INITIAL RESULTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE OF THE STEM STUDENT EXPERIENCES ABOARD SHIPS (STEMSEAS) PROGRAM

The Science Technology Engineering and Math Student Experiences Aboard Ships (STEMSEAS) program was created as a response to NSF’s call for improving undergraduate STEM education and enhancing diversity in the geosciences. It takes advantage of unused berths on UNOLS ships during transits between expeditions. During its 2016 pilot year – which consisted of three transits on three different research vessels in different parts of the country, each with a slightly different focus – the program has gained significant insights into how best to create and structure these opportunities and create impact on individual students. A call for applications resulted in nearly 900 applicants, with 30 spots available. From these, the program was able to sail diverse cohorts of underrepresented minorities in STEM including race/ethnicity, women, socioeconomic status, veterans, community college students, and students with disabilities. While longer term impact assessment will take time, initial results and 6-month tracking indicate that these relatively short but intense experiences can indeed achieve significant impacts on students’ perception of the geosciences, their understanding of STEM careers, their desire to work in a geoscience lab setting, and to incorporate geosciences into non-STEM careers. Insights were also gained into successful makeup of mentor/leader groups, factors to consider in student selection, necessary pre- and post-cruise logistics management, follow-up activities, structure of activities during life at sea, increasing student networks and mentorships, and leveraging of pre-existing resources and ship-based opportunities. Lessons learned by working with multiple UNOLS ship operators can be applied to the growth of the program over time. Lastly, we strategically sought a digital media presence through Facebook and Wordpress. Statistics from these outlets reveal encouraging levels of engagement. Researchers will present their vision of the program’s long term future.