Coastal environments in the southeastern U.S. are expected to undergo unprecedented population growth in the next 20 years. Accompanying this human expansion will be significant increases in land use and the potential for dramatic effects upon resources and environmental quality. To be prepared to handle these issues, our educational systems need to provide the technology, methodology, and information required to assess, predict, and improve marine resources and coastal environmental quality.
African Americans and other ethnic groups remain significantly underrepresented in marine and environmental sciences. A salient reason is that predominantly undergraduate educational schools, especially HBCU's, simply do not have the resources or justification to develop and maintain extensive modern research facilities. Thus their students, while receiving fine classroom instruction, do not have the exposure to and training in sophisticated research environments. Those who do, generally receive it during summer research experiences outside the state or region. Without such exposure, students will be less competitive than those who have received formal training in research.
In recognition of this disparity and using NSF support, Savannah State University (SSU), an HBCU, and the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (SkIO) have forged a collaboration which includes diversification of existing undergraduate courses at SSU by inclusion of teaching and research modules by SkIO faculty; formal detailed training in research via research assistantships at SkIO for qualified SSU undergraduate interns; reciprocal faculty exchange opportunities; and collaborative curriculum development. Educational programs at SSU benefit from access to SkIO's research facilities, and SkIO benefits from developing formal ties to degree-granting educational institutions.
In recognition of the growth and success of undergraduate degree programs in marine studies because of this collaboration, the University System of Georgia (USG) approved a new M.S. degree program in Marine Science at SSU. The USG provided new faculty lines and facilities to implement this new program and enhance the existing undergraduate program. However, these resources will take several years to implement. The CIRE II project would permit SSU and SkIO to maintain their momentum in recruiting underrepresented students into marine sciences while the state supported resources are brought on-line, and while funds for other programmatic components are sought via traditional research awards. This project provides experience for faculty at both institutions in initiating a M.S. program, and further provide the opportunity to document for the USG that the collaboration is appropriate and successful. The organization of a competitive framework for research training, and the collaboration between SSU and SkIO faculty in teaching, research, and curriculum development, serves as a model for other institutions as an important and sustainable mechanism to increase the number of underrepresented scientists in the field of marine sciences.
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