HR: 10:20h
AN: ED22A-01    [Abstracts]
TI: The Geoscience Diversity Enhancement Program (GDEP): A Model for Faculty and Student Engagement in Urban Geoscience Research
AU: * Ambos, E L
EM: bambos@csulb.edu
AF: Academic Affairs, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840 United States
AU: Lee, C
EM: clee@csulb.edu
AF: Department of Geography, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840 United States
AU: Behl, R
EM: behl@csulb.edu
AF: Department of Geological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840 United States
AU: Francis, R D
EM: rfrancis@csulb.edu
AF: Department of Geological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840 United States
AU: Holk, G
EM: gholk@csulb.edu
AF: Department of Geological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840 United States
AU: Larson, D
EM: larson@csulb.edu
AF: Department of Anthropology, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840 United States
AU: Rodrigue, C
EM: rodrigue@csulb.edu
AF: Department of Geography, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840 United States
AU: Wechsler, S
EM: wechsler@csulb.edu
AF: Department of Geography, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840 United States
AU: Whitney, D
EM: dwhitney@csulb.edu
AF: Department of Psychology, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840 United States
AB: For the past three years (2002-2004) faculty in the departments of geological sciences, geography, and anthropology at California State University, Long Beach have joined to offer an NSF-funded (GEO-0119891) eight-week summer research experience to faculty and students at Long Beach area high schools and community colleges. GDEP's goal is to increase the numbers of students from underrepresented groups (African-American, Hispanic, American Indian, Pacific Islander, and disabled) enrolling in baccalaureate degree programs in the geosciences. The major strategies to achieve this goal all tie to the concept of research-centered experiences, which might also be termed inquiry-based instruction. More than fifteen (15) separate and diverse geoscience research studies have been conducted. These include such disparate topics as geochemical studies of fault veins, GPS/GIS surveys of vegetation patterns for fire hazard assessment, and seismic studies of offshore fault systems. As the program has matured, research projects have become more interdisciplinary, and faculty research teams have expanded. Whereas the first year, each CSULB faculty member tended to lead her/his project as a separate endeavor, by the third summer, faculty were collaborating in research teams. Several projects have involved community-based research, at sites within an hour's drive from the urban Long Beach campus. For example, last summer, four faculty linked together to conduct a comprehensive geography and geology study of an Orange County wilderness area, resulting in creation of maps, brochures, and websites for use by the general public. Another faculty group conducted geophysical surveys at an historic archaeological site in downtown Los Angeles, producing maps of underground features that will be incorporated into a cultural center and museum. Over the past three summers, the program has grown to involve more than 25 high school and community college students, and more than 30 CSULB, high school, and community college faculty. Although GDEP's real legacy will ultimately be understood by longitudinal study of program participants, initial evaluation efforts provide some generalizable lessons. Students cite the benefits of "hands-on" research, fieldwork, and the opportunity to work one-on-one with faculty. Many students state in post-program interviews that GDEP caused them to aspire to graduate study: the rigorous GDEP research environment appears to build student confidence. The high school and community college faculty describe program benefits in terms of widening their knowledge both of how to use geoscience research as a centerpiece in instruction, and how to incorporate discussions of geoscience careers in student advising. Through GDEP, CSULB faculty have developed their abilities to work in interdisciplinary teams, to meld research with instruction, and to mentor students from diverse backgrounds and abilities.
UR: http://www.csulb.edu/depts/geography/gdep
DE: 6605 Education
DE: 6630 Workforce
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting