CIDESS (CENTER TO IMPROVE DIVERSITY IN EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE): A COOPERATIVE PROGRAM UNITING THE GEOSCIENCE COMMUNITY

The 21st century is seeing rapid changes in the demographics of the United States. In particular, an aging workforce of scientists and engineers can result in dramatic losses of professional talent by as early as 2010. This aging is occurring at the same time as minority populations are experiencing the largest growth. Yet, the Earth and Space sciences, the sciences that directly impact the lives our our citizens, have the worst record of any field of science in recruiting and maintaining qualified minority students.

CIDESS (Center to Improve Diversity in Earth Systems Science) is a program being developed to support student participation in the Earth nd Space sciences. Initiated by a challenge from the petroleum industry to academia, CIDESS is being established as a cooperative effort by nine academic institutions and a non-governmental organization.

CIDESS is taking a holistic approach to improving diversity, targeting students from underrepresented populations while they are in middle-school, and, by mentoring, age-appropriate research opportunities, networking, access to scientific professionals, etc. through high school, maintain their interest in our fields of study. We intend to bring our collective energies together, in a synergistic manner, to educate and develop a qualified population of professional Earth and Space scientists who will replace the aging population.

A website has been established for CIDESS: http://homepage.mac.com/frhall/cidess.html. All interested persons are invited to learn about this movement, assist us in attaining our goals, and actively participate and partner with us.