The SEAS Islands Alliance works to broaden participation and possibilities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, inclusion of nuanced cultural expertise from diverse underrepresented minority and underserved populations in U.S. territories and U.S.-affiliated islands. Island regions are strongly connected to the oceans that surround them and are among the country’s most diverse communities. The Alliance works to collaborate with these communities to broaden participation of the STEM workforce.
Beginning in November 2019, the SEAS Islands Alliance will support:
- 575 middle and high school students in summer- and school-year geoscience enrichment programs
- 70 undergraduate students in early-career research and career experiences
- 60 upper-level undergraduate or graduate students in an eight-week summer intensive bridge to graduate school program
- 25 bridge program students who will receive graduate training at partnering institutions (masters or PhD level)
- 25 fellows in local workforce positions in each of the island hubs
Vision
The SEAS Islands Alliance shares a common agenda: to engage underrepresented minority and underserved students in the marine and environmental sciences by illuminating a full career pathway and to increase their sense of belonging in STEM by connecting them across island hubs.
To accomplish these goals, each hub integrates evidence-based interventions and aligned partners that include:
- Field experiences and enrichment activities for middle and high school students
- Early field research and career experiences for college freshmen and sophomore students
- Bridge programming to graduate school for upper-level undergraduate and masters students
- Funding for bridge program students to pursue masters or PhD training through partnering institutions, including the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, the University of the Virgin Islands, and the University of Guam
- Creation of local jobs in each hub region through the SEAS Islands Alliance fellows program
In addition, the alliance establishes cross-cutting support programming, including:
- Mentoring from peers, near peers, program alumni, and other STEM professionals (especially those who are underrepresented minorities or from underserved groups in STEM)
- Family programming to support student success
- Professional networking activities
- Cohort-building activities to increase sense of belonging to the SEAS Islands Alliance
