Track 1 Solaris Program (Student Opportunities in Learning Advanced Research in the Geosciences)

El Paso County Community College, El Paso TX

Investigators

Abstract

SOLARIS (Student Opportunity for Learning Advanced Research In geoScience) is a Track-one, multi-faceted program working to increase participation, particularly of underrepresented minority students, in the geosciences at El Paso Community College (EPCC) and encourage their completion of 4-year degree programs in this field. The project is strengthening local geoscience education activities and recruiting high school and current EPCC undergraduate students into the young EPCC geoscience Associates Degree program. A workshop for local high school instructors and EPCC faculty provides strategies to engage students with innovative lab activities, as well as information on careers in the geosciences and degree plans offered by EPCC and University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Participants are provided with laboratory kits to implement activities in their own classroom following the workshop. The second key facet is a bridge program that provides funding for 10 EPCC geological science majors to conduct geological research. Students are mentored by EPCC and UTEP instructors and use facilities and equipment at both institutions. This facet of the SOLARIS project allows EPCC students to develop research skills while obtaining their AS degree, and introduces them to the faculty and facilities at the UTEP Geoscience Department.