Geoscience and the 21st Century Workforce:
Considering undergraduate programs in the context of changing employment opportunities
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
June 26-28, 2013
Note: this workshop has already taken place. Read the workshop synthesis for a summary of key ideas and see the workshop outcomes for materials developed in association with the workshop.Workshop presentations and summaries of discussions are available on the program page; participants' essays and program descriptions are available via the participants page.
Geoscience knowledge and skills play new roles in the workforce as our society addresses the challenges of living safely and sustainably on the planet. As a result, we expect a wider range of future career opportunities for students with education in the geosciences and related fields. The opportunities and pathways for careers in natural resources and sustainability areas are diverse and the conversation between employers and higher education is only just beginning. This workshop will focus on articulating the breadth of opportunities and identifying the knowledge and skills that are pathways to different types of employment.
We will look broadly at employment opportunities for students from geoscience and related programs and from other programs that include geoscience and will consider employment opportunities for students with associate degrees as well as bachelors degrees. Participants will include representatives of a range of programs at a variety of institutions as well as invited representatives of major employers.
Workshop outcomes will include web resources describing:
- Robust employment areas for students with geoscience understanding
- Knowledge and skills identified as critical to workforce development in each of these areas
- Examples of programmatic learning outcomes that demonstrate pathways to employment for the breadth of these areas
- Recommendations for ways in which academic programs can strengthen preparation of the workforce needed to address environmental and resource challenges.
This workshop is open to 30 representatives of academic programs (by application). There is no registration fee to attend. The workshop is especially appropriate for faculty and staff involved in program leadership and career preparation. Read the workshop overview for details about the workshop goals, schedule, expectations for participants, and how to apply.
Workshop Conveners
Cathy Manduca, Science Education Resource Center, Carleton College
Tim Bralower, Pennsylvania State University
David Blockstein, Council of Environmental Deans and Directors, National Council for Science and the Environment
Christopher Keane, American Geosciences Institute
David Schejbal, University of Wisconsin-Extension
Carolyn Wilson, American Geosciences Institute
Join the Discussion
Read the email list discussion, join the email list or unsubscribe using the Geoscience and the 21st Century Workforce email list.
This Workshop is Co-sponsored by:
