Call for Participants: Broadening Participation in the Geosciences Workforce Workshop

University of Wisconsin, Madison - held in conjunction with the Earth Educators Rendezvous
July 18-22, 2016

Earth Eductors' Rendezvous Overview (opens in a new window)

Geo-Needs Workshop at EER Overview (opens in a new window)

Summary

As part of an NSF-funded project to identify new strategies for increasing diversity in the geosciences, funding is available to support approximately 20 participants to attend the 2016 Earth Educators Rendezvous (EER), including specific workshop activities related to this project.

This workshop is for faculty and administrators who would like to build or expand opportunities for students to engage with the geosciences (atmospheric and climate science, engineering geoscience, geology, hydrogeology, oceanography, and related disciplines) as a career option. Funding is available to faculty and administrators from two year colleges (2YCs), minority-serving institutions (MSIs), and other institutions where the geociences are either under-subscribed or not taught at all. Participants receiving funding through this call are expected to:

• Attend a welcome dinner on Sunday, July 17th with the participants and project team
• Attend and participate in all 5 days of the 2016 EER
• Attend the Geo-Needs 2-day morning workshop on Thursday (7/21) and Friday (7/22) of the EER
• Develop and submit an action plan during the Geo-Needs workshop for applying what you have learned at the EER to your institution

More information about the 2016 Earth Educator Rendezvous Program is available here: Contributed Program The full EER program will support participants in identifying and applying new strategies and curriculum to expand geoscience opportunities at their institution.

The goals for the GeoNeeds project at the 2016 EER are to:

1. Build capacity of individuals and institutions to offer geoscience courses and programs
2. Offer professional development to faculty and administrators with limited experience in the geosciences
3. Help participants create an Action Plan to increase participation of students from underrepresented groups in the Earth Sciences

Travel, Logistics, and Registration

The GeoNeeds project is offering a limited number of stipends (~20) for participants from institutions that serve students from underrepresented groups (MSIs and 2YCs) to attend the Earth Educators Rendezvous, including registration, lodging, and travel. The Travel Support Application Form is due March 1, 2016.

Participant qualifications:

• Must be faculty (including adjunct or instructor) or administrator at a 2YC or MSI. Teams of administrators and instructors from the same institution are encouraged to apply
• Seeking applicants who want to expand geoscience opportunities at their institution
• Preference given to MSI faculty or administrators (either at 2YCs or 4YCs)
• Preference given to those with limited prior experience with SERC-related professional development activities
• Preference given to those who have not previously attended the EER

If accepted, you will receive:

• Welcome dinner on Sunday, July 17 with the other participants and the project team (pre-paid by the project)
• Registration for 5 days of the 2016 EER (pre-paid by the project)
• Morning workshop sessions on Thursday, July 21 and Friday, July 22 (included in registration)
• Lodging in a single occupancy room for 6 nights at the Ogg Residence Hall (pre-paid by the project).
• $850 stipend to cover travel (air, rail, or car) and meal expenses while at the 2016 EER (after participation at the EER)

For more information about the travel and housing logistics please visit: Rendezvous website. If $850 is not sufficient to cover air travel to the workshop, please contact Nicole LaDue (nladue@niu.edu) after acceptance.

Expectations: By accepting our invitation for funding, participants must agree to the following BEFORE receiving the $850 stipend:

• Attend a welcome dinner on Sunday, July 17th with the participants and project team
• Attend and participate in all 5 days of the 2016 EER
• Attend a 2-day morning workshop on Thursday (7/21) and Friday (7/22)
• Develop and submit an action plan during the workshop for applying what you have learned at the EER to your institution

Travel Support Applications are due March 1, 2016. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by March 15th, 2016. Participants receiving funding must wait to register for the 2016 EER until after they have been accepted and have receive a registration code.