The DOE Global Change Education Program (GCEP): Mentoring Future Global Change Researchers

The Department of Energy, Office of Science's Climate Change and Environmental Sciences Division has supported undergraduate and graduate education in climate change research through the Global Change Education Program (GCEP) since 1999. GCEP supports two programs: The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) and the Graduate Research Environmental Fellows (GREF) programs. Students are mentored and contribute directly to ongoing climate change research in atmospheric science (clouds and aerosols), climate modeling, terrestrial ecology, and carbon cycles. Complete details on the program can be found at http://www.atmos.anl.gov/GCEP/

This presentation will outline key aspects of the programs, including an annual Orientation and Final Workshop, and will discuss the GCEP mentoring process. GCEP has worked to maintain a growth experience for SURE to encourage completion of B.A. and B.S. degrees and entrance into graduate schools, and for GREF completion of graduate degrees (primarily Ph.D.). Mentoring coordination will be discussed and data presented showing the success of the GCEP program in increasing U.S. graduate students and producing quality climate change researchers in workforce development. The importance of continuing GCEP alumni contact and support via reference letters and an alumni page, and past GCEP alumni serving as mentors themselves will be stressed.

This work was supported by the Department of Energy Office of Science Global Change Education Program (GCEP) through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). ORISE is managed by the Oak Ridge Associated Universities, for the Department of Energy.