annual report 2017 final clean - unavco · internship the primary activity for the geo-launchpad...
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AnnualReportCollaborativeResearch:GP-EXTRA:Geo-Launchpad:PreparingColoradoCommunity
CollegeStudentsforGeoscience–FocusedCareers
GrantPeriod:December3,2015–December2,2018ReportingPeriod:December3,2016–December2,2017
UNAVCOInvestigators:DonnaJ.CharlevoixandAishaR.Morris
FrontRangeCommunityCollegeInvestigators:PatrickL.ShabramandShashiUnnithan
AwardIDs:1540588(FRCC),1540524(UNAVCO)
Program-track:IUSE-EngagedStudentLearning:Exploration
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AccomplishmentsWhatarethemajorgoalsoftheproject?
TheIUSEprogram:TheGeo-LaunchpadProgram(GLP)isacollaborativeeffortbetweenFrontRangeCommunityCollege(FRCC)andUNAVCO,anon-profit,university-governedconsortiumthatfacilitatesgeoscienceresearchandeducation,toprovidecommunitycollegestudentsinColoradowithexperientiallearningopportunitiesingeosciencethroughsummerinternshipprogramsthatimparttechnicalknowledgeanddevelopmentofstudents’softskillsforadvancementalongcareerpathwaysinthegeosciences.Theprojectalsobuildscurriculumandnewinstructionmaterialstosupporttheseandotherinternship/employmentopportunities,careerexplorationthroughseminarsandworkshops,andamentorshipprogram.Theprojecthasthreeoverallgoals:
Goal1:Buildstudents’interestandcapacitytoengageingeoscience-focusedSTEM(science,technology,engineering,mathematics)careerpathways.
Goal2:ProfessionaldevelopmentofcommunitycollegeSTEMfacultyasmentorstostudentsingeosciencefocusedcareers.
Goal3:Increasethenumberofstudentsfromcommunitycollegesthattransitiontogeoscience-focusedcareers.
Whatwasaccomplishedunderthesegoals?
MajorActivities
Twotracksofprimaryactivitytookplace.Thefirstoftheseactivitieswastoprovideacademicpathwaysforstudentstolearn,engage,andpursuefurtheracademic,research,andcareeropportunitiesinSTEMrelatedfieldsfocusingongeosciencerelatedfields.ThesecondoftheseactivitiesinvolvedasummerinternshipforstudentsatUNAVCOinBoulder,Colorado.
AcademicPathwaysTheprimaryacademicactivityoftheGeo-Launchpadprogramisthedevelopmentofcurriculum.Otheractivitiesincludedon-campusseminarsandprofessionaldevelopmentactivitiesforfacultyattwo-yearcolleges.
CurriculumDevelopment–acourse,“GEO210Careers/ResearchintheGeosciences”wasofferedasaonecreditcourseattheLarimerCampusofFrontRangeCommunityCollege.
Thecourseincludedpresentationsofinternshipopportunities(includingbutnotlimitedtoGeo-Launchpad),studentinvestigationofcurrentresearch,informationontransfertofour-yearcolleges,expectationofcoursesrequiredforadmissiontofour-yearcollegesand
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futurecareers,afieldtriptoUNAVCO,andguestspeakers.GuestspeakersincludedarepresentativefromtheResearchExperienceforCommunityCollegeStudents(RECCSattheCooperativeInstituteforResearchintheEnvironmentalSciences(CIRES)),aretiredhydrologistfromU.S.GeologicalSurvey(USGS),andformerinternswiththeRECCSandGeo-Launchpadprogram.
“GEO210Careers/RsrchinGeoscience,”waspresentedandtoandapprovedbyFRCCandunanimouslybytheStateFacultyCurriculumCommittee(SFCC)forinclusionintheColoradoCommunityCollegeCommonCourseNumberingSystem(CCNS).Thecourseisnowavailableforadoptionbycommunitycollegesthroughoutthestate.ThecoursehasruntwiceatFrontRange’sLarimerCampusandiscurrentlyontheSpring2018schedule.
Seminar–SeminarswerepresentedatthethreemainFrontRangeCommunityCollegecampuses.TheseseminarswereledbyUNAVCOpersonnelandFrontRangeCommunityCollegefaculty.Bothstudentsandfacultywerewelcometoattend.TheseseminarsincludedinformationaboutUNAVCO,informationontheGeo-Launchpadinternship,recommendedcourseworkforinternshipsliketheGeo-Launchpadinternship,andaquestionandanswersession.
ProfessionalDevelopmentforFaculty–InadditiontoafacultymentorprogramassociatedwiththeUNAVCOinternships,facultywereofferedopportunitiestolearnofinternships,careers,andrecentresearchinthegeosciencesforthepurposeofpassingthisknowledgeontostudents.Facultywereinvitedtotheabovenotedseminars.Further,earthsciencefacultyandcollegeadministrationwereinvitedtoattendanend-of-internshippostersymposium,whichincludedUNAVCOinternsandstudentsfrommultipleResearchExperiencesforUndergraduates(REU)opportunitiesintheBoulder,Coloradoarea.
