GEOCAT WORKSHOP: GEOSCIENCE CAREERS AMBASSADOR TRAINING WORKSHOP

The GeoCAT (Geosciences Career Ambassador Training) Workshop was funded by the National Science Foundation to increase participation and diversity in geosciences. The project aims to expose a cohort of educators from minority-serving high schools, community colleges, and 4-H youth development groups to a broader understanding of geoscience and geoscience careers so they can serve as ambassadors to a much larger audience of students, i.e. the potential geoscience workforce of tomorrow. Through workshop participation, ambassadors gain a better understanding of career options in geosciences, learn about the personalities and interests of non-stereotypical geoscientists, and develop the skillsets to incorporate geoscience careers-related materials into their curricula.

The first GeoCAT workshop (June 2022) was delivered in hybrid mode, with 3 days of virtual meetings and 2 of in-person activities. The online component included an introduction to different areas of geoscience; information on career paths, employment opportunities and the job market in geosciences; discussions and examples of the role of geoscientists in solving real-world problems (e.g. environmental, natural resources and energy issues); and the challenges of increasing diversity in the geosciences. During the in-person meetings, participants learned about the requirements for a geoscience degree and produced an action plan to develop new curricula and/or outreach materials and activities related to geoscience and geoscience careers that can be implemented during the next school year. They also had the experience of doing field work and analyzed field data to produce a map and interpret climate change in a Permian sedimentary succession.

Workshop participation was lower than expected and attributed to the heavy workloads of educators combined with the number of other disciplines also vying for their attention. Based on participant feedback, the best way to increase participation is to provide practical support such as a monthly newsletter featuring ready-to-use activities that illustrate diverse careers paths in geosciences, explain geological events in the news and/or provide geoscientific information that can be embedded into class content.