IPY: A SACNAS Initiative for Engaging New Audiences in Polar Science

• Investigators: Aaron A. Velasco, Mahlon C. Kennicutt, Craig E. Tweedie
• Funding Agency: US National Science Foundation DUE 0733055
• Project Length: April 2008 – March 2011
• SEL Participants: All postdocs, grad students and undergrads in the lab associated with polar research.
• Web sites with more information on this project: www.sacnas.org. 

Summary:

Intellectual Merit – “IPY: A SACNAS Initiative for Engaging New Audiences in Polar Science” capitalizes on the unique opportunity of the IPY 2007-2008 to promote polar science and education among Native American populations and other underrepresented minority communities. The health of polar ecosystems and related climate changes inordinately impact ecosystems and the native populations that interact with and depend on them. The Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) will capitalize on the excitement of IPY to: 1) infuse polar science with well prepared and qualified students from underserved backgrounds and 2) elevate the usage of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in polar science. A polar science dimension will be added to SACNAS national conferences that will transform the SACNAS annual conference and strengthen the SACNAS mission. This change will persist far beyond the IPY. To increase the participation of underrepresented minorities (URM) in polar science now and in the future, SACNAS and a distinguished advisory committee of polar scientists will recruit speakers to the SACNAS 2008 IPY-themed national conference and future conferences for keynote presentations, to guide scientific symposia, to participate in grades 6- 12 teacher workshops, and to engage in structured mentoring opportunities. URM participation in the conferences will be encouraged by targeted travel grant programs. Minority students will be: exposed to role models with similar backgrounds that are leaders in polar science who can advise on career options; alerted to internship opportunities; connected to URM student social networks; and advised on effective leadership skills to navigate the scientific enterprise. The conference will host an exhibit hall as a place for polar organizations to meet the thousand plus student conference attendees. An IPY-dedicated central area of the exhibit hall will feature Federal agencies, educational institutions offering polar research opportunities and academic programs; and other organizations with a polar mission. SACNAS has a comprehensive program of supporting activities that will be engaged in a polar science focus during the IPY including: a grades 6–12 teacher education program to increase access to quality curricular materials; student chapters at colleges and universities throughout the country; a SACNAS News magazine with 18,000 readers across the country; SACNAS e-nouncements on the SACNAS web site and distributed biweekly via email to over 11,000 subscribers that features job announcements, internships, fellowships, upcoming events, and SACNAS activities; and a SACNAS Minority Postdoctoral Community that acts as an online resource for peer-to-peer mentoring.

Broader Impacts – The broader impacts of this project are far reaching, sustainable and include increased URM participation in polar science during the IPY and beyond by recruiting and engaging the URM community in IPY activities, educating URM on the ramifications of polar science and climate change on human communities, and improving URM understanding of the role of the Polar Regions in global processes. The inclusion of TEK in global climate change and polar science will be enhanced by increasing the understanding of the minority science community and encouraging research using traditional knowledge at the 2008 IPY-themed annual conference and subsequent conferences. The project will educate minority communities about the Polar Regions by sharing polar science ideas that promote global understanding through SACNAS on-line and print publications and partnerships with regional science museums. The project will include ongoing assessments to assure continued improvement and delivery of the best outcomes by conducting formative and summative evaluations of activities for effectiveness in recruiting URMs into polar science, creating a bridge between the scientific community and traditional knowledge/values of Tribal leaders and further develop SACNAS’ ability to promote and conduct URM enrichment activities. The SACNAS conference brings together over 2,000 attendees who will participate in: 1) interactive sessions for graduate school applications and exploring career options; 2) fora where researchers address the unique challenges of minorities and women in science, and offer career advancement expertise such as abstract and grant writing and preparing for tenure; 3) interactions with exhibitors offering opportunities for graduate school, fellowships, internships and research careers; 4) teacher exposure to hands-on lessons and teaching strategies that engage students; and 5) a showcase for students to present research in poster and oral sessions. Lastly, as the first link to the career development pipeline grades 6-12 educational activities will target teachers serving particularly high percentages of URM students to spark the interests of hundreds of students each year from low achieving, depressed and under-funded schools.