GEOFORCE ALASKA: RURAL STUDENTS ENTER THE STEM PIPELINE

GeoFORCE Alaska is a four-year, field-based summer geoscience program for high school students from the North Slope Borough. Rural Alaska residents with degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields bring unique perspectives to decisions regarding the management of cultural and natural resources. However, as of 2012, schools in the North Slope Borough reported a dropout rate of ~10% in grades 7-12, for an overall high school graduation rate of ~60%. At the college level, Alaska Native students are underrepresented in University of Alaska Fairbanks science departments, particularly chemistry, physics, and geosciences. GeoFORCE Alaska is designed to foster scientific interest and ability by challenging high school students with hands-on field projects and expanding their horizons through travel and teamwork. The curriculum builds across the program, reinforcing grade level expectations and giving students a chance to apply the scientific method to exciting and relevant questions at spectacular geological locations, including Alaska’s Matanuska Glacier, the Grand Canyon, Mount St. Helens, and Yellowstone National Park.

Launched in 2012 by the University of Alaska Fairbanks in partnership with the longstanding GeoFORCE Texas program, GeoFORCE Alaska enters its fourth year with an overall retention rate of 83%. The retention rate for students who entered the program following 8^th grade is 93%, attesting to both the popularity of the program and the importance of early intervention. For each of the three summer academies conducted thus far, average pre-test scores were in the 40’s and average post-test scores were in the 80’s, providing quantitative evidence of significant learning gains. Anecdotal evidence from student essays and evaluations indicates that GeoFORCE Alaska motivates students to remain in school and changes their perceptions of geoscience.