Collaborative Research: Building Strong Geoscience Departments II- Developing Resources and Networks to Address Priority Challenges

该项目的总体目标是通过网络和协作帮助地球科学部门蓬勃发展。对于一个强大的院系项目来说，没有一个单一的模式，因为各个院系的目标，以及他们面临的挑战和机遇，都高度依赖于他们所在机构的背景。然而，在当今快速变化的研究和教育环境中，地球科学部门可以从分享他们所面临的关键问题的信息和他们制定的成功战略中获益良多。本项目采用专题研讨会、专业学会活动和调查等方式，就当今地球科学部门面临的关键问题展开广泛讨论。将建立一个网站，传播这些讨论的结果以及成功的战略和方案的具体例子。这些信息将支持各部门在全面了解全国其他部门经验的基础上制定自己的最佳做法。该网站还将提供可搜索的地球科学部门描述，可用于开发全国地球科学部门的综合图片，并描述地球科学部门子小组内的活动。一个咨询委员会将创建综合文件，为地球科学院系群体提供声音，这些声音可以被各自机构内的各个院系或地球科学社区使用，因为它就地球科学在科学研究和教育中的作用向国家领导人发表讲话。许多工作都集中在帮助教师最大限度地发挥他们作为研究人员和教师的潜力。然而，在支持院系创造环境以使这些教师在工作中脱颖而出方面，投入的努力相对较少。该项目使用开发的技术，通过面对面的活动和网络来支持个别教师，以建立一个消息灵通的部门网络。在当今这个快速变化的时代，这样一个网络及其提供的信息对于在设计项目时做出正确的决策，以及向教师或管理部门提出令人信服的项目支持案例至关重要。这个网络将有助于确保地球科学部门不会成为被淘汰的目标，并使蓬勃发展的部门的成功故事得到更广泛的传播。

The overall goal of this project is to help geoscience departments thrive by networking and collaboration. There is not a single model for a strong department program as the goals of individual departments, as well as the challenges and opportunities they face, are highly dependent on the context of their institution. However, geoscience departments can benefit substantially from sharing information about key issues they face and the successful strategies they have developed to capitalize on opportunities and meet challenges in today's rapidly changing research and educational environment. This project uses topical workshops, activities at professional societies, and surveys as mechanisms for initiating widespread discussion of the key issues facing geoscience departments today. A website will be developed to disseminate the results of these discussions as well as specific examples of successful strategies and programs. This information will support departments in creating their own best practice based on a thorough knowledge of the experiences of other departments nationwide. The website will also feature searchable descriptions of geoscience departments that can be used to develop an integrated picture of geoscience departments nationwide and to characterize the activity within sub-groups of geoscience departments. An Advisory Board will create synthesis documents providing a voice for the community of geoscience departments that can be used by individual departments within their institutions or by the geoscience community as it speaks to national leaders regarding the role of geosciences in science research and education. Much work has focused on helping faculty maximize their potential as researchers and teachers. However, relatively little effort has gone into supporting departments in creating environments that allow these faculty to excel in their work. This project uses the techniques developed to support individual faculty via face-to-face activities and the web to develop a network of well-informed departments. Such a network and the information it provides are essential in today's era of rapid change to make good decisions in designing programs and to make a compelling case to faculty or administration for program support. This network will help to ensure that geoscience departments are not targeted for elimination and that the success stories that characterize thriving departments become more widespread.