S-STEM: Training Future Environmental Leaders of the U.S. Virgin Islands

该项目提高了经济困难学生在该大学海洋与环境科学硕士（MMES）项目中的成功率。MMES计划服务于环境脆弱、经济落后的地区，这些地区的居民主要是少数民族。S-STEM项目的目标是：(1)消除阻碍经济困难学生参与MMES计划的障碍；(2)增加代表性不足群体学生的参与。有学术天赋和经济困难的本科生或工作专业人员，特别是维尔京群岛居民、黑人和西班牙裔学生以及女性，通过研讨会、协助实践研究的机会和入学后的经济支持来招募。为了指导学生从录取到毕业和职业安置，专门的S-STEM教师导师正在与学生一起工作。S-STEM学者可以获得辅导，有机会参加带薪实习，并为完成硕士论文研究提供经济支持。该项目的智力价值在于学生通过他们在热带岛屿生态系统背景下的原创论文研究对科学知识的贡献。对学生的智力挑战是通过科学和管理的联合观点来处理环境问题。这项提议的更广泛的影响是，MMES计划正在培养下一代多样化的环境领导人，以满足对创造性的、准备充分的管理人员和科学家的需求，以解决加勒比和全球环境危机。由于人们依赖于维尔京群岛珊瑚礁和其他系统提供的生态系统服务，因此对社会有明显的好处。

This project is increasing the success rate of financially needy students in the Master of Marine and Environmental Science (MMES) program at the University. The MMES program serves an environmentally fragile and economically disadvantaged region whose residents are predominantly racial minorities. The S-STEM project's objectives are to (1) eliminate barriers that hinder financially needy students from participating in the MMES program and (2) increase participation by students from under-represented groups. Academically talented and financially needy undergraduates or working professionals, especially Virgin Islanders, black and Hispanic students, and women, are recruited through seminars, opportunities for assisting in hands-on research, and financial support once enrolled. To guide students from acceptance to graduation and career placement, a dedicated S-STEM Faculty Mentor is working with students. S-STEM Scholars have access to tutoring, the opportunity to participate in paid internships, and financial support for completing their Masters thesis research. The intellectual merit of the project is the contribution that the students make to scientific knowledge through their original thesis research within the context of a tropical island ecosystem. The intellectual challenge for the students is to approach environmental issues through a joint scientific and management perspective. The broader impacts of this proposal are that the MMES program is training the next generation of diverse environmental leaders to respond to the need for creative, well prepared managers and scientists to address Caribbean and global environmental crises. There is a clear benefit to society as people depend on the ecosystem services provided by coral reefs and the other systems of the Virgin Islands.