UT AUSTIN JACKSON SCHOOL OF GEOSCIENCES ENHANCING DIVERSITY IN GEOSCIENCE GRADUATE EDUCATION (EDGE) PREVIEW: IMPACTS AND PRACTICES

For the past two years, The University of Texas at Austin Jackson School of Geosciences (JSG) has hosted an annual Enhancing Diversity in Geoscience Graduate Education (EDGE) Graduate School Preview. The two-day event is designed to encourage U.S. citizens and permanent residents traditionally underrepresented in the geosciences to apply. Selected attendees are brought to JSG and shown the UT Austin campus. These potential students are encouraged to arrange meetings with JSG faculty and research scientists whose research agendas are of interest to them. Students are selected on the basis of strong academic record, and who will contribute to a diverse and inclusive community at the Jackson School of Geosciences. The application to attend is via an on-line portal. The EDGE Graduate School Preview targets students who have completed, or are on-track to complete degrees in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Mathematics, Computer Science, Geology, and other STEM disciplines. Geoscience and STEM degree earners who participated in GeoFORCE Texas, an experiential outreach program within the JSG, in high school are particularly encouraged to apply. Frequent contact with this population has proven beneficial for encouraging involvement in EDGE. This program is based on successful EDGE programs funded by the National Science Foundation. During the event, students meet with JSG faculty and research scientists interested in recruiting and training diverse graduate students to conduct interdisciplinary geoscience research for the lasting benefit of humankind. Selected applicants learn about the Jackson School-specific graduate school application process, funding opportunities, and about research and training opportunities in the geosciences. The event includes a poster session where current graduate students volunteer to showcase their research, dinners with students, faculty, and researchers, a one-hour long moderated graduate student panel and five-minute faculty/research scientist lightning talks. Students receive tours of JSG facilities, laboratories, human resources, and especially the opportunity to meet one-on-one with potential mentors.