CHANGING PERCEPTIONS: HOW TO ENGAGE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN GEOSCIENCES

Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders are considered underrepresented groups in the STEM disciplines, particularly in the Geosciences. Research has shown that many factors, including identity, personal experiences, family perception, socioeconomic background, and cultural barriers affect the level of interest and engagement that students coming from underrepresented backgrounds confront when making the decision of pursuing a career in the Geosciences. Many have concluded that early exposure to STEM experiences to incorporate active and inquiry-based learning can have a positive impact in student’s commitment to continue studies in these fields. The Rutgers Geology Museum is located in downtown New Brunswick, where 49.93% of the population is from Hispanic descent. The Museum is walking distance to multiple schools in the area. Here we showcase the efforts of the Rutgers Geology Museum in New Brunswick, New Jersey to include the local K-12 Hispanic community of New Brunswick as part of our programs and expose them to potential career pathways in the Geosciences. This program strengthens the relationships between Rutgers University and the communities it and promotes diversity, inclusion and public engagement. Our approach was to design activities that promote student’s self-identity within Geosciences utilizing bilingualism in Spanish and hand-on activities to promote understanding of the work-culture and technical applications of research discoveries in the Geosciences. In addition, we strongly encourage our graduate and undergraduate students working at the museum to serve as tour guides and event leaders since they can serve as positive role models to the younger generations. Their expertise and enthusiasm can truly spark the interest of younger students not only in the Museum exhibits, but also in current research topics that are relevant to our society. In this model we work in partnership with local libraries and other Rutgers programs, such as the Rutgers Science Explorer and the Zimmerli Art Museum. We intend to expand the reach of our mission and the number of students that are exposed to Geosciences fields, increasing interest and awareness about careers in Earth Sciences and related fields among underrepresented communities in the state of New Jersey.