TWENTY YEARS OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN NATIONAL PARK THROUGH GEOSCIENTISTS-IN-THE-PARKS INTERNSHIPS

Twenty years ago the National Park Service, Geologic Resources Division developed the Geoscientists-in-the-Parks Internship Program (GIP). The GIP Program was created to assist parks in filling gaps in geoscience expertise and to provide on-the-ground learning opportunities for college students and recent graduates. Over time, the program has grown to include all natural resource science fields. The GIP Program is run in partnership with The Geological Society of America and Environmental Stewards. This presentation highlights two decades of high priority STEM projects that have had a major impact on resource management in parks and an increased public understanding of the natural resource sciences. Internship projects that will be highlighted cover inventorying, monitoring, research, and education and interpretation. To-date, the GIP program has supported over 1,300 interns across the Service. As the NPS celebrates its 100^th anniversary, the GIP Program will continue to develop the next generation of conservation stewards.