Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Students and High School Learners In a Cooperative Geoscience Education Experience

The primary purpose of this project is to incorporate atmospheric science-based programs into the existing Weather & Climate (GEOG 3500) course in an outreach/service learning mission aimed at raising public knowledge of the physical characteristics of hurricane, flood, and tornado hazards. Tennessee State University faculty and students work with local teachers and high school students in a predominantly people of color and low-income community. The primary objectives of the project are:

1. to incorporate American Meteorological Society (AMS) Online Weather Studies (OWS) Geosciences Diversity/National Dissemination Project (http://www.ametsoc.org/amsedu/online/info/diversity.html) content into the Weather & Climate Course – The AMS OWS Geosciences Diversity Project has among its goals increasing the numbers of under-represented students in the earth sciences, including meteorology.

2. to incorporate the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program (http://www.globe.gov) content into the Weather & Climate Course – GLOBE is a federally-sponsored initiative to improve k-12 science education.

3. to incorporate the Earth Gauge project (http://www.earthgauge.net), into the Weather & Climate course – Earth Gauge, launched in June 2005 in partnership with the AMS, has among its primary goals the dissemination of environmental information associated with weather in urban environments.

4. to develop and present a series of geoscience classroom lessons for high school students including an introduction to GIS, GPS, and related geospatial technologies. The lessons are derived from the "Teaching the Levees" curriculum (http://www.teachingthelevees.org/?page_id=140).

5. to establish partnerships with community organizations. TSU students and faculty have co-authored grants with community partners resulting in approximately $13,500.00 in support of the project. TSU students are working with the local National Weather Service Forecast Office (http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ohx/spotter.php) to coordinate tornado spotting training courses for local residents.

Qualitative evaluations indicate that the project has been very successful in exposing students of color to geoscience concepts and career options.