Directorate for Geosciences

Data available from the National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics demonstrate that since 1966 fewer bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. degrees have been awarded in the geosciences than in any other STEM field. Data spanning the time period from 1995–2001 indicate that the percentage of bachelor's and master's degrees awarded to members of racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in STEM fields was lower in the geosciences than in other STEM fields. The percentage of Ph.D. degrees awarded in the geosciences to students drawn from underrepresented groups from 1995–2001 was similar to the percentage awarded in math and computer science, physical science, and engineering. It appears that the geosciences retain a greater number of students drawn from underrepresented groups during the transition from master's to Ph.D. degree programs, and/or recruit underrepresented students into Ph.D. programs from other STEM fields.The geosciences have had success recruiting and retaining women since 1966, and the lessons learned in increasing gender diversity in the field may help the geoscience community increase its racial and ethnic diversity in the future. Four strategies that consistently appear to be effective in increasing diversity are: demonstrating the relevance of the field and opportunities for high-paying careers in it; developing partnerships among multiple stakeholders to reduce ‘leaks’ from the educational pipeline; promoting strong mentoring relationships among students and geoscience professionals, including opportunities for students to conduct research prior to graduate school; and providing financial assistance when necessary.

Abstract This paper combines observations, climatic analysis, and numerical modeling to investigate the Tibetan Plateau’s (TP) surface heating conditions’ influence on extreme persistent precipitation events (PEPEs) in southeastern China. Observations indicated an increase of TP surface air temperature 3–4 days prior to extreme persistent precipitation events in southeastern China. NCEP reanalysis data revealed a significant low pressure anomaly in southern China and a high pressure anomaly in northern China during extreme persistent precipitation event periods. Using correlation analysis and random resampling nonparametric statistics, a typical PEPE event from 17 to 25 June 2010 was selected for numerical simulation. The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model was used to investigate the impact of the TP’s surface heating on the evolution of this event. Three contrasting WRF experiments were conducted with different surface heating strengths by changing initial soil moisture over the TP. Different soil conditions generate different intensities of surface sensible heat fluxes and boundary layer structures over the TP resulting in two main effects on downstream convective rainfall: modulating large-scale atmospheric circulations and modifying the water vapor transport at southern China. Increased surface heating in the TP strengthens a high pressure system over the Yangtze Plain, thereby blocking the northward movement of precipitation. It also enhances the water vapor transport from the South China Sea to southern China. The combined effects substantially increase precipitation over most of the southeastern China region.

Waters on, and below, the South Rim of the Grand Canyon were sampled for stable isotopic analysis to determine the hydrologic effects of the transcanyon pipeline. The transcanyon pipeline transports North Rim water discharging at Roaring Spring across the Grand Canyon to South Rim. Ultimately this water is discharged through the sewage treatment plant at the Clearwell Overflow wash on the surface expression of the Bright Angel Fault. The North Rim water is some 8 per mil more depleted in deltaD than most of the water issuing from springs on the South Rim except for that from Indian Garden Spring which lies below the Clearwell Overflow wash. Such a composition of Indian Garden Spring must come from discharged wastewater onthe rim, percolating downward approximately 1,000 m vertically through the Bright Angel Fault. The difference in stable isotopic composition of the North Rim water renders it not only traceable in Indian Garden Spring water, but the proportions may be determined as well which result in projecting an admixture of up to half the total discharge. Curiously however, Indian Garden Spring contains no appreciable amounts of the anions associated with wastewater. More recently, a leak in the transcanyon pipeline was discovered above Indian Garden Spring, suggesting that a portion of that spring's discharge may have its origin in water directly from the pipeline. Nevertheless, these data provide information relevant to the National Park Service policy of precluding anthropomorphic forces impacting national parks. In addition, the stable isotopic ratios of park water provide a mechanism to assess the potential for future degradation, as well as the origin of any future degradation, of the water quality of Indian Garden Spring.

The Opportunities for Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences (OEDG) program, operational between the years 2001 and 2013, was a signature effort by the National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Geosciences (NSF/GEO) to invest in broadening participation of historically underrepresented populations in geoscience education programs and careers. Nearly 200 individual grants totaling more than $50 million in federal funding were provided by the OEDG program to a diverse portfolio of projects that targeted a variety of audiences and age levels. Project-level evaluation and assessment has demonstrated that most OEDG-supported projects achieved successful outcomes and impacts, according to their design. Integrating geoscience content with meaningful cultural context and relevance, authentic research experiences, cohort-based mentoring, direct financial support, and minority–majority institution collaborations have been found to be some of the most fruitful approaches for engaging, recruiting, and retaining minorities in geoscience pathways. Synthesis of the outcomes and impacts attained through the entire OEDG portfolio by a third-party evaluator demonstrated that the 10-year program achieved its primary goals. Despite these individual successes, progress in making the professional geoscience workforce more diverse has continued to be slow, especially at the doctoral level. Although OEDG research has shown what types of strategies can be effective for engaging and retaining diverse students in the pipeline, many require resources that make it challenging to bring such efforts to scale. Better progress can be achieved if a larger community of geoscientists is engaged in advocating for and fostering diversity within the geosciences using the most cost-effective approaches. Significant and sustainable change will only be realized, however, when the levers that drive behavior in the educational and professional systems of the geosciences are tuned so that diversity is recognized as a core value and fundamental feature of scientific excellence and integrity.

Earthquakes, floods, and weather extremes are among a range of societal hazards that are increasingly studied by national and international researchers, but the absence of international collaboration and coordination is increasingly leading to inefficiencies and lost opportunities. The world's major funders of global change research are considering how best to align financial and human capital toward delivering the relevant knowledge that society will need in the 21st century. The Belmont Forum (named after the group's first meeting venue in Maryland in 2009) meets twice a year and is composed of funding executives from Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Norway, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Commission, together with the executive directors of the International Council for Science (ICSU) and International Social Sciences Council (ISSC); a full list of members is on the Belmont Forum Web site, http://igfagcr.org/index.php/belmont‐forum .

Abstract Each year, hundreds of international researchers enter Greenland to conduct scientific fieldwork. Historically, they have had little interaction with local communities and scientists at Greenland research institutes. Recognising that collaboration between Greenland and the United States can yield better research, consider more diverse perspectives, articulate the benefits of research to Greenland society, and train the next generation in a collaborative framework, representatives from both countries have been engaged in a series of events to cultivate bilateral relationships. Here, we describe the process of these events (workshops, conference sessions, and public dialogues), the findings, and the outcomes that have followed. Prior to this focused engagement, United States and Greenland scientists typically pursued their research independently. Since the engagement, more researchers from both countries have successfully partnered to obtain funding for collaborative research. Furthermore, development of a bilateral collaboration network is underway. The focused approach on bilateral engagement also proved essential for maintaining research and other activities during the global pandemic. When United States researchers were prevented from entering Greenland, their Greenland partners were able to continue the fieldwork, ensuring that progress was not lost. Future international projects can build on these successes to expand collaborative and interdisciplinary research in Greenland.