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Vocational Development of Ecologists and Green Career Interest
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- College Student Interest and Development in Environmental Biology.
- Interdisciplinary Student Training Outcomes Through the UMBC/BES IGERT Program
- Investigating Student Growth Through Undergraduate Research Experiences
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College Student Interest and Development in Environmental Biology.
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People involved
- Jane L. Wolfson, BES Co-PI and Associate Professor, Towson University
- Julie Quimby, Assistant Professor, Towson University
- Alan R. Berkowitz, BES Education Team Leader, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
The Baltimore Collaborative in Environmental Biology [BCEB] was funded by the National Science Foundation’s Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology program. The goal of the program was to increase representation of underrepresented groups within the field of Environmental Biology. Our efforts were focused on recruiting local students from two local universities (Towson University and Morgan State University) to embark on a two year ‘discovering environmental research’ sojourn. Our program, designed to increase minority interest in the environment and environmental research, was based on several underlying assumptions—1) urban students don’t often see their local environment as something ‘worthy’ of research and that engaging in local research would peak student interest; 2) environmental career paths are not well known among local students and therefore these career paths are not chosen; 3) research experiences and effective mentoring can have a profound impact on a student’s career; and 4) a valuable research experience during college can alter a student’s proposed career pathway. We learned a great deal from our experience.
All of the 27 students involved in our BCEB program were profoundly and positively affected by their experience and the close mentoring they received from our cooperating research scientists. For many, the research experience was educational and enriching but did not alter previously selected career pathway. We developed a series of research projects designed to probe how career decisions are made and why the environmental arena is not frequently career choice among students from underrepresented groups. Analysis of questionnaires completed by science students at a local college indicate that in comparison with White students, ethnic minority students perceived educational and career related barriers to pursuing a career in environmental science. Importantly the rewards associated with an environmental career were not well understood by White or minority students.
Products
Papers
Quimby, J., N. D. Seyala, J. L. Wolfson. in review. Social Cognitive Predictors of Interest in Environmental Science: Recommendations for Environmental Educators. Journal of Environmental Education.
Quimby, J., J. L. Wolfson, N. D. Seyala. Submitted. Social Cognitive Predictors of African American Adolescents’ Career Interests. Journal of Career Development.
Posters
Wolfson, J. L. and A. Berkowitz. 2002. Changing the face of environmental biology. Poster presented at the Community Forum of the Baltimore Ecosystem Study.
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