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Implementing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Best Practices to Design Introductory Undergraduate Modules for Increasing Participation from Students of All Backgrounds into Geophysics

Session: Strategies and Actions for Fostering a Diverse Seismology Community

Type: Oral

Date: 4/21/2021

Presentation Time: 02:30 PM Pacific

Description: 

To broaden representation of undergraduates in geophysics, the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) is working with community members to develop two resources that blend active-learning pedagogies with geophysics content. The IGUaNA project, Introducing Geophysics for Urban and Near-surface Applications, has developed a set of curricular modules, using evidence-based pedagogies, that apply seismic, electrical, and ground penetrating radar techniques to societally-relevant, real-world problems. Teaching materials are designed for introductory-level undergraduate courses to serve the most diverse student population and to reach students earlier in their studies than typical geophysics modules. The modules are designed to develop students' quantitative and critical thinking skills by using authentic datasets related to examining salt marsh pollution and restoration, identifying historical burial grounds and urban infrastructure, and urban renewal planning.

The second resource is a 3-hour asynchronous online careers module designed to supplement non-major introductory geoscience courses. The module will engage a diverse student population and reduce barriers to pursuing a geoscience degree by highlighting career opportunities using DEI best practices. The module has five objectives: 1) summarize geophysics concepts, 2) demonstrate how geophysics impacts society, 3) highlight the diversity of geophysics careers, 4) describe skills for careers, and 5) connect careers with students’ diverse identities. Diverse role models and career examples are integrated throughout the content, as are community approaches to reducing implicit bias, microaggressions, and other DEI topics that might impact students. These NSF-funded resources will be peer-reviewed, tested in undergraduate classrooms, revised, and then shared on the Science Education Resource Center (SERC) and AGI GOLI websites and will be available upon completion of the ongoing pilot test program.

Presenting Author: Andrew Parsekian

Student Presenter: No

Authors