Internship
TheprimaryactivityfortheGeo-LaunchpadprogramisasummerinternshipforColoradocommunitycollegestudents.Thefocusoftheinternshipistohelpdevelopresearchreadyskills,ratherthanconductingindependentscientificresearch.InternsspenteightweeksofthesummerworkingatUNAVCOinBoulder,Colorado.Theirexperienceincludedthefollowingmajoractivities:
Team-BuildingWorkshop.Duringorientationweek,internsparticipatedinanafternoonofactivitiesthatemphasizedteambuildingandcommunication.Throughthevariousactivities,internswereabletoexploreeach-others'skillsets,personalities,andworkethicsbycollaboratingasateamtoproblem-solveandcompleteexercises.Internsreportedthatparticipatinginthisworkshophelpedto'breaktheice'andgainfamiliaritywithteammatesearlyonintheprogram.
ResearchSupportProject.InternsworkedcollaborativelyinteamsonaresearchsupportprojectunderthedirectsupervisionofUNAVCOorUSGStechnicalstaff.Studentswereprovidedofficespaceandanyrequiredcomputingresourcesandsupplieswithinthefacilitywheretheyworked.Technicaltrainingwasprovidedthroughouttheexperience.
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GeologyFieldTrips.Internsparticipatedintwogeosciencefieldtrips.Geo-LaunchpadinternsvisitedRockyMountainNationalPark(RMNP)alongwithupper-divisionundergraduateinterns,graduateinterns,andpostgraduateinternsinvolvedininternshipprogramsatUNAVCO.ThefieldtripfocusedonthegeologicalhistoryoftheRockyMountainsandincludedatourfromaUniversityofColorado(CU)graduatestudentandaparkrangerfromRMNP.TheinternsalsojoinedstudentsfromtheRESESS(ResearchExperienceinSolidEarthScienceforStudents)internshipprogramforanovernightfieldtriptotheUniversityofColoradoMountainResearchStation,ledbyCUfacultyandgraduatestudents.
CommunicationsSeminar.Internsparticipatedinweeklyseminarsforformalandinformalcommunicationsasastudentandascientist.TheseseminarswerecollaborativewithRESESSinternsandallowedforopportunitiesfornear-peermentoring.
GeoscienceCareerCircles.Guestspeakersfromvariousgeo-workforcesectorsjoinedtheinternsoverluncheveryMondayforaninformaldiscussionabouttheirjobsandcareerpaths.Sectorsincludedindustry,research,academia,government,non-profit,andconsulting.StudentsfromotherinternshipprogramswithinUNAVCOalsoparticipated,whichledtoabroadscopeofdiscussionduringthequestionandanswerperiod.
SkillsWorkshop.Internsmetweeklyforaskillsworkshopthatprovidedprofessionaldevelopmentontopicsincludingdigitalfileorganization,timemanagement,emailetiquette,andbasicsofselectsoftwarepackagesincludingGoogleEarthandAdobeIllustrator.
PortaltothePublicNetwork(PoPNet).AlongwithinternsintheUNAVCOStudentInternshipProgram(USIP),Geo-Launchpadinternsparticipatedinaweeklyworkshopthatprovidedhands-onscientificcommunicationtrainingtoenablemeaningfulexperiencesbetweengeoscientistsandthepublic.ThisprogramconcludedwithtwooutreacheventsattheBoulderCountyFarmersMarket.
CommunicationwithFacultyMentors.Internscommunicatedwiththeirfacultymentorsthroughoutthesummer,sharingworkhighlightsandinternshipsummaries.Thisallowedtheirfacultymentorstostayabreastoftheintern’sexperiences.
ProjectDissemination.Studentspresentedtheirworkinapostersymposiumattheendofthesummer.Internsfromsimilargeosciencesummerprogramsalsoparticipated,totalingover60posterspresented.Membersofthelocalscientificcommunitywereinvitedtothesymposiumandinteractedwiththeinterns.
FacultyMentorship
TheGeo-LaunchpadProgramincludesfacultymentorshiptodevelopasupportiverelationshipwithafacultymemberfromtheintern’shomeinstitution.Thegoalisforthestudenttohaveanindividualtofollowupwithaftertheinternshipprogramconcludesandtohelpguidethemastheycontinueonapathtowardacareerinscience,technology,or
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engineering.Allinternswererequiredtoapplytotheinternshipwithafacultymentor.Facultymentorswereaskedto:
• writealetterofrecommendationforthestudentaspartoftheapplicationprocess,• regularlycommunicatewiththeinternabouttheirwork/researchthroughoutthe
summerinternship,• traveltoUNAVCOinBoulderonAugust2ndand3rdtoparticipateinaworkshopon
mentoringstudentsandattendthestudentpostersymposium,and• conductoneformalmeetingwiththestudentintheFall2017semestertodiscuss
careerpaths,opportunitiesoncampus,howtostayconnectedtothescientificcommunity,andanyotheradvicethatwillhelpthestudentinpursuitoftheiracademicandprofessionalgoals.
Thestudentwasrequiredtosubmitasummaryofthefallmeeting.Facultywereencouragedtosetupadditionalmeetingswiththestudenttomaintainamentoringrelationshipwiththestudent.Facultywerecompensatedfortheirtimewithamodesthonorariumaftertheconclusionofthefallmeetingandsubmissionofthestudentsummary.
SpecificObjectives
Datawerecollectedbyanexternalevaluatorusingbothformativeandsummativeelementsutilizingmixed-methodsmeasuresincludingpre-postinternsurveysandstudentandfacultyinterviews.Studentevaluationsofthespecialtopicscoursewerealsocollectedfromstudentswhoparticipatedinthiscourse.Overall,first-yearbenchmarksweremet.
