The U.S National Science Foundation Geoscience Education and Broadening Participation Incubator supports research projects focused on education, talent development, outreach and broadening participation. The incubator team shares knowledge, promotes promising and consistent practices and develops innovative programs and ideas.
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GEO education and broadening participation priorities
- Broadening participation to build a robust and capable geoscience workforce.
- Supporting undergraduate students, graduate students, post-docs and early career scholars by providing research and professional development opportunities.
- Developing the geoscience workforce by fostering connections to industry and entrepreneurs.
- Engaging and supporting discipline-based education researchers, geoscience-engaged educators and other STEM professionals.
Education and broadening participation programs
GEO has several programs focusing on workforce development, workforce development and capacity building to broaden participation and support a more equitable scientific enterprise.
- Focus on Recruiting Emerging Climate and Adaptation Scientists and Transformers (FORECAST: Supports education and capacity building at emerging research institutions to help prepare students for geoscience careers.
- Geoscience Opportunities for Leadership in Diversity (GOLD-EN): Supports creating a network of professionals to implement evidence-based best practices and to provide resources to increase participation.
- Pathways into the Earth, Ocean, Polar and Atmospheric & Geospace Sciences (GEOPaths): Supports education, training and professional development for teachers, graduate, undergraduate and high school students in the geosciences through STEM learning ecosystems.
NSF-wide broadening participation programs
GEO invests and participates in the following agency-wide opportunities aimed at broadening participation in STEM:
- Research Experiences for Teachers (RET): Enhances the professional development of science educators through participation in new or ongoing NSF-funded research projects. GEO encourages current grantees to identify talented teachers for participation in this opportunity.
- Faculty Early Development Program (CAREER): Supports early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.
- Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU): Supports intensive research by undergraduate students in any NSF-funded area of research. REU Sites engage a cohort of students in research projects related to a theme. REU Supplements engages students in research related to a new or ongoing NSF research award.
- Ethical and Responsible Research: Supports projects that promote, improve and disseminate responsible and ethical research practices in STEM fields, focusing on individual, organizational and cultural factors influencing ethical conduct across career stages and research environments.
- Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI): Supports research by faculty members at predominantly undergraduate institutions.
- Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN): Provides graduate students with experiential learning opportunities through research internships in non-academic settings.