NOAA-CREST Pre-College Education & Training Model: High School Initiative in Remote Sensing of the Earth System Science and Engineering HIRES

NOAA-CREST Pre-College Education & Training Model: High School Initiative in Remote Sensing of the Earth System Science and Engineering HIRES

Shakila B. Merchant1, Reza M. Khanbilvardi and Emiko T. A Morimoto NOAA Cooperative Remote Sensing Science and Technology Center The City College of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10031

1presenting Author - smerchant@ccny.cuny.edu

Abstract

The success of the United States, its economy, and its human welfare fundamentally depends on the knowledge and skill sets of its citizenry and future generations which can majorly be achieved through informal and formal education particularly for the K-12 community. Recent attention to K-12 education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) has revealed challenges in students' performance and persistence, particularly for groups that are underrepresented in the STEM fields. STEM shapes people's lives in fundamental ways. However, the U.S. is currently faced with dual crises – a) a dearth of STEM learners and b) a lack of learning environments and hands-on opportunities particularly in Earth System Science and Engineering. Although these challenges are daunting, recent education policy developments are creating an unprecedented opportunity to address these crises. Individuals, educators, stakeholders and decision-makers across the nation are increasingly seeking pragmatic methods and strategies to bolster scientific capabilities and the capacity of our teachers and students to succeed in schools and pursue careers in STEM fields. NOAA-CREST' High school initiative in Remote Sensing of the Earth System Science and Engineering (HIRES) is a unique K-12 education model that aims at creating pre-college pathways particularly for underrepresented and underrepresented groups of HS students within the 5 boroughs of the New York City Schools. The program recruits, motivates, inspires and engages HS students (Grades 10 to 12) in a 7 week summer internship program. Critical elements of the program include - integration of research into curriculum in the field of Earth System Science and Engineering that includes introduction to GIS, MATLAB, and Python; hands-on research projects related to NOAA's missions of Climate Mitigation and Adaptation, Weather Ready Nation and Healthy and Resilient Ecosystem. At the end of the program, students get 3 college credits, 70 hours of science research mentorship besides acquiring college-ready skill-sets. Through this paper the author will share the strategies, best practices and outcomes of the HIRES 2014 and 2015!