Fourstudentsparticipatedinthespecialtopicscourse(GEO210)intheSpring2017semester.Allfourcompletedthecourse.Studentfeedbackforms(standardtothecollege)werecompletedbyallfourstudents.Allstudentsspecifiedintheirresponsetotheopen-endedquestiononthepostsurvey“Howdidthiscourseinfluenceyourcareeroreducationalplans?”thatthecoursehelpedthemdevelopmoreknowledgeaboutgeosciencecareersandtheacademicpreparationtheyneededtoenterthem.Students’onlycomplaintaboutthecourseisthatitdidnotincludemoreguestspeakersfrom4-yearuniversityfacultyinadditiontogeoscienceprofessionals.
Theinternshipalsoprovedtobehighlysuccessful.Theeightinternsselectedwerehighlyenthusiastic,aswereUNAVCOstaffworkingwiththeinternsandsevenfacultymentors.DatawerecollectedusingamodifiedversionoftheUndergraduateResearchStudentSelf-Assessment(URSSA)instrument(Hunter,Weston,Laursen&Thiry,2009).TheURSSAwasdevelopedwithfundingfromtheNationalScienceFoundationtoassessstudents’personal,professional,andintellectualoutcomesfromparticipatinginundergraduateresearch,includingREUexperiences.BecauseGeo-Launchpadisnotstrictlyaresearchinternship,itemswereadaptedtobetterfitthetechnicalworkandfieldworkoftheGeo-Launchpad
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internship.Thesurveygainsscalesitemsareratedona5-pointLikertscale(1=stronglydisagree,2=disagree,3=neutral,4=agree,5=stronglyagree).Surveyscalesincludenetworking/collaboration,intellectualgains,scientificcommunication,organizationalskills,technicalskills,careerknowledgeandcareerpreparation.Thesurveyalsomeasuresotheraspectsoftheinternshipexperience,includingtheimpactoftheinternshipsonstudents’educationalandcareeraspirations.
Careerknowledgeandpreparation
• StudentsfromGEO210displayedthemostgrowthincareerknowledge(surveymeanoncareerknowledgescalerosefrom3.75to4.36ona5-pointscale)(Figure3:Pre-postsurveymeans,GEO210).
• All4studentsfromGEO210reportedthatthecoursestrengthenedtheircommitmenttotheirpre-existinggoals,includingpursuingabachelor’sdegreeand/orgraduatestudyingeoscience,aGIScertificate,orafuturegeosciencecareer.
• AllGEO210studentsreportedthattheirknowledgeaboutgeosciencecareeroptionsincreasedsubstantially(e.g.,surveymeanincreasedfrom3.75to4.36ona5-pointscale)(Figure3:Pre-postsurveymeans,GEO210).
• AllGEO210studentsfeltmorepreparedtostudygeoscienceata4-yearinstitution(e.g.,surveymeanincreasedfrom4to4.25ona5-pointscale)(Figure3:GEO210,GainsinCareerKnowledge).
• TwoGEO210studentsreportedthattheyaremoreconfidentandsolidifiedintheirinterestinpursuingworkinthegeosciences.
Technicalandresearchskillsgains
• Internsmadeverystronggrowthintechnicalskills/instrumentation(surveymeanrosefrom2.78to3.64ona5-pointscale)(Figure1:Pre-postmeansonsurveyscales,GLPinterns).
• Internsreportedthattheybenefitedfromworkingside-by-sidewithUNAVCOandUSGSscientistsonrealworld,engagingprojectsthatinvolvedtrouble-shootingandproblemsolving.
Scientificcommunicationskills
• StudentsfromGEO210madestronggainsinscientificcommunicationskillsincludingwritingandanalyzingscientificreports(surveymeanrosefrom2.75to3.75ona5-pointscale)(Figure5:GEO210,Gainsinscientificcommunicationskills).
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• Interns’knowledgeofhowtoprepareascientificposterincreasedmarkedly(surveymeanrosefrom2.42to4.57ona5-pointscale)(Figure2:Growthininterns’abilitytoprepareascientificpaper).
Adiscussionofspecificobjectivesfollows.
Goal1:Buildstudents’interestandcapacitytoengageingeoscience-focusedSTEMcareerpathways
Objective1.1:Increasestudentawarenessofacademicandcareeropportunitiesingeoscience-relatedfieldsviaawebsiteandelectronicmedia,workshops/seminars,webinarsandannualmini-symposiaatUNAVCO.
Objective1.2:Increasestudents’knowledgeandskillsingeosciencefundamentals,methods,andtechniquestoprepareforinternshipexperiencethroughworkshops,symposia,andaspecialtopicscourseingeoscience.
SeminarswereconductedatallthreecampusesofFrontRangeCommunityCollege.SeveralstudentsparticipatingintheseseminarsappliedfortheUNAVCOinternshipand/orenrolledinthespecialtopicscourse.Ofthe18completed,eligibleapplicationsreceivedbyUNAVCOfortheinternship,13werefromFrontRangeCommunityCollege,suggestingthattheseminarsmayhaveplayedaninfluenceinstudents’applyingtotheGeo-Launchpadinternship.SixoftheeightinternshipstudentswerefromFrontRangeCommunityCollege,onewasfromCommunityCollegeofAuroraandonewasfromCommunityCollegeofDenver.TheinternshipwaspromotedbytheprojectPrincipalInvestigator,otherfacultymembersatFrontRangeCommunityCollege,andthroughfacultycolleagueswhoknowabouttheprogram.UNAVCOstaffcontactedallColoradocommunitycollegefacultyfromdepartmentsofscience,geology,andgeographyviaemailtoshareinformationabouttheinternshipprogram,applicationdetailsandaflyertopostintheirdepartment.
