EVALUATING THE OUTREACH SUCCESSES OF A NSF-OEDG PROGRAM FOR INCREASING DIVERSITY IN THE GEOSCIENCES IN WESTERN NEW YORK

In 2001, the Buffalo Geosciences Program (BGP) was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to promote diversity in the geosciences in Western New York State. BGP accomplishes its goals by providing unique academic and research opportunities for underrepresented minority groups through widespread community outreach. The program has built partnerships with organizations throughout the greater Buffalo region, including the Buffalo Museum of Science, Buffalo and Erie County Public Libraries, Penn Dixie Outdoor Education Center, and schools in the Buffalo Public School District. By visiting public schools within the city, we are able to reach our target audiences of underrepresented minority groups and students with disabilities.

Outreach helps to reach the goals of BGP by increasing the interest of K-10 outreach participants and recruit 11th-12th grade students to work for the program. In order to evaluate the success of our outreach, we survey outreach participants about their interest in the geosciences before and after outreach activities. During a two month period, BGP presented to over 500 students that participated in BGP outreach from the Buffalo Public School District ranging in grades K-5. Out of the 526 students, over 79% of them are minority students and all are residents of the city of Buffalo. Before the presentations, 64% of the students were interested in the geosciences and 79% of them desired to learn more. After the presentation, the overall number of interested students rose to 80%. This is one example how BGP's outreach efforts are successful in both educating students of all ages and targeting schools with high diversity. The success of these two aspects of outreach demonstrates that BGP is completing its long term outreach goals to provide underrepresented K-12 students with learning opportunities and knowledge of the geosciences.