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Increasing Diversity in the Earth & Space Sciences

Increasing Diversity in the Earth & Space Sciences. Jill Karsten Manager, Education & Career Services American Geophysical Union AGI Geoscience Leadership Forum 19 May 2003. 1. Why Is Diversity An Issue?. Declining graduate enrollment in Earth & space sciences

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Increasing Diversity in the Earth & Space Sciences

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  1. Increasing Diversity in the Earth & Space Sciences Jill Karsten Manager, Education & Career Services American Geophysical Union AGI Geoscience Leadership Forum 19 May 2003

  2. 1. Why Is Diversity An Issue? • Declining graduate enrollment in Earth & space sciences • Shrinking of the traditional pipeline • Aging scientific workforce • Increasing difficulty in filling void with non-US students • Continual growth of US minority populations • Throwing a wide net to catch the “best & brightest” • Diverse perspectives enhance the discovery process and prepare scientists for working in a global economy

  3. Data from AGI

  4. Ages of full-time doctoral scientific and engineering faculty, including full, associate, and assistant professors and instructors. (Source: NSB 2000b, Table 6-25.) Vali et al., 2002

  5. Number of Ph.D.s earned in earth-atmosphere-ocean sciences by citizenship status. Note logarithmic scale. (Source: NSF 2000b, Table 3; Vali et al., 2002)

  6. 2. Who is Underrepresented? • In the General Population (BS - PhD degrees) (1970 (1980) – 2000 – 2010) • Women – ~50% (23%) - ~51% (37%) • African-Americans – 11.1% (1.8%) - 12.9% (2.9%) - 13.3% • Hispanics – 4.7% (0.4%) - 12.5% (2.9%) - 14.6% • Native Americans – * - 0.8% (0.5%, includes Asian) - * • Asian/Pacific Islander – * - ~4% - * • Persons with Disabilities – 20% (10% significant disabilities) Based on 2000 U.S. Census and 2002 AGI Data

  7. Figure from RM Johnson; based on data from AGI and NSF

  8. 3. What Are the Key Issues? • Lack of exposure to geosciences • Poor K-12 teacher preparation • Different educational pathways • Inadequate preparation • Cultural barriers • Poor image of scientists and the profession

  9. # of HBCU’s with Geoscience Departments is ~7. Role of the 2-year college as the source of science.

  10. 4. What Programs Work? • Most successful programs involve sustained interactions with students, mentoring by professionals, exposure to educational and research opportunities. Good examples: • Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS) - Tom Windham, UCAR • Minorities At Sea Together (MAST) - Ben Cuker, Hampton University

  11. 5. What Can Societies Do? • Mobilize and educate membership • Use annual meetings & journals • Offer society awards • Sponsor students, student travel, and speakers • Enhance K-12 teacher preparation • Link students with professional mentors and role models • Catalyze policy/attitude changes

  12. AGI: Minority Participation Program (1972) Earth Science Week Activities ASLO: Minorities in the Aquatic Sciences (MAS) GSA: Several special funds and awards to support and honor women & minority research AMS: DataStreme Atmosphere & Ocean Programs Online Weather Studies Diversity Program SACNAS: Biography Project AWG: Minority & Women Doctoral Directory Phillips-AWG Distinguished Lecture Program Educator & Distinguished Service Awards NABGG: Promoting industry-student networking AAAS: Minority Scientist’s Network (NextWave)

  13. American Geophysical Union • Key Goals of AGU Diversity Plan: • Educate & involve the AGU membership in diversity issues • Enhance and foster participation of scientists, Earth & space science educators, and students from underrepresented groups in AGU activities • Increase visibility of the Earth & space sciences and foster awareness of career opportunities in these fields for underrepresented populations • Promote changes in the academic culture that: (1) remove barriers & disincentives for increasing diversity in the student & faculty populations, and (2) develop rewards for those wishing to pursue these goals

  14. Programs at AGU Meetings Fall 2003: Special Atmospheric Sciences Session on Global Climate Modeling - Tribute to Dr. Warren Washington, plus reception Spring 2002: Special High School Student Symposium & Poster Session [GRAHEC & Gallaudet MSSD] Ocean Sciences 2002: Special Brown-bag with local Hawaiian high school students and AGU scientists Fall 2003: Union-Wide Session “Who Will Conduct Geophysical Research in the Future?” and Special Education Sessions on Women in Geoscience and Geodiversity Programs that Work

  15. 6. What’s New? • Minorities Striving to Pursue Higher Degrees in Science (MS-PHDS)- Ashanti Johnson-Pyrtle, NASA • The National Coalition of Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Advocacy Groups in Engineering and Science (NCOURAGES)- NACME, GEM & Others • Joint Society Conference on Increasing Diversity in the Earth & Space Sciences - AGU, AGI, AIP & Others

  16. Joint Society Conference on Increasing Diversity in the Earth & Space Sciences Goals: • Educate societies about the need for & issues involved in increasing diversity • Share resources and insights about successful & unsuccessful strategies • Identify opportunities to implement new (or expand existing) programs that work • Consider new strategies that can only be realized through collaborative efforts • Establish a vision for a joint society collaboration on increasing diversity

  17. Joint Society Conference on Increasing Diversity in the Earth & Space Sciences • When: 10 – 12 June 2003 • Where: American Center for Physics, College Park, MD • Who: ~25 scientific organizations (60 invited) • Planning Committee: Jim Stith* (AIP), Claudia Alexander (AGU), Pranoti Asher (NAGT), Susan Avery (AMS), Frank Hall (AGU), Jack Hehn (AIP), Mary Leech (GSA), Cindy Martinez (AGI), Joaquin Ruiz (AGU), John Snow (AGU) • Sponsors: NASA, NOAA, NSF, DOE, USGS, [EPA?] • Point of Contact: Jill Karsten – jkarsten@agu.org

  18. 7. What Should We Do Next? “..professional societies … have an important role to play at the national level … Their collaboration should focus on two main priorities: • Project a More Positive Public Image of Science, Engineering, and Technology • Mobilize at the Grass Roots” - Shirley Ann Jackson The Quiet Crisis(BEST) -

  19. Recommendations • Organize a national marketing campaign on the role of the Earth & Space Sciences in daily life and careers • Begin aggressive efforts to increase required exposure to Earth & Space Science in high school • Catalyze efforts to improve K-16 Earth Science teaching, especially in settings that serve underrepresented groups

  20. Recommendations • Develop and scale up effective programs that support retention of students in the pipeline • Mobilize the Earth & Space Scientific community to be involved locally • Encourage rewards for outreach and service activities by academic faculty

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