Geoscience Education and Inclusion
Diversifying and training the next generation of geoscientists
Mission Statement
Geoscience Education and Inclusion
Progress on the challenges facing earthquake hazards research, both in the short- and long-term, requires concerted focus on preparing and diversifying the next generation workforce. The Geoscience Education and Inclusion Committee seeks to build that capacity by providing research and training opportunities for aspiring geoscientists from minoritized and other groups. Research and training experiences and summer schools create opportunities for students to participate in subduction zone science, to build skills essential to research, and to position themselves for meaningful careers in science and beyond.
Major Activity
Cores2code
Cores2code is a summer field school experience focusing on geoscience undergraduates from primarily minority serving institutions. In the four week program students learn about geologic fieldwork and geophysical modeling in the Cascadia Subduction Zone. After one week of instruction students spend a second week in the field doing coring and microfossil collection in the field and then a third week processing the data and samples and carrying out modeling. The final week they synthesize and present their findings. Students are supported via stipend, paid lodging and meals, and funds for field equipment. Additionally all students receive college credits through Cal Poly Humboldt.
Major Activity
Training Workshops
In response to the pressing demand for expertise in advanced fields such as earthquake geology, tectonic geodesy, and AI-driven geoscience, CRESCENT will sponsor a series of technical short courses to help train the next generation of geoscientists. These courses will employ modern pedagogy and focus on widely employed research techniques in subduction zone geoscience with practical applications.
Major Activity
Undergraduate Twinning Program
This yearlong research experience aims to increase participation of undergraduates from minoritized communities in subduction zone science and hazards research. A pair of mentors (the Project Director and a collaborator, a faculty adviser from a home institution or other professional participant) support and mentor the undergraduate. The “twinning” concept aspires to create an opportunity for a student to participate in a research project that involves more than one institution. The student is thus introduced to different mentors and a mode of scientific collaboration that closely mimics real-world experiences. Students work at their home institution on their project during the academic year. Over the following summer, students will have the option to travel to the Project Director’s (or the other mentor’s) institution to complete the project. Student support includes a monthly stipend throughout the year as well as travel funds for the summer.
Project Director applications are now open for our 2024-2025 Twinning Program.
Major Activity
Highschool STEM Pathways
This summer STEM experience for high-school students who identify as Indigenous and are from Indigenous communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. During the summer students visit one institution involved in CRESCENT for a three-day experience designed to expose students to higher education in a STEM-related discipline and active research. Participants in the program will travel to Pacific Northwest schools with a paid chaperone, and are housed in university dormitories that are unoccupied during summer months. The students have meals in the university dining halls, and utilize university infrastructure—all mimicking the undergraduate experience. The STEM pathways organizers work with the volunteer PIs and graduate students to design experiential learning activities in earthquake and tsunami science that are fun, social, and interactive.
Major Activity
Graduate Student or Postdoc Professional Development Fellowships
CRESCENT offers fellowships to graduate students or postdoctoral candidates for travel to workshops focused on professional development. Appropriate professional development events should provide information, skill development, and networking opportunities that help participants prepare for careers as teachers and researchers. Workshops should include leaders from a variety of institution types and career paths to provide guidance that helps participants to be stronger candidates for academic positions and to succeed in academic jobs.
Applications are now closed for our 2024 Fellowships
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News, Events and Announcements
6/27/2024: Partnerships & Applications Workshop
Partnerships & Applications Workshop June 27, 2024, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm – White Stag, Portland, OR Meeting Purpose Our…
GEI Twinning Program
5/13-14/2024: Community Velocity Model Topical Workshop
Community Velocity Model Topical Workshop May 13-14, 2024, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm PST – online Meeting Goals An online…
Meet The Team
Geoscience Education and Inclusion Committee Leadership
The Geoscience Education and Inclusion Committee coordinates and oversees the high school STEM pathways, undergraduate research programs, graduate fellowship and postdoctoral mentoring activities, and technical short courses. Its members are experts in modern pedagogy and ensure that all workforce programs are broadly advertised and accessible to students with diverse backgrounds.
Andrew Meigs
Oregon State University
andrew.meigs@oregonstate.edu
Diego Melgar
Director
dmelgarm@oregon.edu
Michael Hubenthal
Earthscope Consortium
michael.hubenthal@earthscope.org
Sammy Castonguay
Lane Community College
castonguays@lanecc.edu
Harvey Kelsey
Cal Poly Humboldt harvey.kelsey@humboldt.edu
Shannon Fasola
GEI Program Manager
sfasola@uoregon.edu
Mike Brudzinski
Miami University
brudzimr@miamioh.edu
