FROM FIELD TO FILE: PROMOTING DIVERSITY WITHIN CRITICAL ZONE SCIENCE THROUGH UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT TRAININGS

Increased visibility, learning, and diversity can be enhanced in underrepresented fields such as the geosciences through creative hands-on field experiences coupled with transferrable skill building and networking for undergraduate students. A demonstration of such an experience occurred in May 2023 when the Carbonate Critical Zone Research Coordination Network hosted a successful, 3-day student training workshop for 10 students from 9 universities, spanning 6 different undergraduate majors and diverse demographic backgrounds. Students learned interdisciplinary approaches to understanding critical zone science through a full day of site visits and in situ data collection, including stratigraphic descriptions, measuring stream and spring discharge with various methods, dye tracing, and water quality measurements in wells and springs. The following day, students used Python programming to analyze and visualize their collected data and place their data into context of existing long-term trends. The final day consisted of a networking field trip with 20 faculty, critical zone experts, and graduate students where the students shared their findings with the larger group using their Python-generated figures. This training provided students with a firsthand experience on critical zone research, from field data collection to data analysis, visualization, and interpretation. No prior experience was required to participate in the training, and all methods were explained from foundational concepts to more complex. A full description of the student training workshop including field methods, materials, Python code, and itineraries can be found on the CovingtonResearchGroup GitHub: https://github.com/CovingtonResearchGroup/CCZ-student-python-training. The success of this program can be attributed to the careful planning to foster representation and promote inclusivity, engaging hands-on activities, enthusiastic personalities, teamwork, low mentor-to-student ratio, and funding to alleviate travel and lodging expenses.