AN INNOVATIVE UNIVERSITY-PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION PARTNERSHIP BROADENING PARTICIPATION IN GEOSCIENCES

Since 2003, the Department of Geosciences and Environmental Dynamics Program at the University of Arkansas have been active members of the National Association of Black Geoscientists (NABG). In its membership role, the University of Arkansas has actively supported promotion of geoscience career opportunities and worked to enhance awareness of NABG to students-of-color and other constituencies nationwide. A result of this decade-long partnership has been dramatic growth of student interest in NABG and an awakening among geoscience industry professionals of the increasing number of students from underrepresented groups currently interested in geoscience studies and careers. Beginning in 2009, National Science Foundation sponsorship in partnership with the University of Arkansas, San Francisco State University, National Association of Black Geoscientists, and the geoscience industry enabled participation of over 200 students from underrepresented groups nationwide to present results of their research in geosciences at the annual technical conference of NABG. These conferences present opportunities for professional development of students through mentorship with professionals employed across a broad spectrum of geoscience careers (energy industry, environmental industry, government agencies, state agencies, etc.). The presentation will focus on the historical development and evolution of the university-professional organization partnership. At the end, we will issue an invitation to build similar relationships with other minority-serving professional organizations in order to broaden participation in geoscience careers and develop a 21^st-Century geoscience workforce reflective of United States demography.