Overview

This workshop provides an opportunity to think broadly about how to better integrate geoscience and engineering to develop a workforce that can successfully address the variety of challenges we face to live productively and sustainably on the planet. The format will include a combination of plenary talks, roundtable discussions, opportunities to share challenges and successes, and time for working groups to address issues or challenges selected by the participants. This workshop supports the development of new teaching materials for the InTeGrate project.

Goals

The goals of this workshop are to identify:

  • Current best practices in integrating geoscience and engineering education, including addressing the need for sustainable engineering,
  • Geoscience education needs of engineers, engineering education needs of geoscientists, and new approaches to meet those needs,
  • Barriers to increased geoscience education in engineering,
  • Ways to encourage increased diversity in engineering related to geoscience,
  • Potential topics for new interdisciplinary courses or course modules and materials that could be integrated into existing engineering courses, and faculty interested in developing them.

Schedule

The workshop begins on Wednesday afternoon, March 6, 2013 at 5 PM and ends at 2 PM on Friday, March 8, 2013. Participants must attend all sessions including the final synthesis.

Expectations

All workshop participants are expected to:

  • Prepare in advance for the workshop via readings, writings, discussion or other activities developed by workshop leaders.
  • In advance of the workshop, submit a one to two page essay describing your approach to integrating engineering and geoscience. Your essay will become part of the public website.
  • In advance of the workshop, submit a description of either a course or an activity that combines engineering and geoscience or an idea for a course or activity that you would like to develop for use in your own teaching. Submissions of courses and activities will be featured in a web-based collection devoted to the interdisciplinary teaching of engineering and geoscience.
  • Participate fully in the entire workshop.

Application Process and Selection Criteria

This workshop is designed for college faculty from engineering and geoscience who have an interest in integrating geoscience and engineering in their teaching. We are particularly interested in faculty with experience in this area.

In selecting participants from among the applicant pool, we will seek a diverse set of participants, including representation from a variety of specialities and institution types, including engineers, engineering geologists, and geoscientists. We encourage participation from a range of engineering fields, including but not limited to civil, mining, electrical, chemical, and petroleum engineers, who work on projects relating to solid earth, oceans and the atmosphere. Preference will be given to applicants with experience and expertise in teaching that integrates geoscience and engineering, as well as to applicants interested in strengthening their own teaching. Preference will also be given to U.S. faculty.

The application deadline was Monday, January 7, 2013. Accepted applicants will be notified by the end of January. Prior to the workshop, accepted applicants will be asked to fill out a registration form to confirm their attendance and to communicate their travel arrangements.

Expenses

There is no fee to attend this workshop, and the project grant (NSF DUE - 112533) covers participant lodging, meals and supplies during the workshop. Participants or their institutions are expected to cover the cost of travel to and from the workshop. Workshop stipends are available to help defray travel expenses in cases of financial need. Stipends are available for airfare only. The deadline to apply for travel stipends has passed. Late applications will not be considered.

Facilities

The workshop will be held at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO. Housing will provided as shared hotel rooms and meals will be provided on campus.

For More Information

Contact John Taber .