INTERNS AND INCLUSION: STUDENTS IN THE SOUTHERN ARIZONA EARTH-SCIENCE WORKFORCE

GeoPathways is an NSF-IUSE supported collaboration between the University of Arizona (UA) and Pima Community College (PCC). The program recruits PCC students for UA’s Geosciences major, enrolls PCC and other 2YC transfer students in workshops on professional skills, and provides paid ($5K) summer internships with southern Arizona earth science businesses and agencies.

Now in its third year, eleven (three female; eight male) incoming 2YC transfers (about half the entering transfer students) joined the GeoPathways program. This year’s cohort includes two military veterans. Students prepared and offered activities in PCC geology classes. GeoPathways led two day-long field trips for PCC students and adjunct faculty: one to Kartchner Caverns State Park, the other to Kitt Peak National Observatory. GeoPathways also co-sponsored a PCC/UA trip to the Grand Canyon.

GeoPathways students practiced interview skills and prepared job letters, resumes and personal statements for prospective employers. Eleven internships were offered by area businesses and agencies. Matchmaking ensured that students got either their first or second choice.

Internships include chasing post-wildfire debris flows with the Arizona Geological Survey, field excavation and lab-prep of fossils with GeoDécor, monitoring groundwater recharge and quality with Tucson Water, designing, building and presenting hands-on science activities with the Flandrau Science Center, mapping fire scars and threatened species in the Coronado National Forest, soil testing with GeoSystems Analysis, and cave monitoring and stewardship at Kartchner Caverns State Park.

Presenting students will tell their stories.