THE AWG GIP PROGRAM - PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCH IN THE NATIONAL PARKS

The Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG) Geoscientist in the Parks (GIP) program has selected, funded, and helped to manage twenty-one GIPs since its inception in 1999. By supporting the GIP Program, AWG satisfies its mandate to provide compelling opportunities for, and to showcase the work of, professional women geoscientists. In addition, we help to fill the NPS's need for professional-level researchers. AWG funds up to four GIP opportunities per year; selected projects generally require previous scientific, technical, research, and project-specific expertise and have the potential for high-profile scientific results, management applications and/or outreach products. AWG's partnership with NPS involves a set of administrative tasks done in part by AWG and in part by NPS. Streamlining of this process is ongoing as GIP and park needs and scenarios change yearly. GIPs report a range of experiences in scheduling, supervision, logistics, and finalizing the research either at or away from the parks. AWG's GIPs have dealt with diverse topics including paleontology, stratigraphy, coastal processes, wetlands delineation, vegetation mapping, glacial and fluvial processes, cave inventory, petrified tree stabilization and basic research. GIPs appreciate these unique opportunities to contribute to understanding of geologic history, resources and physical processes, historical preservation and educational outreach that cannot be addressed by resource management staff at these parks. Geology is recognized as an under-addressed natural resource in the NPS, yet knowledge of the physical environment is fundamental to managing numerous biological and cultural issues within the parks. AWG, as a geological professional society, is therefore committed to maintaining its involvement and funding, exploring flexibility options, developing larger-scale projects for graduate research or sabbatical activities, and increasing the outreach components of the GIP program to promote geologic education and awareness to the public.