University Geosciences Program Expands to Texas High Schools

A project whose aim is to promote diversity in the geosciences is expanding into Texas high schools.

The DIG Texas program has received federal funding to bring its activities to the high school level. DIG Texas is a statewide, multi-institutional effort — led by Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin — whose aim is to increase diversity in geosciences and to give teachers in Texas training and resources to teach geosciences more effectively.

Under the DIG Texas Blueprint project, DIG Texas scientists will work with a limited number of high school teachers to develop geosciences curricula that will eventually be shared statewide. These curricula are standards-based and will consist of five to six "online course road maps, or blueprints, for use in high school Earth and Space Science classes," according to information released this week by TAMU's news service.

In addition, one of the aims of the project is to "develop new directions in recruitment and retention, especially from under-represented groups such as those at the graduate level," said TAMU project lead Eric Riggs in a prepared statement. Riggs is assistant dean for diversity and graduate student recruitment and development and research associate professor in geosciences at TAMU. "The regional campuses often have a more diverse student body than the flagship campuses, but the main campuses often have more resources and research opportunities. By joining forces in the DIG Texas network, we maximize the benefit to students and faculty alike and improve educational opportunities."

The project was made possible through three grants from the National Science Foundation totaling about $432,000.

Aside from TAMU and UT Austin, DIG Texas hub member institutions include Lamar University, Department of Earth and Space Sciences; Stephen F. Austin State University, Department of Geology; Texas A&M International University, College of Arts and Sciences; Texas Tech University, Department of Geosciences; University of Texas at Arlington, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences; University of Texas at Brownsville, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences Department; University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Geological Sciences; Trinity University, Department of Geosciences; and University of Houston, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Science.

Additional details can be found on the DIG Texas Blueprints site.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • blue AI cloud connected to circuit lines, a server stack, and a shield with a padlock icon

    Report: AI Security Controls Lag Behind Adoption of AI Cloud Services

    According to a recent report from cybersecurity firm Wiz, nearly nine out of 10 organizations are already using AI services in the cloud — but fewer than one in seven have implemented AI-specific security controls.

  • stacks of glowing digital documents with circuit patterns and data streams

    Mistral AI Intros Advanced AI-Powered OCR

    French AI startup Mistral AI has announced Mistral OCR, an advanced optical character recognition (OCR) API designed to convert printed and scanned documents into digital files with "unprecedented accuracy."

  • robot waving

    Copilot Updates Aim to Personalize AI

    Microsoft has introduced a range of updates to its Copilot platform, marking a new phase in its effort to deliver what it calls a "true AI companion" that adapts to individual users' needs, preferences and routines.

  • teenager interacts with a chatbot on a computer screen

    Character.AI Rolls Out New Parental Insights Feature Amid Safety Concerns

    Chatbot platform Character.AI has introduced a new Parental Insights feature aimed at giving parents a window into their children's activity on the platform. The feature allows users under 18 to share a weekly report of their chatbot interactions directly with a parent's e-mail address.