CREATING A COLLABORATIVE MODEL FOR PLACE-BASED EDUCATION FOR NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS

The GEMscholars (Geology, Environmental Science and Meteorology scholars) Program creates opportunities for Native American undergraduate students to conduct geoscience research in their home communities. The ultimate goal is to increase the number of Native American students pursuing graduate degrees in the geosciences. Drawing on research from Native American student education models, a summer research program for undergraduate students was designed to address key themes of mentoring, culturally relevant valuations of geosciences and possible career paths, and connections to community and family. The program began in the summer of 2006 with Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN), Bemidji State University (Bemidji, MN), Red Lake Nation College (Red Lake, MN), and Leech Lake Tribal College (Cass Lake, MN) developing a collaborative partnership to facilitate the research opportunities and a support network for the student participants (called GEMscholars). The students participated in geoscience research projects in their home communities that were specifically chosen to have cultural relevance and yield locally important findings. The GEMscholars projects were directly linked to their local ecosystems thereby permitting them to engage in long term monitoring and cohesive interaction among each successive year’s participants. For example, the GEMscholars established and maintain permanent field monitoring plots to assess the impacts of invasive European earthworm activity on forest ecosystem health. Each summer the project concluded with the GEMscholars Symposium held at Purdue University where the students presented their research findings to the academic community. Results of the formative program evaluation allowed the research team to turn “lessons learned” into best practices for developing place-based research opportunities for Native American undergraduate students. These include (a) developing and maintaining relationships with several tribal offices, (b) creating projects that have scientific value, are exciting for the students, and are relevant to the community, and (c) maintaining constructive and positive student contact.