Geoscience Camp! Methods for Introducing Geosciences to Middle School Girls

The Geosciences is the least diverse field at the university level and is also not often sought out by college freshman as incoming majors (Bernard and Cooperdoc 2018, Estaville et al 2006). Although there have been pushes for outreach and public engagement throughout research proposals in the field, there has been little to no progress in improving diversity (Bernard and Cooperdoc 2018). This presentation outlines the methodology of engaging middle school girls of color in the Geosciences through the design and deployment of a two-day camp focusing on teaching the Geosciences.

We obtained feedback on the success of the camp through pre- and post-surveys of both camp and non-camp participants. These surveys informed researchers of the level of impact the camp had as an intervention for improving knowledge and interest in the Geosciences. Perceptions of and barriers to the Geosciences as careers are also discussed from responses the students provided, who are shown to be generally unaware of the career opportunities in the Geosciences directly relating to their own interests.

This paper outlines the steps and organization required to provide students with opportunities and examples of Geoscientists they could identify with at every step of the intervention process. These methods include recruiting students from middle schools with strong STEM and diversity goals. We provided these participants with diverse Geoscientist examples both in recruitment and at the camp, and taught them through projects designed to be engaging, hands-on, and tailored to their age group and interests. This paper has the unique perspective of graduate students as the primary organizers of the camp. These perspectives inform the tackling of institutional barriers and grassroots-organization by graduate students within large, R1 institutions. This paper also relates the goals of diversity and inclusion from these institutions to the actual on-the-ground deployment and methods of community outreach. Specifically, these are the viewpoints of two underrepresented women graduate students who are also the minorities in their fields and academia at-large. The frameworks offered in this paper provide insight to addressing concerns of all stakeholders in the issue of diversity in the Geosciences.