HR: 09:15h
AN: ED21D-06    [Abstracts]
TI: Building Successful Programs to Increase Diversity in the Geosciences Through HBCU/Research Center Collaborations: Lessons to Enhance Rates of Participation Nationally
AU: * Gilligan, M R
EM: gillganm@savstate.edu
AF: Savannah State University, P.O. Box 20467, Savannah, GA 31410 United States
AU: Frischer, M E
EM: frischer@skio.peachnet.edu
AF: Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, 10 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah, GA 31411 United States
AU: Verity, P G
EM: peter@skio.peachnet.edu
AF: Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, 10 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah, GA 31411 United States
AB: In view of changing demography of the U.S. and the world, it is important that all groups be involved in sustaining and enhancing the vitality and importance of the geosciences. Though Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) enroll only 13% of the African Americans who are in college, they award 40% of the science degrees earned by African Americans in the U.S. However, relatively few HBCUs have geoscience programs and faculty who provide exposure, curricula or research opportunities for students to explore options in earth, atmospheric or ocean sciences on their campuses. There is not enough exposure to geosciences at HBCUs. Non-degree granting research institutes and centers have as their primary mission research and compete successfully with research universities for federal and state research funding. However, these institutions lack experience, expertise, and access/visibility to African American students. There are not enough programs at research centers to attract African Americans. Through collaboration with research institutions, Savannah State University (SSU), an HBCU founded in 1890 in Savannah, Georgia, has built successful marine science undergraduate and graduate programs. Since 1999, SSU and the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (SkIO, a research center founded in 1968) have formally collaborated to join their respective strengths with the goal of providing SSU students expanded undergraduate and graduate curricular offerings and unique research opportunities. The objective is to enhance student motivation and skills to compete successfully for graduate school admission and jobs in the geosciences. At the core is hands-on experiential learning and improved access to leaders in the field. Students report that the opportunity to conduct research, to meet eminent scientists, and to attend national and international scientific conferences provides them with the training, opportunity, motivation, and confidence to pursue advanced degrees and to become the eminent scientists and leaders themselves. Increasing the number and size of geoscience programs at HBCUs and research focused internship/fellowship programs at research centers is likely to pay big dividends in increasing diversity in geoscience professions.
DE: 0800 EDUCATION
DE: 0810 Post-secondary education
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting