ASSESSMENT OF PEER MENTORING IN GEOSCIENCE RESEARCH SHOWS POSITIVE OUTCOME

Our current peer mentoring is heavily tied up with students - both undergraduate and high school - and their early involvement in geosciences-related research. Since 2004, through our various initiatives, over 1200 students have benefitted from this opportunity and successfully presented their research outcomes related to surficial geology, resource geology and infrastructure developments, geoscience education and outreach, introducing innovative geoscience curriculum, soil erosion, natural hazards, extreme-weather related events, natural resource managements, and python-based programming in assessing ancient and now-a-days active geological phenomena. Many student authors from urban, non-urban, and overseas settings have demonstrated their first-hand learning on various topics listed above and showed the potential to seek or undertake graduate admission to further their knowledge in the geosciences. Also, students who joined the workforce expressed their satisfaction to us in how an early involvement in research piqued their curiosity and thirst for knowledge to focus on a topic and bring it to fruition. Many employers valued the undergraduate research experience and provided favorable comments to the hiring team. While at the meeting, presenting students faced both academics and professionals from industry, private enterprise, local city and federal agencies. The close encounter with a diverse group at the poster session brought in a plethora of direct communication opportunities for the presenters and allowed students to get a feel for the breadth of the geosciences as it relates to practical application. It is extremely vital for undergraduates and high school students to see for themselves the way geosciences are getting diversified and prepare adequately to join the next generation of geoscientists. Given the dwindling enrollment in many geoscience programs, particularly in the aftermath of COVID-19, encouraging students to participate in summer research, internships or faculty-supervised independent study can alleviate the situation. The demand for well-trained geoscientists is not going to diminish, rather increase with the increase of infrastructure development, maintenance and capital construction projects, and overcoming the shortage of critical minerals will necessitate an additional pool of well-trained geologists.