STIMULATING HISPANIC PARTICIPATION IN THE GEOSCIENCES (SHIP-GEO) AT RIO GRANDE VALLEY IN SOUTH TEXAS

The new NSF funded SHIP-GEO Program at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) will launch in fall 2016. SHIP-GEO aims to expand the geoscience pipeline by doubling the number of geoscience graduates over a 5-year period (2 years beyond the NSF support). This will be achieved by hosting activities geared toward student recruitment and retention while building a mentoring network of students and alumni. The alumni mentors will help direct the students in their career and future success.

The project has four objectives: (1) Grow the existing environmental sciences program on campus with the specific aim to recruit and retain students in geoscience; (2) increase community awareness of Earth systems by providing field and laboratory extracurricular research and training opportunities; (3) guide community college and high school students into geoscience careers; and (4) expose undergraduate students to research as a path to graduate school.

The project consists of the following activities: pair undergraduate majors with alumni who are working in the field of interest of the student; encourage the transfer of community college students to the environmental sciences program at UTRGV through field trips, guest speakers, annual alumni career day; expand undergraduate research opportunities by engaging students in ongoing projects.

The SHIP-GEO Program aims to strengthen undergraduate’s interests in geosciences by combining successful curriculum with industrial and academic professional mentoring, field trips, and research experience. This project will model an innovative use of alumni from a minority serving institution to serve as both role models and career mentors. Alumni working in a wide variety of fields offer the best insights to the current students.

The SHIP-GEO Program will involve Hispanic students in authentic research and help them select and pursue geoscience careers in graduate schools and in the profession. The project will address NSF’s goal of increasing diversity in the geoscience pipeline by attracting, supporting, and preparing Hispanic students for careers in geosciences. This project leverages the successful geoscience program at UTRGV and increases the pipeline of graduating Hispanic students in geosciences.