DEI INITIATIVES
Field trip with Upward Bound students in Juneau, Alaska
Geosciences remain one of the STEM fields with the lowest levels of diversity. As an educator, one of my core missions is to promote inclusivity by creating opportunities and supporting students from minoritized groups. I am collaborating with the Upward Bound Program and the Juneau Ice field Research Program in a 5-year project to provide hands-on field experience to first-generation high school students. In the summer of 2022, we provided a day-long activity in the wilderness of SE Alaska for a group of 18 students from Miami. Students used dendrochronology and soil properties to answer questions related to the age of moraines and soil development.
Connecting students and a local organic farm
The Soils and Landscape Evolution class visited the Chirp Creek farm in Lisbon (ME) on Oct. 2021 for an immersive field learning experience! We had an enlightening and fun time there! The activity involved reading geological and soil maps, digging and describing soils, and discussing how soil parent material controls soil formation and land management on post glacial landscapes. Ben Daley was our host, who is an enthusiastic organic farmer and interested in geosciences! We learned so much from him! Thank you so much, Ben!
Geology for kids: Inspiring the next generation of geoscientists
This outreach activity brought kids to the university classroom for stimulating their interest in the local environment and in geoscience. The kids had a chance to do hands-on activities, meet geoscientists and learn more about the geology of the region. The event took place on Nov. 2018 at Minas Gerais State University, Brazil.
