional knowledge, particularly for solving complex environmental problems. For more information, contact Nancy Johnson at Nancy.Johnson@nau.edu, Diana Anderson at Diana.Anderson@nau.edu or Jani Ingram at Jani.Ingram@nau.edu.