Fourstudentsparticipatedinthespecialtopicscourse(GEO210),withstudentsreportinganincreasedawarenessofcareersandinternships.
Goal2:ProfessionaldevelopmentofcommunitycollegeSTEMfacultyasmentorstostudentsingeosciencefocusedcareers.
Objective2.1:Increasefacultyknowledgeofexistingprivatesectorandgovernmentgeo-STEMcareersviaworkshops,networkingandsymposia
Objective2.2:DeveloppartnershipsbetweenfacultyandUNAVCOstaff tosupportstudents
Objective2.3Developresourcesforfacultymentoringandinstruction
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Accordingtotheexternalevaluation,theGLPinternshipshadapositiveimpactonthefacultymentorsthemselves,expandingtheirawarenessofthedifferenttypesofprojectsundertakenbythegeoscienceworkforceandkeepingthemapprisedofcurrentworkinthefield.Severalfacultymembersnotedthatthisknowledgewouldinfluencetheirteachingandworkwithstudents.Facultymentorsalsoreportedthattheyhadbecomebettermentorsfromtheexperiencebecauseoftheintentionalmentoringworkshopandtheformalmentoringarrangementtheydevelopedwiththeirinternmentee.Facultyalsofeltthattheyhadreceivedhelpfulmentoringresourcesfromtheintentionalmentoringworkshop.
Goal3:Increasethenumberofstudentsfromcommunitycollegesthattransitiontogeo-focusedcareers.
Objective3.1:Providestudentswithauthenticandexperientialopportunitiesingeoscience-relatedworkthroughinternshipsatUNAVCOinvolvingitsscienceandtechnologyconsortiummembers.
EightinternsparticipatedintheUNAVCOinternships(fouratUNAVCOandfourattheUnitedStateGeologicalSurvey).Internsreportedstronggrowthintechnical/instrumentationskillsandcommunicationskills.
SignificantResults
(ReferencedfiguresandquotesarefromattachedExternalEvaluationReport.)
OfthefourstudentsparticipatinginGEO210,threeappliedforinternshipsatUNAVCOand/orotherREUprograms.OnestudentwasacceptedintotheUNAVCOinternship(anotherstudentwasselectedasanalternatetoanotherREUprogram,butdidnotultimatelyparticipateintheinternship).AtleastonestudenthassincetransferredtotheUniversityofNorthernColorado,andanotherstudentisacceptedintoColoradoStateUniversityfortheSpring2018semester.Botharepursuingdegreesingeosciencerelatedfields.AthirdstudentisreceivingaGIScertificatefromFrontRangeCommunityCollege.
Students’strongestgrowthoverthesummerinternshipwasintheirunderstandingofinstrumentationintheirfieldandtheirabilitytousescientificandtechnicalinstrumentationandtools(Figure1:Pre-postmeansonsurveyscales,GLPinterns).Studentsalsoreportedstronggainsincareerknowledgeandcommunicationskills.Studentsdemonstratedthelowestgrowthincollaboration/teamworkandorganizationalskills,largelybecausetheyenteredtheinternshipwithstrongabilitiesintheseareas.
FacultymentorsandstudentsboththoughtthatoneofthemostvaluableaspectsoftheGLPinternshipwastheinteractionthatstudentshadwithgeoscienceprofessionalsandtheopportunitytolearnmoreabouttheirworkandcareerpaths.Mentorsfeltthatstudents’
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careeroptionshadbeenbroadenedandthatstudentsmightbeencouragedtopursuecareerpathsthattheymaynothavepreviouslyconsidered.
InternsalsofeltthattheybenefitedfromtheopportunitytolearnaboutgeosciencecareerpathsduringCareerCirclesandworkside-by-sidewithUNAVCOandUSGSstaff.Thestudentsparticularlyappreciatedgainingabetterunderstandingofthebreadthofgeosciencecareersandtheoftenindirectpathsthatprofessionalsfollowedtotheircurrentcareers.
Interns’secondstrongestgainswereintheirabilitytouseinstrumentationingeosciences.Studentsfeltthattheyalsogainedabetterawarenessofthemajorinstrumentsthatareusedingeoscience.Thus,studentsbecamemoreawareofthecommoninstrumentationusedinthedisciplineandgainedtheconfidenceandabilitytouseit.
TechnicalSkills/Instrumentation
Technicalskillswereinterns’largestgainaccordingtothepre/postsurveyandinterviews.StudentsreportedthatworkingwiththeinstrumentationavailableatUNAVCOandUSGSprovidedareal-worldcontextforthesciencethattheyhadlearnedaboutincoursework.Mostimportantly,theGLPinternshipofferedopportunitiesthattheywouldnothaveintheircourseworktoapplytheirgeoscienceknowledgeandcareerpath.
StudentsreportedthattheopportunitytolearnaboutavarietyofinstrumentsandtoactuallyusetheminthefieldwasthemostbeneficialaspectoftheGLPinternship.Studentsappreciatedtheexposuretonewinstrumentationandsoftwaresuchas3Dprinters,drones,andGISsoftware.
CommunicationSkills
Studentsinthecareerscoursesawanoverallincreaseincommunicationskills.Surveymeansrosefrom3.39to3.92inthisarea(Figure3:Pre-postsurveymeans,GEO210).Thegreatestgainwasseeninunderstandingofscientificreports(Figure5:GEO210,Gainsinscientificcommunicationskills).
