GP-EXTRA: Using professional career experiences to strengthen pathways into the geoscience workforce

预计到2022年，全国将缺少13.5万名地球科学家，这将对能源和水资源的供应以及环境质量产生重大影响，而这些都是维持强劲经济、确保所有美国人健康和福利的必需品。该项目通过测试与职业相关的课外活动的综合计划来解决人才短缺问题，该计划旨在提高获得四年制地球科学大学学位的学生的保留率和成就水平，并增加毕业后成功就业的熟练科学家的数量和多样性。从评估项目成功中确定的最佳实践被用来建立一个模型，其他大学可以效仿。该项目正在研究体验式学习机会对提高地球科学专业学生的保留率、提高学习成绩和成功的职业安置的影响。德克萨斯大学圣安东尼奥分校（一所服务于少数族裔和西班牙裔的大学）的18名地质学专业本科生正在参加不同地球科学领域的三个连续实习，以提供多种与职业相关的工作经验。每个学生将在校内完成一项包括研究和教学活动的学术实习，然后在能源、地质环境评估和水资源领域进行两次实习。这四种职业轨迹通过私营公司和政府机构进入当地就业市场有明确的途径。学生们还参加了一系列学术和专业研讨会，以提高他们的能力和技能，为他们的职业生涯做准备。促进个人和专业成长的多层次指导战略以及网络机会的综合方案旨在顺利过渡到地球科学工作队伍。通过系统的调查、访谈和外部审查计划来评估项目活动。该项目旨在改善本科教育，以解决预计的地球科学家短缺问题，促进代表性不足的群体参与地球科学专业和职业，并为加强高等教育机构与外部地球科学组织之间的伙伴关系的研究做出贡献。该项目将增加进入地球科学工作队伍的技术工人的数量和多样性，并产生最佳实践策略，可在其他大学实施，对地球科学专业学生的保留、教育和职业轨迹产生有意义的影响。

The predicted national shortfall of 135,000 geoscientists by 2022 will have major consequences for the provision of energy and water resources and the quality of the environment, necessities that sustain a strong economy and ensure the health and welfare of all Americans. This project is addressing the personnel shortfall by testing a comprehensive program of career-related extracurricular activities that aims to improve retention and achievement levels of students earning four-year college degrees in the geosciences and increase the number and diversity of these skilled scientists that succeed in the workforce after graduation. The best practices defined from evaluating the success of the program are being used to build a model that can be followed by other universities.The project is examining the effect of experiential learning opportunities on higher student retention rates in the geosciences, improvement in academic performance, and successful career placement. A diverse group of 18 undergraduate geology majors at the University of Texas at San Antonio (a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving Institution) are engaging in a sequence of three internships in different geoscience fields to provide multiple career-related work experiences. Each student is completing an academic internship involving research and teaching activities on campus, followed by two placements in the energy resources, geo-environmental assessment, and water resources fields. The four career trajectories have clear pathways into the local employment market through private companies and governmental agencies. Students are also participating in a suite of academic and professional workshops to enhance competencies and skills in preparation for their careers. A multi-level mentoring strategy that promotes personal and professional growth and an integrated scheme of networking opportunities aims to smooth the transition into the geoscience workforce. Program activities are being assessed through a systematic plan of surveys, interviews, and external reviews. The project seeks to improve undergraduate education to address the projected shortfall in geoscientists, promote the participation of underrepresented groups in both geoscience majors and careers, and contribute to research on strengthening partnerships between higher education institutions and external geoscience organizations. The project will increase the number and diversity of skilled workers entering the geoscience workforce and lead to best practice strategies that can be implemented at other universities to impact meaningfully on the retention, education, and career trajectories of geoscience majors.