Enhancing Interest in Water Resource Careers via Summer Field Experiences

该提案寻求将半干旱水文和河岸地区可持续发展中心(SAHRA)和亚利桑那州索诺拉沙漠博物馆(ASDM)的专业知识结合起来，以解决在夏季环境科学夏令营或研究经验中增加代表不足的高中生数量的问题。这些夏令营包括亚利桑那州河流项目，该项目旨在培养学生的河岸监测技能和环境管理能力，以及地球夏令营，该项目提供实践环境研究体验，帮助年轻人了解如何有益地利用科学。与亚利桑那州多达20个其他组织合作，私人投资机构正在建立机制，以：1)讨论各种与地球科学相关的当地外展项目的共同问题和做法；2)为合作伙伴之间的合作建立新的网络；3)开发新的招聘途径和支持结构；4)利用现有资金并寻求额外资金，以支持学生和教师的参与者支持；以及5)探索与当地公共和私营部门的地球科学雇主的联系。该联盟的潜在合作伙伴包括亚利桑那大学的早期学术外联计划、Bio5 Biome外联计划、亚利桑那州科学中心和NAU的环境教育外联计划。共享的招聘努力和共同开发的指导策略预计将使各个项目之间的竞争降至最低，并产生成本节约。

This proposal seeks to couple the expertise of the Sustainability of Semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas (SAHRA) center and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum (ASDM) to address the issue of increasing the numbers of under-represented high school students in summer environmental science camps or research experiences. These camps include the Arizona Rivers program, which seeks to develop student riparian monitoring skills and environmental stewardship, and Earth Camp, which provides hands-on environmental research experiences to help youth appreciate how science can be used beneficially. In collaboration with up to 20 other organizations in the state of Arizona, the PIs are establishing mechanisms to: 1) discuss common issues and practices among a wide range of local geoscience-related outreach programs; 2) build new networks for collaboration among partners; 3) develop new recruitment pathways and support structures; 4) leverage existing funding and pursue additional funding for student and teacher participant support; and 5) explore connections with local geoscience employers in the public and private sectors. Potential partners in the alliance include the University of Arizona's Early Academic Outreach program, the Bio5 BioME outreach program, the Arizona Science Center and the Environmental Education Outreach Program at NAU. Shared recruitment efforts and co-developed mentoring strategies are expected to minimize competition between individual programs and yield cost-savings.