September 25, 2019
Geology professor receives NSF grant to increase participation of underrepresented groups in geosciences
Submitted by Department of Geology
Aida Farough, teaching assistant professor in the geology department, has received a National Science Foundation grant for her project, the Geoscience Career Ambassador Training, also known as GeoCAT, which aims to increase participation of underrepresented populations in geosciences.
"One of the main hurdles to geoscience student recruitment is lack of awareness of geoscience career options," Farough said.
To increase awareness of geoscience career opportunities among educators and students, Farough and her co-principal investigators Pamela Kempton, geology department head, and Jackie Spears, interim dean and CEO at K-State Olathe, propose to increase participation in geosciences by hosting the GeoCAT Workshop for educators from minority-serving high schools and community colleges in Kansas, as well as for Kansas 4-H Youth Development educators and volunteers. Throughout the three-year project, the team will host three workshops.
"The emphasis on recruiting and supporting underrepresented students is important to building a strong geoscience workforce in the future, particularly in Kansas, with industries that depend heavily on the existence and effective management of water, energy and other natural resources," Farough said. "The long-term economic health of Kansas depends on strengthening the knowledge of STEM careers and successfully integrating minority students into the STEM workforce."
To learn more about the GeoCAT project, visit k-state.edu/geocat, follow @geoCAT_nsf on Twitter, or email geocat@k-state.edu.
The geology department is part of K-State's College of Arts and Sciences. Learn more at k-state.edu/geology.