Supporting Ecology and Data Science Scholars

该项目的目标是为低收入的、有学术天赋的学生提供一条途径，通过为他们提供生态学和数据科学所需的技能，提供有针对性的队列体验和指导，以及促进基于自然的娱乐和课外活动，实现职业和经济上的向上流动——所有这些都被证明是高影响力的实践。这种方法解决了NSF战略计划的第一个目标“使STEM人才能够充分参与科学和工程”。环境科学和数据科学是两个急需的领域，在未来十年，这两个领域的预期就业增长都高于平均水平。在此背景下，该项目将利用Wild Basin创意研究中心提供的独特机会，以及德克萨斯州奥斯汀蓬勃发展的科技产业。特别是，该项目将有助于这两个关键领域的劳动力发展，同时也为低收入STEM专业学生成功干预的有效性提供见解。该项目的研究结果将在科学教育界广泛传播，以进一步扩大受资助活动的范围和影响。该项目将为三组7至10名学生提供四年奖学金，每年最高10,000美元，符合条件的学生将在以下五个专业中选择一个：数学，生物学，生物信息学，环境生物学和气候变化，或环境科学与政策。生态学和数据科学学者将通过广告招募被录取的STEM申请人和目标高中生，并根据未满足的经济需求，学术潜力和简短的申请论文进行选择。该项目将通过密集的教师指导，利用和扩大圣爱德华大学现有的高质量循证实践，包括学生群体、一年级研讨会、学习社区、本科生研究和实习，为学者提供支持。该项目还将实施新的干预措施，包括：(1)以生态学、数据科学和环境教育为重点的共同智力经验；(2)圣爱德华大学野生盆地创意研究中心体验式学习；(3)以自然为基础的娱乐和健康机会；（四）提供笔记本电脑和必要的软件；(5)近同伴指导；(6)与学者学术领域相关的校园就业机会。职业咨询和安置服务将由职业教练（每位圣爱德华大学学生分配一名）和职业和专业发展办公室提供。该项目由美国国家科学基金会的科学、技术、工程和数学奖学金项目资助，旨在增加有经济需求的低收入学术天才学生在STEM领域获得学位的人数。它还旨在改善未来STEM工作者的教育，并为低收入学生提供有关学业成功、留校、转学、毕业和学术/职业道路的知识。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。

The objective of this project is to provide a pathway for low-income, academically talented students to achieve career and financial upward mobility through equipping them with in-demand skills for ecology and data science, providing targeted cohort experiences and mentorship, and facilitating nature-based recreation and co-curricular activities - all of which are demonstrated high-impact practices. This approach addresses the first goal of the NSF's strategic plan "to empower STEM talent to fully participate in science and engineering." Environmental Science and Data Science are two fields of critical need, each with above-average expected job growth over the next decade. Against this backdrop this project will leverage the unique opportunities afforded by access to the Wild Basin Creative Research Center, as well as the booming technology industry in Austin, Texas. In particular, this project will contribute to workforce development in the convergence of these two critical fields while also providing insights into the effectiveness of student success interventions for low-income STEM majors. The project's findings will be disseminated broadly within the science education community to further expand the reach and impact of the funded activities.The project will provide four-year scholarships of up to $10,000 per year for three cohorts of 7 to 10 students, with eligible students majoring in one of five majors: mathematics, biology, bioinformatics, environmental biology and climate change, or environmental science and policy. Ecology and Data Science Scholars will be recruited through advertising to admitted STEM applicants and targeted high school students, with selection based on unmet financial need, academic potential, and a short application essay. The project will support scholars through intensive faculty mentoring and by leveraging and expanding St. Edward’s University’s existing high-quality evidence-based practices, including student cohorts, first-year seminars, learning communities, undergraduate research, and internships. The project will also implement novel interventions, including: (1) common intellectual experiences focused on ecology, data science, and environmental education; (2) experiential learning at St. Edward’s University’s Wild Basin Creative Research Center; (3) nature-based recreation and wellness opportunities; (4) provision of laptop computers and necessary software; (5) near-peer mentoring; and (6) on-campus employment opportunities related to scholars’ academic fields. Career counseling and placement services will be provided by career coaches (one is assigned to every St. Edward’s University student) and the Office of Career and Professional Development. This project is funded by NSF’s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program, which seeks to increase the number of low-income academically talented students with demonstrated financial need who earn degrees in STEM fields. It also aims to improve the education of future STEM workers, and to generate knowledge about academic success, retention, transfer, graduation, and academic/career pathways of low-income students.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.