Integration of Remote Sensing Tool to study Oceanic, Atmospheric and Hydrologic Sciences: A Holistic Education and Outreach Model

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Cooperative Remote Sensing Science and Technology (NOAA-CREST) Center at the City College of the City University of NY, funded through a major grant by NOAA's Educational Partnership Program (EPP) is one of NOAA's lead research and education partner in the application of remote sensing science & technology in issues pertaining to assessment, monitoring and stewardship of the earth's environment.

NOAA/EPP's goal to increase the number of students especially the underrepresented and for them to be trained and to graduate in the NOAA sciences resonates with CREST's mission and is honed over the Center's 11 years to recruit, educate, train and graduate more than students through academic programs strongly complemented by hands-on participation in state-of-the-art research. CREST recruits and trains high school, undergraduate, master's and doctoral students in NOAA sciences with a special emphasis on satellite and remote sensing technology to help increase a diverse STEM workforce of NOAA, other agencies and industries alike. CREST offers summer high school internships & science enrichment programs including a weather camp, and year-round seminars; summer internships with NOAA and industrial partners and school-year research assistantships for graduate and undergraduate students.

Through this paper the authors would like to present the recently concluded 2012 Summer Education and Outreach program at the City College of New York. The authors would like to share the success stories on the vertical Education Model created for each of the three distinct research cohort – Atmospheric & Climate; Oceanic and Hydrologic Sciences. Through this vertical model all High School, undergraduate and graduate research students were engaged in the hands-on experiential learning activities. The research and training experience was very rewarding and engaging. Most students will be retained into the CREST program to continue their learning and professional development. 55 Middle School; 20 High School, 12 Undergraduate and 7 Graduate students participated in CREST 2012 2012 summer Education and Outreach Program,