Attracting A Diverse Student Body Into The Geosciences Is Critical

To The Future Of Geoscience Departments

Suzanne O’ConnellDepartment of Earth & Environmental

Sciences, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 06457

Mary Anne HolmesDepartment of Geosciences

University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588

Bachelors degrees in solid earth and all geosciences, 1967-2004.

67&68 73&74 79&80 85&86 91&92 97&98 03&04

Academic Year

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

AIP Statistical Research Center compiled from data collected by the National Center for Education Statistics.

Solid Earth

All Geosciences

2 year averages 1967 & 68 through 2003 & 04.

Bachelors degrees in atmospheric science and oceanography.

67&68 73&74 79&80 85&86 91&92 97&98 03&04

Academic Year

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

AIP Statistical Research Center compiled from data collected by the National Center for Education Statistics.

Atmospheric science

Oceanography

2 year averages 1967 & 68 through 2003 & 04.

Geo Bachelor Degrees

http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf07308/content.cfm?pub_id=3633&id=2

Geoscience Bachelors Degrees

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Year

Number

Underrepresented Minorities White

From czujko, 2007

Representation of Minorities among Bachelors Degrees, 2004

Black Hispanic Total % % Number

------ ------ ----------

Computer Science 11.7 6.1 59,488Psychology 10.9 8.5 82,098Business 10.9 6.8 307,149Biological Sciences 8.3 5.9 61,509Chemistry 8.1 7.0 9,300Engineering 6.4 5.8 77,949Education 6.1 4.5 106,278Mathematics 6.0 5.1 13,327Physics 4.0 4.5 4,140Geosciences 1.7 3.4 3,903

All Majors 9.4 6.8 1,399,542

Source: Digest of Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education

Number of Degree Recipients by Race and Field in 2004

Black All Majors 131,241 Engineering 4,959 Chemistry 756 Physics 166

Geosciences 65

Hispanic Americans All Majors 94,644 Engineering 4,514 Chemistry 651

Physics 187 Geosciences 131

Source: U.S. Department of Education

Geoscience Bachelors Degrees

Data Tabulated by NSF Division of Science Resources

Total Geoscience Bachelors Degrees Awarded to Underrepresented

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Year

Number of Bachelor Degrees in

Geosciences

Am Indian/Native AlaskanBlackHispanic

US Census Data Projections, Base year is 2005 http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/usinterimproj/

US Population Demographics

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

1977 2005 2009 2017 2022

College Graduation Year

Asian Other Black Hispanic White

These students are in 7th-9th grade NOW.

We need to determine the framework that will attract minorities into the geosciences.

Environmental Justice Economic development Job opportunities Research opportunities Life style (fun & interesting)

Why did you become a geoscience major?

Holmes and O’Connell, 2004

Association for Black Geoscientists(Informal Survey)

I liked the professors. There's a lot of one on one time. People were supportive. One influential professor who really got me on the road.

I really enjoyed that class (Introductory Geology) with a certain professor who really actually turned me on to the major in general.

I had a really good department—it was small but intimate, so everyone got along really well and was enthusiastic about geology.

O’Connell et al., in press

Xavier, Dillard, Howard, Lincoln, Tennessee State

NSF Data, http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/underdeg.htm

% of Black Bachelor Science Degrees from HBCUs

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Yesr

Percentage

Black Bachelors in GeoscienceUniversities that awarded the largest number of bachelors in the last 5 years

42 Hampton University (VA)15 Spelman College (GA)14 United States Naval Academy (MD)13 Savannah State University11 Elizabeth State University 11 Jackson State University 7 University of Oklahoma, Norman 7 CUNY City College (NY) 7 Cleveland State University

38% of the 336 Total Number of Black Geoscience Bachelorsfrom degree granting departments during last 5 years

Source: AIP Statistical Research Center compiled from data collected by NCES

From czujko, 2007

From czujko, 2007

Hispanic American Bachelors in Geosciences Universities that awarded the largest number of bachelors in the last 5 years

Hispanic American 5 Year Totals

58 University of PR - Mayaguez29 United States Naval Academy19 Texas A&M University16 University of Texas – El Paso14 Stanford University 14 University of Texas - Austin12 University of New Mexico10 University of Washington 9 University of California – Santa Barbara 9 University of Arizona

31% of 618 Hispanic American Geoscience Bachelors from degree granting departments during last 5 years

Source: AIP Statistical Research Center compiled from data collected by NCES

From czujko, 2007

Hispanic American Bachelors in Geosciences Universities that awarded the largest number of bachelors in the last 5 years

Hispanic American 5 Year Totals

58 University of PR - Mayaguez29 United States Naval Academy19 Texas A&M University16 University of Texas – El Paso14 Stanford University 14 University of Texas - Austin12 University of New Mexico10 University of Washington 9 University of California – Santa Barbara 9 University of Arizona

31% of 618 Hispanic American Geoscience Bachelors from degree granting departments during last 5 years

Source: AIP Statistical Research Center compiled from data collected by NCES

Both minority & white geoscience majors are attracted as undergraduates to the geoscience culture

Minority students at HBCU’s have fewer opportunities to major in geoscience

Why did you become a geoscience major?

Holmes and O’Connell, 2004

Study of urban high school & college students

Whitney et al., 2005 (EAOS)

Caucasians had greater:Greater involvement in outdoor activities

Perceived knowledge of the geosciences

Family support to pursue geosciences

Less than 10% of visitors to National Parks in California & Florida are Black, Hispanic or Asian.

O’Connell et al., in pressImage from: http://www.nps.gov/yose/

Why did you become a geoscience major?

Holmes and O’Connell, 2004

From Brown, 2002

Family supportHonors programChallenging and interactive curriculumCollege preparationKind, caring teacherSmall class size

Characteristics of Hispanic Students

who Majored in Science

Possible steps that might help to identify the frameworks that will attract minorities into the

geosciences Interact with minority communities, schools & churches

Soil & food, food security Air & pollutants Energy consumption Transportation issue

Work with local community colleges Restructure parts of our websites/ public relations

Geosciences are an excellent pathway to medical, legal & other professional careers

Relevance Teach new courses

Team-teach with departments that have a lot of minority majors Find out what aspects of the geosciences would interest minority

students Extend ourselves to minority students in our classes

EAOS PhDs to Underrepresented Minorities

We need to identify the frameworks to increase minority representation.

When the numbers are this low every person counts.

0

5

10

15

20

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Am Ind Black Hispanic

Data Tabulated by NSF Division of Science Resources

From czujko, 2007