InternsreportedstronggrowthincommunicationskillsfromtheGLPinternship,especiallyinareasinvolvingcreatingandpresentingascientificposter(Figure2:Growthininterns’abilitytoprepareascientificpaper).Studentsalsoreportedstronggrowthinusingdatatodiscussideasingeosciencesandunderstandinggeosciencejournalarticles(Figure5:Geo210,Gainsinscientificcommunicationskills).
OrganizationalandProjectManagementSkills
Surprisingly,giventhebreadthanddepthoftheirprojectsundertakenoverthesummer,internsdeclinedslightlyintheirperceptionsoftheirorganizationalskills.Thisislargelybecausetheyenteredtheprogramwithexceptionallystrongskills.
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CareerPreparation
Studentsinthecareerscoursemadethegreatestgainsincareerknowledge(surveymeanrosefrom3.75to4.36)(Figure3,Pre-postsurveymeans,GEO210).Gainswerealsoseeninstudents’senseofcareerpreparedness(3.95to4.6)(Figure3,Pre-postsurveymeans,GEO210).Especiallystrongwasanincreasedknowledgeinhowtopreparearesumeforascience-relatedcareerorinternship(Figure4:GEO210,CareerPreparation,itemmeans).
Internsreportedgainsinfeelingpreparedforfutureeducationandcareersingeoscience.StudentsfeltquitewellpreparedalreadyfortheirfutureingeosciencewhentheystartedtheGLPinternship.However,theystillreportedsomegainsintheirbeliefsandconfidencethattheycouldsucceedinageosciencefield.
Internsshowedthemostgrowthintheunderstandingoftheeverydayworkofgeoscientists(surveymeanrosefroma3.5toa4.25)(Figure3:GEO210,GainsinCareerKnowledge).Inaddition,attheendofthesummer,100%ofstudents“stronglyagreed”thattheyare“preparedtostudygeoscienceata4-yearuniversity.”StudentsinGEO210madestronggainsintheirsenseofpreparednesstopursueadvancedstudiesinthegeosciences(Figure4:GEO210,CareerPreparation,itemmeans).
FacultymentorsnoticedthattheirstudentshadsolidifiedtheireducationalplansasaresultoftheGLPinternship,andhadbeguntothinkaboutcareerplans.InternsgainedconfidencethattheybelongedingeoscienceandcouldsucceedingeosciencefromtheGLPprogram.
IntellectualGains
Studentsreportedfewerintellectualgainsthantheydidinotherskillsdomains,astheirconceptualunderstandingofthedisciplineremainedrelativelysteadyoverthesummer.Nonetheless,internsdevelopedamoresophisticatedunderstandingoftheprocessofsciencesespeciallythatitisaslowprocessthatmovesinfitsandstarts,andcanbeambiguous.Internsreportedthestrongestgainsintheirreadinesstopursuearesearchexperienceinthegeosciences.Internsdevelopedabetterunderstandingofthescientificresearchprocess,topics,andmethodologiesthatfallwithinthegeosciences.
Preparationforresearch
MentorsandinternsreportedthattheGLPinternshiphadhelpedtopreparestudentsforfutureresearchexperiences.Thecommentsfromfocusgroupsreflectthatstudentsappreciatedtheexposuretoresearchthatresultedfromtheirinteractionswithgraduatestudents.
CollaborationandNetworking
Studentsmadeslightgainsincollaborationandnetworkingskills,primarilybecausetheyenteredtheinternshipwithverystrongconfidenceintheirabilitytonetworkwith
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scientificprofessionals.However,studentsrecognizedtheimportanceofnetworkingandbecamemorecomfortableworkinginteams.Studentslearnedhowtomoreeffectivelycollaborateonscientificprojectswithgraduatestudentsandconductinformationalinterviews.
Mentoring
Moststudentsandmentorsreportedthattheycommunicatedrelativelyfrequentlyoverthesummer.
InfluenceonCareerIntentions
InternsreportedthattheGLPinternshiphadnotnecessarilychangedtheircareerpath,butconfirmedthattheywereontherighttrack.Studentsnotedthattheyhadstrengthenedtheircommitmentandconfidencetogeoscienceandthattheyhadchosentherightfield.MentorsalsonoticedthattheGLPinternshiphadinfluencedstudents’careerpathsbyprovidinginformationaboutfuturecareersandeducationingeoscienceandsolidifyingtheireducationaldecisions.
InternsalsoreportedthattheyaremorelikelytopursuegraduateschoolbecauseoftheGLPinternship.
FacultyOutcomes
TheGLPinternshipalsohadapositiveimpactonthefacultymentorsthemselves,expandingtheirawarenessofthedifferenttypesofprojectsundertakenbythegeoscienceworkforce(specificallyUNAVCOandUSGS)andkeepingthemapprisedofcurrentworkinthefield.Severalfacultymembersnotedthatthisknowledgewillinfluencetheirteachingandworkwithstudents.
Facultymentorsalsoreportedthattheyhadbecomebettermentorsfromtheexperience.Facultyalsofeltthattheyhadreceivedhelpfulmentoringresources.
Keyoutcomeandotherachievements
Perhapsthebiggestachievementoftheseminars,specialtopicscourse,andinternships,isbuildingconfidenceinthestudentthatthistypeofworkisindeedsomethingtheycando.
