Track 2: Highlands to Piedmont Newark, NJ Geoscience Scholars Alliance

Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Brunswick NJ

Investigators

Abstract

This program creates a top to bottom (Highlands to Piedmont) net of engagement in the Geosciences that takes Newark public school students from first contact in 9th grade through college and into a career. The program is designed to greatly increase the number of underrepresented minority students in the Geosciences and shepherd them into careers in the Geosciences. Ultimately, the program will change the culture in the Newark public school system and with Newark residents to view the Geosciences as a desirable pursuit. The net includes revision of the 9th grade Earth Science curriculum, introduction of modules and hands-on exercises in the related sciences in 10th through 12th grades, a summer institute, an after school explorers group, industrial internships and an informational-advisement system for high school and college students and their families. Revision of the curriculum and development of the supplementary exercises and modules will be done utilizing resources and expertise at Rutgers University. The summer institute will be administered by the pre-college program at Rutgers. Teacher training for the 9th grade teachers and for the modules and exercise in advanced grades will be accomplished by Kean University. The after school and weekend explorers group will be run by the Newark Museum, in part, utilizing resources and opportunities at the Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute. The informational seminars and internship programs will primarily be administered by industrial partners Langan Engineering and Environmental Services Corporation and URS Corporation. Advisement for applying to college and enrichment activities/internships while there will be administered by Rutgers University in conjunction with all other partners. The program will directly engage 100 high school students at various levels and up to 40 college students per year. Less directly, it will potentially engage 2,000 high school students to various degrees.