GeoPATH is a collaboration between the Yale Peabody Museum's after school program EVOLUTIONS and Yale geoscience faculty together with the New Haven Public Schools, the LSAMP program at the University of Connecticut, the Department of Earth Sciences at Southern Connecticut State University, and the Department of Biology & Environmental Science at the University of New Haven. The program has two major goals: (a) To promote interest in and knowledge of the geosciences, science more generally, and related careers; and (b) To create experiences that facilitate students' understanding of the importance of college preparation and their eventual transition to the college environment. GeoPATH provides career and college-focused opportunities in the geosciences for 50 New Haven high school students from traditionally underrepresented communities. Students spend approximately 90 hours over the course of an academic year at the Peabody Museum. The program provides students with exposure to the world of geoscience research, internships, the experience of developing a Museum exhibition that will be seen by thousands of visitors, field trips, opportunities for paid work interpreting geoscience exhibits, and mentoring by successful college students. Students receive academic credit for their participation. Detailed program evaluation include longitutional student tracking. GeoPATH robustly supports several objectives of the NSF GEO Education and Diversity Strategic Plan 2010 -- 2015. Anticipated outcomes for the students include increased understanding of and interest in the geosciences and geoscience careers, improved knowledge to facilitate college preparation, career awareness, and the development of transferable skills.
GeoPATH provided career and college-focused opportunities in the geosciences for New Haven high school students from traditionally underrepresented communities. The program provided participating students with exposure to the world of geoscience research; internships; the development of a museum exhibition; field trips; opportunities for paid work interpreting geoscience exhibits; and mentoring by successful college students. The project goals were to: promote interest in—and knowledge of—the geosciences, science more generally, and related careers; create experiences that facilitate students' understanding of the importance of college preparation and their eventual transition to the college environment. Over the course of the project, GeoPATH students, along with the other participants in the EVOLUTIONS after school program, participated in weekly two-hour classes that included science trivia, science current events, and geoscience career highlights. In addition, participants researched and developed exhibits that are displayed in the museum. Each year, forty students worked as museum interpreters, learning to communicate science to the general public, and 10-12 students worked as summer lab interns in geology and earth science labs at Yale and University of New Haven. The program received an official commendation from Governor Dannel P. Malloy, conveying honor and recognition on the accomplishments of the program. We have also been featured on the websites of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, and the After School Alliance. Program evaluations by SageFox Consulting indicate that at least 75% of participants noted significant increases in science literacy, research skills, comfort discussing scientific issues, understanding careers in STEM fields, and communication skills. In 2014, fifteen seniors graduated from the program. All of these seniors had participated in three or four years of the program. Fourteen are enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program, and thirteen intend to major in the sciences.