StudentsandfacultywereverypositiveabouttheformatoftheGLPinternshipanditsbenefitsforstudents.StudentsandfacultyexpressedalotofpositivefeedbackabouttheimplementationoftheGLPinternship.Someofthehighlightsfrominterviewsandsurveywrittenresponseswere:
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• Internso “BasicallyIlearnedaboutnewtechnologiesthatareupandcomingthatIwould
bebetteroffhavingundermybelt.LikeGISandthedronetechnologyandprogrammingskills.”
o “Itwasreallygreattalkingtoalotoftheprofessionalsthatcameintotellusabouttheircareerpath.Thatwasaninvaluableexperience,definitely.It’snotastraightline,it’sdefinitelynotlikethat.”
o “Ithinkthemostbeneficialthingwastheprofessionaldevelopment…Allofthesethingswereso,sohelpful…Theyarethingsthatwecantakewithusthroughouttherestofoureducationandthroughourcareers.”
o “There’ssomethingtotakingaprojectfromthebeginningandrunningitallthewaythrough…thatIthinkisveryinvaluable.ThatisanexperiencethatIhadnothad.”
o “Ifeelmoreconfidentinpursuingmygoalsandinmakingmythoughtsbeknown.”
o “Iwouldsaythattherewasareallyamazingexposuretotheresearchthat’shappeningnow.”
o “IthinkeveryoneatUNAVCOdidareallygreatjobwithmentoring.Itseemslikethey’revery,veryinterestedincultivatingagreatbatchoffuturescientistsandtheyverymuchcareaboutenhancingourknowledgeasmuchastheypossiblecan.”
• Facultymentorso “Ithinkthatgreatlyincreasedherconfidenceofbeingabletoworkinthattype
ofenvironment,andthenhelpedhershapeheracademicandcareersgoalsabitmorespecifically.”
o “Ithinkitwasreally,itseemslikeitwasreallygoodforherinthataspect,kindofreaffirmwhatshewasdoing.”
Whatopportunitiesfortrainingandprofessionaldevelopmenthastheprojectprovided?
Trainingandprofessionaldevelopmentwasimplementedwithfourdistinctgroups:students,interns,UNAVCOandUSGSstaff,andfacultymentors.StudentprofessionaldevelopmentStudentsinthespecialtopicscoursemetandinteractedwithprofessionalsfromanumberofrelatedfields.Further,studentswererequiredtopreparearesume,distinguishbetweenaresumeandacurriculumvita,andanalyzetechnicalpapers.
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Internprofessionaldevelopment
AsignificantelementoftheGeo-Launchpadprogramwasstructuredprofessionaldevelopmentforinterns.Aweekly,2-hourskillsworkshopwasimplementedtoprovideinternsbasictraininginapplicationssuchasGoogleEarthandAdobeIllustrator.Softskillssuchastimemanagement,digitalorganization,andemailetiquettewerealsoaddressed.Theweeklytwo-hourcommunicationseminarwasofferedjointlywiththeRESSESSinternshipprogram,facilitatingnear-peermentoringbetweentheupperdivisionundergraduatesconducingindependentresearchprojects(RESSESS)andthetwo-yearcollegestudentsconductingresearchsupportprojects(Geo-Launchpad).Thejointseminaralsoenabledstaffingefficienciesascontentwasdeliveredtobothinternshipprogramsatonetime.Theseminarhighlightedthediversetypesofprofessionalcommunication,includingwritingcoverletters,thedifferencesbetweenresumesandCVs(aswellasUNAVCOstaffreviewofinternresumesandcoverletters),developingandpresentingascientificposter,andpreparinganelevatorspeech.TwoseniorgraduatestudentsfromtheUniversityofColoradoBoulderdeliveredseveraloftheseminars,encouragingprofessionaldevelopmentforthetwograduateassistantsaswellasfortheinternshipparticipants.
Facultymentors
SevencommunitycollegefacultymembersparticipatedintheGeo-Launchpadprogram.TheyparticipatedintwodaysofprofessionaldevelopmentatUNAVCOheadquartersinBoulder.TheyattendedtheRESESSinternresearchcolloquium,participatedinanIntentionalMentoringWorkshop,andattendedandservedasjudgesfortheStudentPosterSymposium.TheIntentionalMentoringWorkshopfocusedonbestpracticesinmentoringincludingdifferencesinmentoringversusadvising,mentoringstudentsfromminoritypopulations,andstrategiesforaddressingchallengesinmentoring.
UNAVCOandUSGSstaffmentors
ThreeUNAVCOtechnicalstaffworkeddailywiththeGeo-Launchpadinterns.Priortothestartofthesummer,thesestaffmetwithprogramstaff.Duringthesemeetingstechnicalstaffwereprovidedwithguidanceonhowtodevelopaprojectappropriatefortheinterns,tipsonhowtomanagetheworkofundergraduateinterns,andgeneraltipsonmanagingothers’work.Someofthestaffinvolvedintheprogramareengineers(fieldanddata)anddonotmanagepeopleasapartoftheirnormalduties.Thiswasanopportunityforthemtodevelopandpracticemanagerialskills.AlthoughnomeetingwasheldwiththeUSGStechnicalstaffdirectlymanagingthefourinternsworkingatUSGS,UNAVCOstaffmetwiththeUSGSmanagertoprovideinformationsimilartowhatwasprovidedtotheUNAVCOtechnicalstaff.
Howhavetheresultsbeendisseminatedtocommunitiesofinterest?
