CONNECTING STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND RESEARCH SCIENTISTS DURING THE PANDEMIC: THE EARTH2CLASSMODEL

Since 1998, the Earth2Class Workshops at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University have connected middle and high school teachers and students with LDEO research scientists. This has allowed them to learn about cutting-edge investigations though monthly programs held on weekends at the LDEO campus. This approach was highly motivational, because participants not only learned about "real science," but also did so in the same seminar room facilities used by Lamont Scientists. Most of the high school students who attended later participated in summer internship opportunities and/or enrolled in college geoscience programs. With the closure of the LDEO campus due to COVID-19, the Earth2Class program had to shift to a new model using Zoom presentations. This presentation will share reflections from the organizer and students who are currently in undergraduate geoscience programs, but who attended E2C regularly during their high school years, as well as participated in internships made possible through E2C. These experiences can help inform similar opportunities at other institutions.