CISM Diversity: Goals and Objectives

1. The Space Weather Weekend: A new CISM Diversity Initiative R. E. Lopez1, M. Schamschula2, R. Lal2, R. Bruntz1, J. Hughes3 1 Florida Institute of Technology, 2 AAMU, 3 Boston University CISM Diversity: Goals and Objectives • To involve historically underrepresented minorities and women in space weather research • Increase number of underrepresented space weather professionals • Focus both on recruitment and retention • The Space Weather Weekend is a means to meet our goals and objectives Schedule • Held April 31 to May 1 at AAMU • Loosely based on the CISM Summer School • Saturday - Lectures (w/ peer instruction) on Sun, Magnetosphere, Ionosphere, CISM, and space weather • Special session on applying to graduate school - very general, though we do talk about CISM • Two sessions working with CISM_DX and tracing a space weather event from Sun to Earth • All meals eaten together, including Saturday night dinner at the hotel, to build sense of community Space Weather Weekend: Our Objectives • Use the excitement of space weather to recruit students from Minority-Serving Institutions to apply to CISM graduate schools - just a few students will significantly impact demographics of field • Expose participants to a new field of science in an innovative teaching environment. • Establish personal connection with participants Evaluation and Outcomes • Formative evaluation shows 4 or greater on 1-5 Likert scale for useful/valuable • Student comments indicate positive impact on considering graduate school and 5 indicated new interest in space physics grad school • “My ideas were not in space weather for grad school but now I am considering moving into the field.” “It is possible that I might study space physics at the graduate level. However, I am definitely sure that I will do graduate studies in physics. The workshop was definitely an eye-opener to the world of space physics and graduate world on a whole. The information I learned on this weekend has certainly encouraged me to further my studies in physics at the graduate level.” Recruitment Strategy • The recruitment was done using networks in the African-American and Hispanic Physics Communities including NSBP and NSHP meetings • We also recruited during visits to MSIs • Faculty at minority-serving institutions were contacted directly and asked to recruit students • Students had a financial incentive - $200 stipend plus expenses • 9 students participated, from AAMU, Fisk U., Florida International University, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón, Lincoln University, Moorehouse College, and Tennessee State University CISM_DX Live DVD • This CISM product was originally developed for the Space Weather Weekend, but it has seen broader utility in the CISM short courses run by Knowledge Transfer • Based on KNOPPIX Linux distro in bootable DVD format plus standard CISM_DX installation • DVD contains data and DX networks for exploring MAS, ENLIL, LFM, TING • All students got a copy • Stripped down CD version also exists Who did what? • AAMU hosted the event and arranged local logistics. Fl Tech took care of stipend and travel arrangements. • Fl Tech produced the CISM_DX Live DVD (and CD) • Scientists and staff from AAMU, Boston U, and Fl Tech made presentations and ran the labs • CISM staff at NCAR and AFRL contributed material for talks Summary • The third CISM Space Weather Weekend was organized and conducted in Spring 2007 • Evaluation indicates that it is a success with students, and participants who apply to CISM graduate schools will have personal contacts to help them • A new resource, the CISM_DX Live CD was produced • Further evaluation will determine long-term impact, but already two students have been recruited to participate in CISM programs (including grad school at AAMU)