The Collaborative to Integrate Research and Education (CIRE) in Earth Systems Science (ESS) builds upon an existing partnership between Clark Atlanta University (CAU) and the School of Meteorology (SoM) at the University of Oklahoma (OU). Formalized through a signed agreement in 1997, this partnership has resulted in the establishment of a five- year, dual bachelor of science degree program in physics and meteorology at CAU and OU. This partnership will be strengthened through the collaboration with the OU Center for the Analysis and Prediction of Storms (CAPS), Talladega College and Atlanta Metropolitan College. The strategic goal of the CIRE program builds upon that of the CAU ESS program. The CIRE goal is the institutionalization of initiatives that allow students - high school, undergraduate, and graduate - the opportunity to understand and engage in cutting edge, meteorological/earth systems science education, research and outreach experiences. This goal will be achieved through the partnership between CAU and CAPS by accomplishment of the following six strategic objectives: 1. Adapt and develop four (4) instructional modules that will be infused into existing mathematics, physics, computer science and ESS courses at CAU. Currently, over four hundred (400) students are enrolled per academic year in the targeted courses. 2. Develop research initiatives at CAU, involving fifteen (15) students and ten (10) faculty, needed to improve the predictive capabilities of existing and future generation mesoscale computer models. 3. Retool an existing Weather Analysis and Prediction course and associated laboratory at CAU, to allow students the opportunity to analyze meteorological case histories and to use state-of-the-art analysis and prediction tools within the classroom. 4. Use existing state-of-the-art videoconferencing and distance learning capabilities to allow faculty and students to collaborate, and to attend courses and lectures without leaving their environments. 5. Integrate remote sensing technology and Geographic Information System (GIS) applications into its existing ESS education, research and outreach initiatives. 6. Strengthen an existing Environmental Data Management and Analysis Center (EDMAC) at CAU that will result in providing the resources needed to sustain the developed initiatives when CIRE funding has ended. The CIRE in ESS will advance the objectives of Georgia's NSF sponsored Alliance for Minority Participation program; will further assist OU with its efforts to recruit and retain Native American students in areas of ESS; will strengthen the NSF institution-wide reform of undergraduate education agenda at CAU, and will serve as a model program that can be sustained at CAU and replicated at colleges and universities throughout the nation. Through broad dissemination of the ESS CIRE framework and achievement of its objectives it is expected that the current underrepresentation of African American students in the areas of ESS will be lessened.
