HR: 10:50h
AN: ED22A-03    [Abstracts]
TI: The Arecibo Geoscience Diversity Program: A Research Experience for Hispanics
AU: * Alonso, J
EM: jalonso@naic.edu
AF: National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center, Arecibo Observatory HC3 Box 53995, Arecibo, PR 00612 Puerto Rico
AU: Ramos, M
EM: mramos@upra.edu
AF: University of Puerto Rico, Department of Chemistry Call Box 4010, Arecibo, PR 00614 Puerto Rico
AU: Gonzalez, S
EM: sixto@naic.edu
AF: National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center, Arecibo Observatory HC3 Box 53995, Arecibo, PR 00612 Puerto Rico
AB: In an effort to increase the number of Hispanics that pursue a career in the geosciences, the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center and the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo (UPRA), have established a collaboration that provides a research experience to group of high school students, teachers, and undergraduates in the region. The program exploits the natural setting of the Arecibo Observatory and the UPRA campus by providing participants with research opportunities to study the atmosphere, and the Ca¤o Tiburones wetland. The atmospheric research is conducted at the Arecibo Observatory. Here, altitude, density and temperature variations in the ionosphere are monitored using data collected with the 305 m radio telescope. The study of the Ca¤o Tiburones tropical wetland, is conducted at UPRA. Participants are engaged in the design and the execution of an environmental monitoring program that assess the physical and biological profile of the wetland. This three-year effort will provide a hands-on research experience in the geosciences to 60 high school students, 12 teachers, and 24 undergraduate students. The participation of teachers will broaden the impact beyond the group trained, by incorporating the geoscience field experience in their curriculum. All participants undergo pre and post-test summative evaluation, and are surveyed in order to measure the impact of the program in respect of their academic or professional careers.
DE: 0800 EDUCATION
DE: 0900 EXPLORATION GEOPHYSICS
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting