GEOSCIENCE AMBASSADORS PROGRAM: MENTORING STUDENTS IN GEOSCIENCE WITHIN HOME COMMUNITIES

Scientific breakthroughs are propelled by the contributions of people from different schools of thought and backgrounds. Advances in geosciences benefit from a diverse community of collaborators. To that end, the HHMI Geoscience Ambassadors program at The University of Texas at Austin is cultivating a network of graduate and undergraduate geoscience students and linking them with opportunities to use their knowledge and experience to serve their local community. Ambassadors research their own communities and engage in a year of tailored outreach. Each ambassador creates a short video telling the story of their personal pathway into the geosciences as a way of sharing their love of the discipline with young people and career influencers. Nine fellow students and I comprised the 2018 – 2019 inaugural cohort of Geoscience Ambassadors. Our communities varied in location as well as community type – from a medicine-centered STEM community in Thailand to an artistic community in Corpus Christi, Texas. We interviewed educators, community leaders, friends, and parents in order to learn more about how our communities value and see the geosciences, and we refined our stories and community presentations to address common misperceptions and highlight good geoscientific pathways. Our growing network of ambassadors is dedicated to cultivating a more inclusive and diverse geoscientific community and to building support for prospective, incoming, and graduating students in the geosciences. We recognize that a connection between underrepresented geoscience mentors and underrepresented groups within our respective communities is an important step in enhancing diversity within the geosciences. We are working as role models and mentors for other young people from similar backgrounds and communities who can breakdown the perceived barriers and skepticism that younger students may have about pursuing a career in the geosciences. You can find out more about us and our stories on our website: https://www.geoscienceambassadors.net/home.