Targeted Infusion Project: Infusion of Geospatial Informatics to Enhance an Undergraduate Biological Science Program

历史黑人学院和大学本科项目(HBCU-UP)通过有针对性的灌输项目，支持基于证据的创新模式和方法的开发、实施和研究，以改善HBCU本科学生的准备和成功，使他们能够攻读科学、技术、工程或数学(STEM)研究生课程和/或职业。该项目旨在为德克萨斯南方大学的本科生生物学课程注入地理空间信息科学与技术(GIST)。这将帮助学生为应对地理空间信息、生态、环境科学和自然资源管理领域的全球挑战做好准备。该项目的目标是：1)促进学生对地理空间信息学的兴趣，从而满足全球对日益多样化的地理空间劳动力的需求；2)培养批判性思维和增强解决问题的能力，以更好地为学生未来的职业做好准备；3)使学生掌握收集现场数据、创建和解释地理空间地图的尖端地理空间技术技能；以及4)增加未被充分代表的学生申请地理空间相关STEM领域研究生课程和实习的人数。这将通过在现有课程的单元中增加地理空间内容，创建以地理空间科学为重点的课程，开发新的地理空间科学本科证书，以及实施地理空间科学本科研究方案来实现。通过一系列有计划的传播活动，该项目有可能影响在一系列机构实施地理空间技术组成部分。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) through Targeted Infusion Projects supports the development, implementation, and study of evidence-based innovative models and approaches for improving the preparation and success of HBCU undergraduate students so that they may pursue science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) graduate programs and/or careers. This project seeks to infuse the undergraduate biology curriculum at Texas Southern University with geospatial informational science and technology (GIST). This will help prepare students to address global challenges in the fields of geospatial information, ecology, environmental science, and natural resource management. The activities and strategies are evidence-based and formative and summative evaluation are an integral part of the project.This project has the objectives to 1) promote student interest in geospatial informatics thereby addressing the global need for an increasingly diversified geospatial workforce, 2) foster critical thinking and enhance problem solving skills to better prepare students for future careers demanding geospatial skills in a range of fields, 3) equip students with cutting edge geospatial technology skills to collect field data, create and interpret geospatial maps, and 4) increase the number of underrepresented students applying for graduate programs and internships in geospatial-related STEM-fields. This will be accomplished by adding geospatial content to modules in existing courses, creating a GIST-focused course, developing a new undergraduate certificate in geospatial science, and implementing a GIST undergraduate research program. Through a range of planned dissemination activities, this project has the potential to affect the implementation of GIST components at a range of institutions.