HR: 1340h
AN: ED23A-0085    [Abstracts]
TI: Paleoclimate of the Southern San Joaquin Valley, CA: Research Participation Opportunities for Improving Minority Participation and Achievement in the Geosciences
AU: * Baron, D
EM: dbaron@csub.edu
AF: Department of Geology California State University, Bakersfield, 9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA 93311 United States
AU: Negrini, R
EM: rnegrini@csub.edu
AF: Department of Geology California State University, Bakersfield, 9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA 93311 United States
AU: Palacios-Fest, M R
EM: terra\_nostra\_mx@yahoo.com.mx
AF: Terra Nostra Earth Sciences Research, 3220 West Ina Road #8105, Tucson, AZ 85741 United States
AB: Numerous studies have shown that one of the best ways to draw students into geoscience programs is to expose them and their teachers to research projects designed to investigate issues relevant to their lives and communities. To be most effective, involvement in these projects should begin at the pre-college level and continue throughout their college career. Recognizing the importance of genuine research experiences, the Department of Geology at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB), with support from the National Science Foundation's {\it Opportunities for Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences} program, provides research participation opportunities for teachers and students from the Bakersfield City School District and the Kern High School District. Both districts have a high percentage of low-income and minority students that normally would not consider a degree or career in the geosciences. The project centers around a four-week summer research program and follow-up activities during the school year. The research investigates the climate history of the southern San Joaquin Valley as well as the frequency of flooding in the valley. Many teachers and students are familiar with periodic flooding from personal experience and are aware of the larger issue of climate change in the past and present from news reports. Thus, they can directly relate to the relevance of the research. The project draws on the faculty's expertise in paleoclimatology and geochemistry and takes advantage of CSUB's existing research facilities. Sediments in the dry lake basins of Buena Vista Lake and Kern Lake preserve a record of the regional climate history and flooding of the Kern River and its tributaries. In the first year of the project, 6 teachers and 10 high school students worked with CSUB faculty and students. Three cores from the lake basins were collected. The cores were analyzed using established geophysical, geochemical, lithological, and micropaleontological techniques. The analyses of the sediment samples range from simple tasks such as core descriptions or total organic carbon analysis to complex procedures such as the separation, identification, and chemical analysis of ostracode shells. Thus, the participants can find tasks appropriate to their diverse backgrounds and experience. CSUB students served as mentors and role models for high school students. Surveys conducted before and after the summer program indicate that knowledge of climate change and local geology of both teachers and students increased. Student's attitudes towards the geosciences and possible geoscience careers improved.
DE: 3344 Paleoclimatology
DE: 0830 Teacher training
DE: 0850 Geoscience education research
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting