Emerge: Broadening Participation and Leadership in Freshwater Science

科学工作者的多样性对于解决世界上最紧迫的挑战至关重要，包括有效保护淡水资源。相对于更广泛的人口，美国淡水科学家的多样性在所有方面都很低。这种多样性的缺乏可能限制公众参与管理淡水生态系统的公平战略的机会。大学在培养学生在科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）方面发挥着基础作用，但代表性不足的少数民族（URM）在追求大学以外的STEM职业方面仍然面临着独特的挑战。科学社团可以帮助填补这些STEM培训空白。学会发表科学发现，主办技术会议，并维持广泛的专业网络。因此，它们是科学进步的集体步伐的核心，也是科学家个人成功的核心，并且在推进URM学生的职业生涯方面具有独特的地位。“涌现”项目与淡水科学学会（SFS）合作，利用一系列新颖的、具有变革性的培训和指导经验，最大限度地招募和留住淡水科学领域的URM。在为期五年的项目中，Emerge将为URM参与者提供700个经验，并创建一个路线图，供机构和组织使用，以建立一支更加多元化和包容性的STEM劳动力队伍。Emerge是“Instars”（以水生昆虫的早期生命阶段命名）项目的演变——SFS已经承诺在其年会上为URM本科生提供10年的成长经验。Emerge的首要目标是促进处于多个职业阶段的URM个人在淡水科学界中获得强烈的归属感。换句话说，帮助参与者实现全面的“科学整合”。主要的涌现计划活动包括：(i)加强与其他URM学员和现有专业人员的联系机会；（ii）在生态数据分析（包括国家生态观测站网络数据）和科学信息的视觉传达方面进行高级技术培训；（三）合作研究，通过长达一年的项目和近同龄人/同龄人的指导，促进强烈的自信和成就感。由淡水科学领域不同专业人士组成的外部咨询委员会的监督将确保Emerge项目的成功和可持续性。所有项目活动的严格外部评估将与URM个人参与者的专业成就记录相结合，以衡量项目的有效性。Emerge项目的经验和教训将通过学术出版物、与其他机构和科学团体共享资源以及一系列纪录片进行传播。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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。

Diversity in the scientific workforce is critical to tackling the world’s most pressing challenges, including effective conservation of freshwater resources. Diversity of freshwater scientists in the U.S. is low in all dimensions, relative to the broader population. This lack of diversity may limit opportunities to engage the general public in equitable strategies to manage freshwater ecosystems. Universities play a foundational role when training students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), but underrepresented minorities (URM) still face unique challenges in pursuing STEM careers beyond college. Scientific societies can help fill these STEM training gaps. Societies publish scientific findings, host technical conferences, and sustain broad professional networks. Thus, they are central to the collective pace of scientific progress, as well as the success of individual scientists, and are uniquely positioned to advance the careers of URM students. The ‘Emerge’ program uses a novel and transformative series of training and mentoring experiences, orchestrated in collaboration with the Society for Freshwater Science (SFS), to maximize URM recruitment and retention in freshwater science. Over the course of the five-year project, Emerge will deliver 700 experiences to URM participants and create a roadmap that institutions and organizations can use to build a more diverse and inclusive STEM workforce.Emerge is the evolution of the ‘Instars’ (named for the early life stages of aquatic insects) program – already a 10-year commitment by SFS to provide growth experiences for URM undergraduates at its annual meeting. The overarching goal of Emerge is to facilitate URM individuals at multiple career stages gain a robust sense of belonging within the freshwater scientific community. In other words, to help participants achieve full ‘scientific integration’. Major Emerge program activities include: (i) enhanced networking opportunities with other URM trainees and established professionals; (ii) advanced technical training in ecological data analysis (including National Ecological Observatory Network data) and visual communication of scientific information; and (iii) collaborative research that facilitates a strong sense of confidence and accomplishment through year-long projects and near-peer/peer-peer mentoring. Oversight by an external advisory board of diverse professionals in freshwater science will ensure Emerge program success and sustainability. Rigorous external assessment of all program activities will be combined with records of the professional achievements of individual URM participants to gauge program effectiveness. Emerge program experiences and lessons will be disseminated though scholarly publications, shared resources with other institutions and scientific societies, and a series of documentary films.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.