Optimizing the Research Intern Experience to Build Inclusion and Diversity in the geosciences workforce: June 27-29, 2019: Woods Hole, MA

Sea Education Association, Falmouth MA

Investigators

Abstract

Part 1 The workshop will support efforts to build diversity and inclusion in the geosciences? workforce, by facilitating the replication and success of URM STEM research internship programs. The workshop will also continue and support the effort to strengthen collaborations between HBCUs and the geosciences research community, notably including the six public and private science institutions in Woods Hole. Further, the workshop will provide an important career-building opportunity for graduates of URM geosciences research internship programs who participate and present, showcasing their successes and strengthening their relationships with colleagues. The workshop will produce a clear summary of best practices and next steps in the effort to connect undergraduate research programs with HBCUs to provide a supportive internship experience in a research community that is new to the students and often new to the faculty and advisors as well. Part 2 The proposed workshop promises to articulate a new, clearer understanding of how undergraduate internships can serve individual students of talent and how these programs can be more closely coordinated with and be truly collaborative with institutions like HBCUs. The goal of the proposed workshop is to strengthen undergraduate programs that seek to increase diversity in the geoscience?s workforce. Specific workshop objectives are (1) to review experiences, outcomes, successes, and shortcomings over the past ten years of URM Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) programs, and the Woods Hole Partnership Education Program (PEP); (2) to identify best practices from these programs, in order to support their sustained success and replication; (3) to summarize these best practices in a report that will provide guidance to academic and other research institutions that seek to establish similar programs; and (4) to engage and connect program alumni with each other, and with peers and professionals in the research community. 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.