Theresultsofstudentinternshipsweresharedwithfacultymentorsattheendoftheinternship,aswereposterspresentedatanannualStudentPosterSymposiuminBoulder,Colorado.FacultyandadministratorsfromFrontRangeCommunityCollegeattendedthis
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event.ResultsoftheworkofinternsisavailableontheUNAVCOwebsite.FrontRangeCommunityCollegehasalsowrittenablogaboutthestudentparticipationandpresentation.Presentationsabouttheprogramalsohavebeenmadeatthe2016AmericanGeophysicalUnionFallMeetinginSanFrancisco,theEarthEducators’RendezvousinAlbuquerque,NewMexico,theGeologicalSocietyofAmericaannualmeetinginSeattle,andattheannualmeetingoftheGreatPlains/RockyMountainDivisionoftheAssociationofAmericanGeographersinGrandForks,NorthDakota.
Whatdoyouplantododuringthenextreportingperiodtoaccomplishthegoals?
ThesecondyearoftheprogramintroducedtheinternshipstocommunitycollegestudentsoutsideFrontRangeCommunityCollege.ThenextyearwillfocusonexpandingthatoutreachtoothercommunitycollegestudentsaroundthestateofColorado,includingagreaterintroductionoftheGEO210Careers/ResearchcoursealongwithcontinuedpromotionoftheUNAVCOinternship.Thiseffortwillincludeoneononemeetingswithfacultyatsisterinstitutionsandworkingwithfacultyatthoseinstitutionstoconsidersimilarprograms.Further,facultyfromanumberofcommunitycollegeswillbeinvitedtoattendendofinternshipactivities,includingtheIntentionalMentoringWorkshop,atUNAVCO.WearealsoreachingouttoacommunitycollegeoutsideColoradotoexpandthefacultymentorshipprogram.Theprogrammaticelementsofthe2018internshipwillbeimplementedinasimilarwayto2017,withafewmodificationsbasedonthepositiveevaluationdataandpost-summerprogramteamdiscussions.SignificanteffortswillbemadetoinformcommunitycollegefacultyacrossthestateofColoradoabouttheinternshipprogramincludingagaincontactingindividualsfromgeology,geography,andphysicsdepartments.WithinUNAVCO,theprogramstructurewillbereviewedandmodifiedasneededtoensurethetechnicalstaffworkingwithinternsarereceivingthesupportandtrainingtheyneed.Wewillreviewthestudentsummerprojectdesignprocesstoensurebothstudentsandtechnicalstaffreceivebenefitfromtheexperience.Thenumberofinternsinsummer2018willbe4,andallinternswilllikelyworkatUNAVOtofacilitateamorecohesivecohort.Internsselectedinpreviousyearshaveincludedstudentsattendingatwo-yearcollegetoobtaincertificates,particularlyinGIS.Thedesignoftheprogramisstructuredtoassiststudentswhohavenotyetobtainedbachelor’sdegrees,andinordertoensurestudentsbenefitfromtheprogramming,nextsummerwewilltargetcommunitycollegestudentswhodemonstrateanintentiontotransfertoafouryearuniversitytocontinuetheirstudies.Products
ConferencePapersandPresentationsMorris,AishaR.andCharlevoix,DonnaJ.“ProfessionalDevelopmentforCommunityCollegeFaculty,”AGUFallMeeting,SanFrancisco,CA,December2016.
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Morris,AishaR.,Charlevoix,DonnaJ.,andRusso-Nixon,Kelsey,“ProfessionalDevelopmentforCommunityCollegeFaculty:LessonsLearnedfromIntentionalMentoringWorkshops,”EarthEducators’Rendezvous,Albuquerque,NM,July2017.Morris,AishaR.,Charlevoix,DonnaJ.,andRusso-Nixon,Kelsey,“Pre-REUInternshipsforCommunityCollegeStudentsSupportedbyaUniquePartnershipBetweenaCommunityCollege,Facility,andFederalAgency,”GeologicalSocietyofAmericaAnnualMeeting,Seattle,Washington,October2017.Pawloski,JamieL.,Shabram,PatrickL.,Charlevoix,Donna,Morris,AishaR.,Smith,Heidi,“BuildingPathwaystoSTEMCareersthroughCommunityColleges,”GeologicalSocietyofAmericaAnnualMeeting,Seattle,Washington,October2017.Shabram,PatrickL.,Pawloski,Jamie,Miller,MaxJ.,“ChallengesandBenefitsofDevelopingaGeoscienceCareersCourseatCommunityColleges,”MeetingoftheGreatPlains/RockyMountainsDivisionoftheAmericanAssociationofGeographers,October2017.
