Career Development Activities for Undergraduate, Graduate, and Recently Graduated Students in Coastal Ocean Science, Management, and Policy
(CAREER)

The purpose of CAREER is to support activities designed to facilitate and/or enhance the development of qualified professionals in the fields of coastal ocean science, management, and policy. CAREER solicits applications for proposals from eligible non-Federal applicants. Proposals from academic institutions, particularly those that are Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), collaborate with MSIs, or serve minority students, are strongly encouraged. Five projects are currently funded.

Experiences for Minorities in Coastal Ocean Science
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division, Charleston

This is 2-year project to support the participation of undergraduate students in the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Experiences for Minorities in Coastal Ocean Sciences Program. This program is a 12-week summer internship designed to provide minority undergraduate students with the opportunity to participate in mentor-guided research projects, management projects, and seminars in coastal ocean science. At least 3 students will be selected each summer by a faculty selection committee. Minority students will be offered real-life job experiences to encourage and motivate the student interns to become qualified applicants for professional career positions and/or graduate school as an alternative to medicine and non-science options.

Coastal Resource Policy Seminars for Alaska Native Students
University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Department of Alaska Native and Rural Development

This 2-year project will create two week-long seminar series (one per year) focused on Alaskan coastal resource policy and management for the professional development of Alaska Native undergraduate students attending the two rural, minority-serving campuses of the University of Alaska at Dillingham and Bethel. Each seminar will examine one aspect of the marine ecosystem that impacts coastal rural residents by bringing the students together with key individuals involved in these issues. Both seminars will hold an open forum in each community and will produce a final report available to a wider audience.

Visiting Distinguished Coastal Ocean Scientist Program
University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Institute of Marine Science

This is a 2-year project to create a Visiting Distinguished Coastal Ocean Scientist Program
to enhance the professional development of undergraduate and graduate students in the
University of Alaska system who, because of their relatively remote locations, have fewer opportunities to attend professional meetings or interact with visiting scientists. Two distinguished visitors will each be invited to spend at least one week in residence at the Fairbanks campus during the first year of the program. Each visitor will give at least two presentations to the students, one directed specifically at graduate students, the other to a broader audience including undergraduates interested in coastal ocean science. Both lectures will also be video-conferenced to remote site classrooms and videotaped for students unable to attend.

Enhancing Professional Development in Coastal Resources Management
East Carolina University, Program in Coastal Resources Management, Greenville, N.C.

Despite rigorous course and research requirements, students often have limited opportunities to learn about the day-to-day realities that confront professional resource managers. The purpose of this project is to enhance the professional development opportunities of 16-20 graduate students by linking their academic training with the experiences and perspectives of resource managers in the field. This 2-year project will create an Executive-in-Residence program to enhance Eastern Carolina University's existing Coastal Resources Management Program (CRM). At least 5 professional coastal resources managers from a variety of agencies (e.g., governmental, advocacy, private industry) will be invited to make formal and informal presentations and work directly with students in the CRM Program over a two-day visit. At least one major presentation will be open to the entire community.

Professional Society Collaborations
Whitman College, Biology Department, Walla Walla, Washington

This a 2-year project to create a new initiative and 6-day intensive symposium, Dissertations Initiative for the Advancement of Coastal and Estuarine Science (DIACES). The purpose of the symposium is to facilitate networking among recent graduates interested in careers in research and management of estuaries, coastal waters, and Great Lakes. It is designed to introduce recent PhD's in coastal ocean research, education, management, or policy to the international community and provide capstone experiences to facilitate interdisciplinary understanding and networking. DIACES will complement and expand DIALOG, the highly successful Dissertations Initiative for the Advancement of Limnology and Oceanography. Unlike DIALOG which focuses on recent Ph.D. in academic and basic research tracks, DIACES focuses on recent post Ph.D. graduates (6 months to 3 years) in applied interdisciplinary coastal research or policy and management.

Anticipated Outcomes & Products
CAREER projects will positively promote careers and the enhance the professional development in science, management and policy among undergraduate and graduate majority and minority students. Students will be offered real-life job experiences to encourage and motivate students to become qualified applicants for professional career positions and/or graduate school. Students will gain important benefits such as career options, emerging research opportunities, and techniques of professional writing. CAREER will enhance students understanding of the role of science and technology in identifying and addressing management problems, understanding the socioeconomic context in which decisions are made, and the nature of the political process. CAREER will develop interdisciplinary, inter-institutional, and international understanding and collaborations across disciplines related to the understanding and management of estuarine and coastal resources.

For more information, contact:

John Wickham
CSCOR/Coastal Ocean Program
phone: 301-713-3338
e-mail: coastalocean@noaa.gov

Last Updated: October 23, 2002