Plenary Sessions

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Evidence-Based Teaching in the Earth Sciences: Where Are We Now?

Monday, July 13 | 4:30pm-5:30pm | Location: UMC 235

Over the past two decades, a rapidly-evolving science of learning has begun to develop evidence-based practices for education across the age range from preschool through university. At the same time, discipline-based education research (DBER) has been developing its own evidence and ideas about best practices in teaching particular scientific disciplines. This talk will review a variety of techniques that may be useful in earth science education suggested by the science of learning, evaluate the degree to which they are currently supported by evidence, and place them in the context of DBER approaches.

Teaching about controversial issues: The case of Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation (aka Fracking)

Panelists: Mike Hannigan, University of Colorado at Boulder & Steve Sonnenberg, Colorado School of Mines
Moderator: Patricia Limerick, Center of the American West

Tuesday, July 14 | 4:30pm-5:30pm | Location: UMC 235

The goal of the panel is to inform the attendees about the scientific and societal issues related to fracking and to help the attendees think about how to use fracking and related issues as opportunities for teaching critical thinking.

Shaping the Future of Geoscience Education Research

Heather Macdonald, College of William and Mary
Anthony Feig, Central Michigan University
Laura Lukes, George Mason University
Karen McNeal, North Carolina State University
Eric Riggs, Texas A&M University
Kristen St. John, James Madison University

Tuesday, July 14 | 7:30pm-8:30pm | Location: CIRES Auditorium

We welcome all Rendezvous participants to this Town Hall. We'll start with an overview of just-in-time highlights from our workshop on Synthesizing Geoscience Education Research (GER), and then pose questions about future research directions for GER, connecting GER research and teaching practice, and supporting the GER community.

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Diversifying Science – Is it as simple as replicating 'programs that work'?

John Matsui, University of California at Berkeley

Wednesday, July 15 | 4:30pm-5:30pm | Location: UMC 235

What's so hard about designing and running an effective STEM diversity program? Ask any director about his/her program or read any program proposal outlining what the PI plans to do, and you'll find their 'lists' to be remarkably similar. Comprehensive support, early exposure to research, selecting the best students, developing community, meeting financial need, faculty mentoring, and an emphasis on excellence make up the typical short list of requisites to build an effective program.

However, in spite of this consensus about what to do and after 40 years of diversity programs supported by billions of public and private dollars, under-representation persists. How can we more effectively help our under-represented (and all) students succeed in STEM majors and related careers?

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Systems Science

Daniel Wildcat, Haskell Indian Nations University

Thursday, July 16 | 4:30pm-5:30pm | Location: UMC 235

The scale and complexity of the Earth system's environmental crises now requires systems thinking. No Peoples on the planet have richer worldview traditions based on holistic or complex systems thinking than the First Peoples of North America. It is time to enact cultural climate changes in order to address the physical climate changes now under-way. It is time to explore the power of Indigenous ingenuity or INDIGENUITY based on the deep-spatial systems thinking of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Town Hall

Friday, July 17 | 4:30pm-5:30pm | Location: UMC Tent

Moderators: Cathy Manduca and Heather Macdonald

The town hall will allow us to collectively reflect on the lessons we learned as a community at the Rendezvous and address any opportunities we see for collective action or impact. Visit the program page to place items on the agenda.