Shabram,PatrickL.,Charlevoix,Donna,Gold,Anne,Miller,Max,Morris,Aisha,Russo-Nixon,Kelsey,Smith,Lesley,“BuildingPathwaystoSTEMCareersinGeoscienceandEnvironmentalSciencethroughtheColoradoCommunityColleges,”EarthEducators’Rendezvous,Albuquerque,NM,July2017.OtherPublicationsSchoonover,Jodi,Blanchard,Dylan,Okal,Marianne,Crosby,Christopher,“PrintingProceduresandApplicationsinOutreachandFieldSupport,”BoulderStudentPosterSymposium,UCARCenterGreen,Boulder,Colorado,August2017.Lucas,Brandon,Schaeffer,Elizabeth,Mencin,Dave,“TheSlumgullionSlide:UsingDrones(UAVs)forStructurefromMotion(SfM),”BoulderStudentPosterSymposium,UCARCenterGreen,Boulder,Colorado,August2017.Pedrino,AmyeR.,Traversie,BillyJack,Rhoades,John,“ShowcasingMineralsandElementsCriticaltotheNationalSecurityoftheUnitedStates,”BoulderStudentPosterSymposium,UCARCenterGreen,Boulder,Colorado,August2017.Etzel,Elizabeth,Ghent,Jessica,McKinney,KevinC.,Stuckey,Chris,“LocatingFossils:GeoreferencingandMappingInvertebratesintheWesternUnitedStates,”BoulderStudentPosterSymposium,UCARCenterGreen,Boulder,Colorado,August2017.Websites“Geo-Launchpad,”http://www.unavco.org/geolaunchpad“Geo-Launchpad,”http://www.frontrange.edu/geo-launchpad
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“SummerResearchExperiencePropelsStudentsDeeperintoScienceStudies,”FrontRangeCommunityhttps://blog.frontrange.edu/2017/10/06/summer-research-experiences-propel-students-deeper-into-science-studies/OtherProducts“LaunchYourCareerwithaPaidInternshipinGeoscience,”flyerforallColoradocommunitycollegestudents.“LaunchYourCareerwithaPaidInternshipinGeoscience,”forFrontRangeCommunityCollegestudents.“BeaGeo-LaunchpadMentor,”forallfacultyinterestedinbecomingamentor.“Geo-LaunchpadInternship-ExperienceUNAVCO!”videohighlightingtheinternshipopportunity-https://youtu.be/TmOlUcUmMyc
Participants
Whatindividualshaveworkedonthisproject?[Redacted] Whatotherorganizationshavebeeninvolvedaspartners?USGS.FourinternsworkedatUSGSforthesummerinternship.Haveothercollaboratorsorcontactsbeeninvolved?Yes[Informationisredacted]ImpactsWhatistheimpactonthedevelopmentoftheprincipaldiscipline(s)oftheproject?Thegeosciences,asaSTEMfield,arenotedforlowparticipationbyunderrepresentedgroups.Geo-Launchpadhasproveneffectiveinengagingcommunitycollegestudents(whichiscommonlythefirstpostsecondaryschoolformanyunderrepresentedgroups).Whatistheimpactonotherdisciplines?Studentsparticipatinginthesummerinternshiplearnaboutworkinginthefieldofgeosciencethroughtheirexperiencewithtechnicalinstrumentation.Studentsarealsoexposedtoscientificdatamanagement(akeyaspectofdataengineering).
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Whatistheimpactonthedevelopmentofhumanresources?TheGeo-LaunchpadprogramprovidedUNAVCOtechnicalstafftheopportunitytodeveloppeoplemanagementskillsincludingtimemanagement,projectmanagement,andinterpersonalskills.Internswereprovidedopportunitytodevelopskillshelpfultoworkinginacollaborativeenvironment.FacultyasFRCC,CommunityCollegeofDenver,andtheCommunityCollegeofAuroradevelopedmentoringskills.Whatistheimpactonphysicalresourcesthatforminfrastructure?Nothingtoreport.Whatistheimpactoninstitutionalresourcesthatforminfrastructure?FrontRangeCommunityCollegepersonnelhavegainedvaluableexperienceonworkingwithcollaborativefacultyledgrants.SomeofthedepartmentstouchedbyuniquerequestscreatedbytheGeo-LaunchpadgrantincludeHumanResources,Academicdeans,andFiscal.FRCChasmadeimprovementstoitsprocessestoaccommodatefutureprojects.
WithinUNAVCOGeo-LaunchpadisexecutedbytheEducationandCommunityEngagementprogramwithsupportfromtheBusinessAffairs(BA)program.TheprocesseswithintheBAprogramhavebeenupdatedandadaptedtoaccommodatetheinternsworkingatUNAVCOforeightweeks.Updatedprocessesincludetheon-boardingofinterns,methodofpaymentforwork,procurementprocessesforinternshipmaterials,andITsupportservicestailoredforstudents.Whatistheimpactoninformationresourcesthatforminfrastructure?Nothingtoreport.Whatistheimpactontechnologytransfer?Nothingtoreport.Whatistheimpactonsocietybeyondscienceandtechnology?Theprogramhasprovidedformaleducationofcareersandresearchinthegeosciences,hasprovidedtechnicaltrainingofthefuturegeoscienceworkforce,hastaughtvaluableprofessionalskillsinsideandoutsideofscience,andhasengagedstudentstoseekfutureeducation.Facultyandstudentsatbothtwo-yeararenowmoreawareofgeosciencecareeropportunitiesopentostudents.Changes/ProblemsChangesinapproachandreasonforchange:
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Objective1.1includesthedevelopmentofawebinartobuildsstudents’interestingeosciencefocusedcareers.Aftertwoyearsoftheprojectandaone-yearseparatepilotproject,PIs,co-PIs,andSeniorPersonalhavecometounderstandthatoneofthemosteffectiveaspectsoftheGeo-Launchpadprojecthasbeenpersonalandone-on-oneinteractions.Assuch,resourceshavebeenshiftedtowardincreasingacceptanceandparticipationintheCareers/Researchcourse(GEO210)andworkingdirectlywithfacultyatsisterinstitutionstoexpandtheimpactofGeo-Launchpad.ActualorAnticipatedproblemsordelaysandactionsorplanstoresolvethem:Noactualoranticipatedproblemsordelaysexistatthistime.Changesthathaveasignificantimpactonexpenditures:Nochangesthathaveasignificantimpactonexpendituresexistatthistime.Significantchangesinuseorcareofhumansubjects:Nothingtoreport.Significantchangesinuseorcareofvertebrateanimals:Nothingtoreport.Significantchangesinuseorcareofbiohazards:Nothingtoreport.