NSF INCLUDES Collaborative: Creating a Diverse STEM Pathway with Community Water Research

科学和工程教育缺乏多样性，导致了应对当今重大挑战的劳动力中的严重不平等。扩大在这些领域的参与，将促进科学进步，促进国民健康、繁荣和福利，并确保国防；然而，来自代表性不足群体（包括女性）的学生报告的经历与大多数学生不同，即使在同一领域也是如此。这些差异不是由学生的能力造成的，而是由于缺乏抱负、信心、指导、教学方法以及与其文化身份的联系和相关性。该项目的长期愿景是扩大缅因大学雨水研究管理小组（SMART）成功扩大参与模式的影响。该项目培训学生和导师使用科学和工程技能和技术来研究当地流域的水质。学生从事许多科学和技术领域：工程设计，数据采集，分析和可视化，化学，环境科学，生物学和信息技术。学生还可以与政府、私营公司和非营利组织的水和工程专业人士建立联系。SMART通过让学生参与解决社区问题的指导和辅导学徒制，扩大了传统的科学和工程课堂。这个试点项目将形成一个协作并确定一个战略计划，以扩大到一个国家联盟，以提高在科学、工程和相关领域未被充分代表的少数民族学生的长期成功率。多个不同组织的合作将共同为大学预科教育贡献时间和资源。有无数孤立的项目为代表性不足的少数民族学生提供短期干预；然而，缺乏组织协调，以调整当前的项目提供，分享最佳实践，研究成果或项目成果沿着教育到劳动力的路径。合作活动将侧重于过渡年级（如4-5年级、8年级和高中），并强调技能、自信、文化和未来职业之间的关系。合作伙伴将在每个地点建立集中的基础设施，通过设计、部署和持续评估一个以雨水为主题的项目，以满足他们的位置和人口的特定需求，围绕一个共同的议程，协调招聘被投资的社区领袖、教育工作者和家长。这个协作社区将由高等教育教师和学生、K-12学生、他们的看护人、导师、教育工作者、雨水区、州和国家环境保护机构、教育部门以及其他营利性和非营利性组织组成。该合作项目将解决关于科学和技术劳动力中代表性不足的群体更多参与的变革、合作和谈判机制的研究需求。

Non-TechnicalLack of diversity in science and engineering education has contributed to significant inequality in a workforce that is responsible for addressing today's grand challenges. Broadening participation in these fields will promote the progress of science and advance national health, prosperity and welfare, as well as secure the national defense; however, students from underrepresented groups, including women, report different experiences than the majority of students, even within the same fields. These distinctions are not caused by the students' ability, but rather by insufficient aspiration, confidence, mentorship, instructional methods, and connection and relevance to their cultural identity. The long-term vision of this project is to amplify the impact of a successful broadening participation model at the University of Maine, the Stormwater Research Management Team (SMART). This program trains students and mentors in using science and engineering skills and technology to research water quality in their local watershed. Students engage in numerous science and technology fields: engineering design, data acquisition, analysis and visualization, chemistry, environmental science, biology, and information technology. Students also connect with a diversity of professionals in water and engineering in government, private firms and non-profits. SMART has augmented the traditional science and engineering classroom by engaging students in guided mentored apprenticeships that address community problems. TechnicalThis pilot project will form a collaborative and define a strategic plan for scale-up to a national alliance to increase the long-term success rate of underrepresented minority students in science, engineering, and related fields. The collaborative of multiple and varied organizations will align to collectively contribute time and resources to a pre-college educational pathway. There are countless isolated programs that offer short-term interventions for underrepresented and minority students; however, there is lack of organizational coordination for aligning current program offerings, sharing best practices, research results or program outcomes along the education to workforce pathway. The collaborative activities will focus on the transition grades (e.g., 4-5, 8, and high school) and emphasize relationships among skills, confidence, culture and future careers. Collaborative partners will establish a centralized infrastructure in each location to coordinate recruiting of invested community leaders, educators, and parents, around a common agenda by designing, deploying and continually assessing a stormwater-themed project that addresses their location and demographic specific needs. This collaborative community will consist of higher education faculty and students, K-12 students, their caregivers, mentors, educators, stormwater districts, state and national environmental protection agencies, departments of education, and other for-profit and non-profit organizations. The collaborative will address the need for research on mechanisms for change, collaboration, and negotiation regarding the greater participation of under-represented groups in the science and technology workforce.