OCEANS OF OPPORTUNITY: A TIERED APPROACH TO INCREASING MINORITY STUDENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE MARINE GEOSCIENCES

Oceans of Opportunity is an NSF-funded program designed to increase traditionally under-represented student involvement in the marine geosciences. We employ a tiered approach to research, teaching and outreach activities centered on the K-12 to graduate pipeline. We are based at Savannah State University, an HBCU, and Adelphi University, which serves a minority population from NYC, and are partnered with Joint Oceanographic Institutions (JOI). We are entering year 2 of the Track 1 phase, and plan a Track 2 expansion.

The teaching component includes 1) service learning by SSU marine science majors in partner public schools with high minority enrollment; 2) outreach by the Georgia State University Bio-Bus to Savannah area schools; 3) expansion of the SSU geoscience curriculum; and 4) development of activities based on models of ODP cores for use in outreach and college teaching.

Service learning and outreach permits contact with large numbers of kids. For example, roughly 300 predominantly African-American K-12 students recently learned about plate tectonics and plankton contributors to marine sediments. A survey of HS science attitudes (N=419) indicates African-American high school students have low levels of enjoyment of and interest in the sciences. In addition, more female than male African-American students are enrolling in science courses and intend to become science majors. We address these findings through peer-based delivery of activities infused with ODP materials, and informal mentoring.

We established Research Training Groups (RTGs), a vertically integrated system of peer-training from graduate to HS level, focusing on 1) Georgia shelf, estuarine and marsh dynamics, and 2) South African Pleistocene paleoceanography. Projects at SSU and Adelphi have engaged 9 students (80% minority) in research on shelf and salt marsh micropaleontology and sedimentation, diatoms in modern estuarine environments, and South African paleoclimate using ODP records. RTG students have also developed a marine sediment repository at SSU and participated in field excursions and research cruises. In 2006-07 we will continue these research activities, present preliminary results at regional conferences and expand to include high school students in the RTGs.