Citizen Science

Through a grant from National Science Foundation (NSF), a Spring 2023 internship program will be offered through the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department, Austin Community College (ACC). The study semester will run during the second 8 week session

NOTE: This is the secondary application. You MUST submit the primary application at https://forms.gle/xoovXrRFZAZFnoD69. Both applications must be complete.

The Spring 2023 internships propose to launch a citizen science program to engage community college students in the collection and analysis of data from impacts of extreme events and flooding in central Texas, disasters that disproportionately affect lower-income communities. The program would include multisectoral stakeholder analyses by investigate the areal extent of impact and those sectors of the community most affected by riparian.flooding, and will include exploratory work on the estimated “tipping point” for living in vulnerable areas. Participants would be among the first in the country to engage in citizen science at a community college is a novel approach and will help develop an educational framework for other institutions across the country to follow.

The project goals are:
1. Inform future potential “citizen scientists” including both science and non science majors on natural disasters, the aftermath of natural disasters and evaluating living conditions of an impacted community using existing data.
2. Educate students in scientific methods and data collection.
3. Examine the concept of the “tipping point” as a focus for data collection, science integration, and its application to better understand the challenges faced by what are often marginalized communities.

Criteria:
● For science and non-science majors (the researchers would ideally like the participants to be half science majors and half non-science majors)
● Students must have successfully completed at least one semester of college level work, and be an enrolled ACC student.
● Students must be enrolled at ACC for the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 terms.
● Student must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident of the United States.
● Student must have an overall GPA of at least 2.9. Student must show academic promise based on past college coursework and/or activities.
● Students must submit one letter of recommendation (faculty or employer).
● Sign a commitment to participate in the program for 8 weeks in the Spring 2023 semester.
● Submit short answers to discuss their interest in the research, their strengths and background they can bring to the program; and what they aim to gain from the program.

Terms of Internship:
● Total of 14 stipend-supported positions are available for Spring 2023. Stipend per student is $2200.
● The study semester will run the second 8-weeks session of Spring 2023, March 20 — May 14, 2023. Students are required to attend all the class meetings and field trips; and be present in Austin during this time.
● Students will participate in research activities for 8 weeks (6 hours per week in class AND 2 hours per week on in online class meeting) conducted at the Rio Grande Campus (RGC) at Austin Community College. Classes meet 9 am to 3 pm. Fridays..
● The internship is a three (3) credit hour course, offered to students as GEOL 2389: Academic Cooperative. Selected students will also receive a tuition and fees waiver for this course.

Award
$2200 for 8-week session (2023) and tuition waiver for GEOL 2389 (3 credit hours)
Anticipated Total

Anticipated total amount over the full term of this award.

$2,200.00

Deadline
05/01/2024
Supplemental Questions
  1. Upload copies of your unofficial academic transcript(s) from each high school and college that you have attended. Official transcript will be required, if awarded. An ACC transcript must be uploaded..
  2. Upload a copy of your birth certificate/US passport or copy of permanent resident (green) card.
  3. Permission for release of academic records & student information and understanding of Citizens Science Summer Undergraduate Research Internship program requirements: I hereby certify that the information provided is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. Further, I understand that consideration for the Citizens Science Summer Undergraduate Research program may be denied if an information is found to be incomplete or inaccurate. I authorize Austin Community College to release the information contained within this application (including academic records and personal biographical information) to the Citizens Science Summer Undergraduate Research program committee, and to use my name in media releases and publications.
  4. Have you provided or will you provide one (1) letter of recommendation form ACC faculty members and/or current employer? This letter must be sent directly to Prof. Leslie Davis, ldavis1@autincc.edu.
  5. Applicant Commitment -- Agree to commit to participate in the program and be present in Austin through the entire time, March 20 -- May 4, 2023. Required class meetings: Fridays, 9 am -- 3 pm; AND required online weekly meeetings as arranged with professor; AND participate in all the field trips.This course meets during the second 8-week Spring 2023 semester