REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITIES AND KIDS WITH SCIENCE IN SAN FRANCISCO (SF-ROCKS): USING RESEARCH EXPERIENCES TO INCREASE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT INTEREST IN GEOSCIENCES

With funding from the National Science Foundation's OEDG (Opportunities for Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences) program, the Department of Geosciences at San Francisco State University (SFSU) has developed an educational outreach and mentoring program, SF-ROCKS (Reaching Out to Communities and Kids with Science in San Francisco). Through SF-ROCKS, SFSU professors and students work closely with public high schools in San Francisco that have a large population of students from groups traditionally underrepresented in the geosciences in an effort to increase high school students' exposure to and interest in geoscience topics. Initially the program focused on building relationships with high school teachers by providing lessons, resources, and support. But, as the teachers we worked with became more comfortable with the lessons plans and we satisfied their need for resources, the program has evolved by focusing more on developing relationships directly with students during our Summer Institutes and Fall Research Experiences.

The Summer Institute is a two week experience introducing selected high school students to a wide range of geoscience topics. After the first week of field trips and lab investigations, students are separated into research groups based on interest. During the second week of the institute, SFSU professors and graduate and undergraduate students help each group develop a research topic and begin field and/or lab work to collect necessary data. The groups continue their investigations during the fall semester, culminating in a poster presentation at a special session of the American Geophysical Union Annual Fall meeting in December.

SF-ROCKS has held two successful Summer Institute/Fall Research Experiences, resulting in 8 research projects. These projects have been an enormously positive experience for the high school student participants and the Summer Institute/Fall Research Experience has therefore become an essential aspect of the SF-ROCKS program. All students have developed an increased interest in the geosciences, and some students may choose a geoscience major in college.