GP UP: Undergraduate Preparation through Multidisciplinary Service Learning at Utah Lake (UP?Utah Lake)

地球科学家面临的关键问题是复杂的，越来越需要有能力与来自不同背景和领域的其他人合作来解决这些问题。犹他州山谷大学的GEOPAths计划将通过以犹他湖为重点的多学科服务学习项目，促进本科生对地球科学的准备和认识。犹他湖毗邻普罗沃-奥雷姆大都市区和高耸的瓦萨奇山脉，是一种宝贵的生态和娱乐资源，受到入侵物种和水质恶化的影响。该湖被低估和利用，因为它被认为受到了污染，这对相关企业和社区的生活质量造成了压力。这一努力在一定程度上受到了跨学科研究的需要的阻碍。在这个项目中，水文学、环境科学、生物地球化学、地理、通信和商业管理领域的教职员工和本科生正在与社区中的专业人员合作，解决围绕湖泊的复杂问题。学生服务学习项目将面向研究，为政策制定者复兴犹他湖造福社区的努力提供信息。该项目正在培养来自不同背景的地学专业人员，他们具有研究技能、多学科协作和现实世界问题解决方面的基本经验，同时也在培养具有地学问题意识的交叉领域的专业人员。Up-Utah Lake项目通过关于犹他湖的多学科服务学习，促进犹他州山谷大学不同本科生的地球科学准备，提高专业技能，增加接触专业网络的机会，并加深对地球科学职业道路的了解。主要活动包括：1)在为期8周的暑期课程中实施Up-Utah Lake服务学习项目，每年12名学生参加；2)在暑期课程中创造学习环境，以满足学员的指导需求，并提供STEM工作场所技能建设和职业相关经验；3)在犹他湖社区的利益相关者中发展地球科学学习生态系统(GLE)，为学生创造更多的学习机会；4)在学年期间将相关的Up-Utah Lake服务学习整合到其他课程中；5)通过与GLE的职业介绍、实地考察和工作跟踪机会等活动，加深学生对地球科学职业的兴趣和知识。Up-Utah Lake项目以循证实践为基础，解决了学生的需求，包括那些来自代表不足的群体的学生，例如来自教师和近邻的指导，以及与地区专业人员的合作伙伴关系。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Critical issues facing geoscientists are complex and increasingly require professionals with the ability to work with others from diverse backgrounds and fields to resolve them. Utah Valley University’s GEOPAths program will facilitate undergraduate geoscience preparation and awareness through multidisciplinary service-learning projects focused on Utah Lake. Utah Lake, bordered by the Provo-Orem metropolitan area and the towering Wasatch Mountains, is a valuable ecological and recreational resource, compromised by invasive species and degraded water quality. The lake is undervalued and underutilized because of its perception of being contaminated, which causes a strain on related businesses and the community’s quality of life. Efforts have been hindered, in part, by the need for research that crosses disciplinary boundaries. For this project, faculty and undergraduate students in the fields of hydrology, environmental science, biogeochemistry, geography, communication, and business management are collaborating with professionals in the community to address complex issues surrounding the lake. Student service learning projects will be directed toward research that informs policy makers’ efforts to rejuvenate Utah Lake to benefit the community. The project is preparing geoscience professionals from diverse backgrounds with essential experience in research skills, multidisciplinary collaboration, and real-world problem solving, while preparing professionals in intersecting fields with an awareness of geoscience concerns. The UP-Utah Lake project facilitates geoscience preparation of diverse undergraduate students at Utah Valley University through multidisciplinary service learning about Utah Lake that enhances professional skills, increases access to professional networks, and deepens knowledge of geoscience career pathways. Major activities include: 1) implementing the UP-Utah Lake service-learning project embedded in an 8-week summer course for cohorts of 12 students annually; 2) creating a learning environment within the summer course to meet the mentoring needs of participants and provide STEM workplace skill building and career-relevant experience; 3) developing a geoscience learning ecosystem (GLE) among stakeholders in the Utah Lake community to create enhanced learning opportunities for students; 4) integrating related UP-Utah Lake service learning in other courses during the academic year; and 5) deepening students’ interest and knowledge of geoscience careers by activities with the GLE such as career presentations, field trips, and job shadowing opportunities. The UP-Utah Lake project is grounded in evidence-based practices that address the needs of students, including those from underrepresented groups, such as mentoring from faculty and near-peers, and partnerships with area professionals.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.