NASA's Diverse and Innovative Approaches to Building Capacity in the Future STEM Workforce

摘要

NASA's Applied Sciences' Capacity Building Program engages decision makers to enhance skill development and build the capability to access NASA Earth science data and apply it to decision making in the United States and developing countries. The program builds capacity within individuals and institutions through training activities, partnering with decision makers through collaborative projects, and workforce development. The program does this through three element activities - Applied Remote Sensing Training (ARSET), SERVIR, and DEVELOP - each of which follows a unique model for capacity building. DEVELOP is a dual capacity building program wherein individual project participants gain skills to use Earth observations themselves while participating partner organizations increase their institutional knowledge of Earth observation products and tools. DEVELOP participants (e.g., college students, recent graduates, and transitioning career professionals) work on 10-week projects under the guidance of science advisors, rapidly building their technical knowledge of NASA Earth science concepts, Earth-observation datasets, general remote sensing techniques, and geographic information systems (GIS). Skill development is fostered throughout the process with a focus on technical writing, data visualization, science communication, and team development. DEVELOP project partners (e.g., local, state, and federal government agencies, non-profits, private sector, and academia) are central to the creation of a project. Project activities begin with a needs assessment focused on the environmental concern at-hand and the partner's related decision-making process, and projects culminate with a transfer of the project's methodologies and end products to the partners. This immersive, hands-on approach to applications provides experiential learning that builds on participants' educational experiences. The approach utilizes and improves interdisciplinary skills that contribute to effective