First Semester Of Field Experience Program Concludes

GEM, in partnership with Yavapai College, is happy to announce that the first semester of our Field Experience Program has successfully concluded!

The program exemplifies our mission that science is for everyone, working with these goals in mind:

1. Increase community access to and engagement with STEM, especially to populations for whom engagement is limited by social, gender, or economic barriers.
2. Enhance student education by providing opportunities for community engagement and service learning.
3. Foster collaboration between college programs and institutions with complementary missions.
4. Broaden perspectives on conservation and provide insight about STEM careers.

What's Involved?
The program began with a series of lectures in Dr. Beth Boyd’s Environmental Geology (GLG110) and Historical Geology (GLG102) courses. Lectures were given by local professors and STEM graduate students, who visited these classrooms bi-weekly to offer engaging scientific curriculum in a variety of areas including geography, seismology, mineralogy, and more—helping students explore the relationship of these disciplines and how they relate to their everyday lives.

Additionally, a field trip was taken to the Drake Cement Mine in Paulden, AZ on April 12. The active-learning field trip gave students an opportunity to spend extended time contemplating ideas encountered in the classroom during the semester, and learning about potential career opportunities in their fields of interest.

Who's Participating?
As of spring 2019, we’ve conducted preliminary surveys detailing participant demographics, which are as follows:

-49% are low-income students (under $10K/yr)
-86% have never participated in an internship or applied learning project
-29% are first generation students
-32% don’t feel confident or prepared to pursue their educational goals
-40% are female
-49% are 18-20
-22% are undecided in their major
-23% identify as non-Caucasian (Hispanic/Latino or Native American)

What's Next?
Our goal is to expand the program into two additional classrooms at Yavapai College, while offering two additional field trips during 2019. We are also currently working with Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy and Prescott College to offer the program to these schools by 2020. Overall, the total reach will impact up to 400 students from 2019-2020. Sign up for our newsletter for updates.

How Can I Help?
GEM is supported by grants and donations. If you'd like to make a monetary donation, click here. We also have a Wish List.