Author(s):
We present our experience developing an interdisciplinary Hydrology Research Experience funded by an NSF GEOPAths Undergraduate Preparation award. Our goal is to build a robust geoscience workforce by recruiting diverse students early in their college career to engage in student-led research. In this year-long learning community, students develop both scientific and professional skills including field data collection, data analysis and interpretation, science communication, career planning, and resume/cover letter preparation. Students work in small groups on research projects using data collected during an immersive 10-day field experience at the Eel River Critical Zone Observatory where rich habitat and summer baseflows sustain federally protected salmonid fish species. Students interact with researchers and US Forest Service partners at the site and present findings at scientific conferences.Our program is based out of California State University Sacramento and San Diego State University, both of which are minority serving institutions. Students are recruited from various disciplines including geology, geography, biology, engineering, and environmental studies. Participants reported successes leveraging skills and materials developed in the program to obtain geoscience internships, jobs, scholarships, and positions at graduate schools. Students also reported feeling increases in their confidence interacting with faculty, ability to engage in hydrology field research, abilities as a scientist, seeing themselves as a scientist, and sense of connection to other students in their field of study. We present preliminary data on the impact of the Hydrology Research Experience on students and lessons learned by faculty during the first two years of implementation.
Coauthors
Hilary McMillan (hmcmillan@sdsu.edu), Jasper Oshun (jas.oshun@gmail.com)
