GP-IMPACTS: Nevada's GeoGateway Program: A collaboration between Nevada State College, College of Southern Nevada, and the Desert Research Institute

美国地球科学研究所和美国劳工局预计，到2024年，内华达州将缺少90，000名地球科学家，到2020年，内华达州将需要260名地球科学家，50名大气和空间科学家，340名环境科学家，70名水文学家和210名环境科学技术人员。耶鲁大学气候变化项目的结论是，克拉克县的大多数居民，即内华达州人口的70%，对气候变化问题的理解很差。增加学生接触地球科学教育和增加地球科学准备毕业生进入内华达州和美国的劳动力数量是主要计划目标。基于实地的体验式学习和研究经验是两种具有高度影响力的做法，可以产生更深入的学习和更高的保留率。拟议项目的优点在于整合实践，提高学生的兴趣和参与地球科学相关的学位和职业。GeoGateway计划（GGP）在提高入门学生的科学素养和通过基于真实世界环境变化数据和其他经验的实地机会的课程计划获得地球科学教育方面具有最广泛的影响。 从内华达州最大的社区学院南内华达州学院（CSN）转学的学生人数将增加，因为学院的衔接协议包括为环境与资源科学（ERS）专业的学生提供指导和加强咨询，该专业包括高地球科学内容。 这两所大学的性别人口统计数据表明，越来越多的代表性不足的少数民族女性，特别是西班牙裔女性，进入科学领域。ERS专业的学生将与沙漠研究所（DRI）合作完成一个重要的研究项目或实习，该研究所是内华达州高等教育系统的专业环境研究机构，或其他当地组织，以进一步了解美国西南部干旱地区可持续生活的科学知识。气候变化加剧了干旱、火灾和其他干旱气候特征的严重性。GGP毕业生将为地球科学工作做好准备，或参加为支持州和国家地球科学目标而创建的相关研究生课程。GeoGateway计划（GGP）是一个结构化的途径，将内华达州南部的学术和研究机构联系起来，以培养该地区的新一代地球科学家，将招募和吸引学生参加地球科学相关课程。两年制科学（AS）的毕业生将进入NSC的四年制ERS计划渠道。GGP利用CSN和DRI的承诺和工作人员，访问NSF支持的基础设施，即内华达州气候生态水文评估网络（NevCAN）。在四年内，GGP将通过联合规划的入门课程，客座讲座，实地考察和电影放映，达到超过530 CSN和680 NSC学生，旨在产生25%的增长ERS专业和ERS毕业生的25%的增长。获得AS学位的CSN学生将直接将所有相关课程转移到NSC ERS学位，进入GGP并参与特殊主题研究项目，获得教师和近同行GGP大使的重要补充建议和指导。大量潜在的未申报的NSC ERS专业人员将被招募到ERS。到GGP结束时，项目合作伙伴将加强社区学院管道到一个四年制学位课程，以帮助满足国家对地球科学家的需求。其他成果包括通过衡量获得的地球科学知识和参与者对攻读地球科学相关学位/职业的兴趣程度，对联合协调的方案编制和参与研究或实习的有效性进行评估，以及增加教员咨询和使用同侪导师的影响，特别是在招募和留住科学项目中代表性不足的少数民族和女学生方面。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The American Geoscience Institute and the U.S. Bureau of Labor project a shortfall of 90,000 geoscientists by 2024 and that by 2020, Nevada (NV) will need 260 more geoscientists, 50 more atmospheric and space scientists, 340 more environmental scientists, 70 more hydrologists, and 210 environmental science technicians. The Yale Project on Climate Change concluded that the majority of Clark County residents, 70% of NV's population, has a poor understanding of climate change issues. Increasing student exposure to geoscience education and increasing the number of geoscience prepared graduates entering the workforce in NV and the U.S. is the primary program goal. Field-based, experiential learning and research experiences are two high-impact practices generating deeper learning and higher retention. The merit of the proposed project rests on integrating practices that increase student interest and engagement in geoscience-related degrees and careers. The GeoGateway Program (GGP) has the broadest impact in increasing introductory students' scientific literacy and access to geoscience education through lesson plans based in real-world environmental change data and other experiential, field-based opportunities. The number of students transferring from the College of Southern Nevada (CSN), NV's largest community college will increase because the colleges' articulation agreement includes mentoring and enhanced advising for students majoring in Environmental and Resource Sciences (ERS), a major including high geoscience content. Gender demographics at both colleges demonstrate growing numbers of underrepresented minority females, especially Hispanic females, entering science fields. Students majoring in ERS will complete a significant research project or internship in collaboration with the Desert Research Institute (DRI), a specialized environmental research arm of the Nevada System of Higher Education, or other local organizations to further scientific knowledge of living sustainably in the dry southwestern U.S. This knowledge is critical for the communities in the region because as millions relocated here, climate change exacerbated the severity of droughts, fires, and other arid climates features. GGP graduates will be job-ready for geoscience jobs or to enroll in related graduate programs created to support state and national geoscience goals.The GeoGateway Program (GGP), a structured pathway linking academic and research institutions in southern NV to train the region's new generation of geoscientists, will recruit and engage students taking geoscience-related coursework. Two-year Associate of Science (AS) graduates will channel into NSC's four-year ERS program. The GGP leverages commitments and staff from CSN and the DRI by accessing infrastructure already supported by NSF, the Nevada Climate-ecohydrology Assessment Network (NevCAN). Within four years, the GGP will reach more than 530 CSN and 680 NSC students through jointly-programmed introductory curriculum, guest lectures, field trips, and film screenings designed to generate 25% growth in ERS majors and a 25% increase in ERS graduates. CSN students graduating with an AS degree will directly transfer all relevant coursework into the NSC ERS degree, enter the GGP and participate in a Special Topics research project, receiving critical supplemental advising and mentorship from faculty and a near-peer GGP Ambassador. The large pool of potential undeclared NSC ERS majors will be recruited into ERS. By the end of the GGP, program partners will have strengthened the community college pipeline into a four-year degree program to help meet the nation's need for geoscientists. Other outcomes include the effectiveness assessment of the jointly-coordinated programming and participation in research or internships, by measuring geoscience knowledge gained and level of participant interest in pursuing geoscience-related degrees/careers, and the impacts of increased faculty advising and use of peer mentors, especially on recruiting and retaining underrepresented minorities and female students in science programs.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.