Internships for diversity and inclusion in marine mammal research
Abstract
Marine mammal science, similar to other ocean sciences, is a field traditionally characterized by a lack of diversity. This is partially due to the culture of unpaid internship opportunities and a lack of scientists trained to mentor under-represented minorities.This proposal addresses this issue by establishing a network of Minority-Serving Institutions and research organizations with well-trained mentors committed to strengthening the pipeline of minorities into marine mammal research. We will leverage existing partnerships and forge new collaborations to train interns in ONR-related marine mammal research as well as increase interns professional skills and confidence. Key components of this proposal are: 1) early undergraduate participation (freshmen and sophomore), thus targeting students during a critical time in their STEM career; 2) paid academic year internships that will introduce interns to the research environment; 3) virtual programming that will provide opportunities for career development/ soft skill training, build cohort comradery, and train interns in marine mammal research; 4) paid summer internships with post-internship mentoring; and 5) training for mentors in effective mentorship approaches specifically targeted for minority student populations. Collaborations will be built among Minority-Serving Institutions (Savannah State University, Hampton University, and San Diego State University), a university with a large Hispanic population (Texas A&M University), and several research organizations (Cascadia Research Collective, Chicago Zoological Society, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and Virginia Aquarium). By developing this critical infrastructure for STEM training for young undergraduate minority students and addressing the needs of these students entering the marine mammal field, this pilot program will improve the pipeline leading to improved diversity in marine mammal science.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 05, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142112600
Entities
People
- Tara Cox
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- Savannah State University
- United States Navy