NSF SOARS Discussion by Molly Cotton

Do we have capacity to extend the program?

mcotton30 — 2024-07-09 20:50:50 UTC

If half of the proteges return, how do we expand it to add more opportunities?

Resources

mcotton30 — 2024-07-09 20:52:57 UTC

Mentoring shortage and capacity of staff, resources for additional proteges. How can we be creative of the resources? What other funding can we have to get the capacity in the future? How do we get mentors with a level of resource and capacity with that? Saying there is a training course for them to utilize.

Exposure

mcotton30 — 2024-07-09 20:55:22 UTC

Fundamental challenges to overcome, but main contact points here are research scientist from the organization. Broader way to see what timeline phase to get exposure. Having someone go to the private sector is easier and having the organization pay for it is easier of IP.

What are the trends?

mcotton30 — 2024-07-09 20:56:51 UTC

What are the resources? More resources earlier on, but other programs are growing so maybe resources aren't as accessible.

Since "DEI" is a hot button (negative) topic and does not demonstrate action, consider a statement like this: "We function in equitable work environments that honor a plurality of identities" in place of saying that you address "DEI 'issues'"

2024-07-09 20:58:00 UTC

Programming

mcotton30 — 2024-07-09 20:58:24 UTC

Program support from NSF and others
Mentor capacity, is it hard for discipline or for overall?
What's the uniqueness with NSF SOARS?

NSF SOARS a victim of it's own success

mcotton30 — 2024-07-09 20:59:38 UTC

It's not the only game in town, with almost 30 years of the program...what is next? How do we get that excitement we had in 1996.

Opportunities that are place-based/community based

mcotton30 — 2024-07-09 21:00:41 UTC

We bring students to Boulder, but what does it look like to not bring them to Boulder?

Teaching about holistic science

mcotton30 — 2024-07-09 21:03:18 UTC

DEI components into research and how to build relationships and bring community into the field.

Addressing students' interest in pursuing a career that has a positive societal impact connected to their values

ciancane1 — 2024-07-09 21:09:08 UTC

It might be helpful to highlight EJ initiatives (like Justice 40) and concepts like data sovereignty to help them see how to connect their passion for science with their values.

Voices of Proteges and Alumni

mcotton30 — 2024-07-09 21:12:15 UTC

Don't be redundant

mcotton30 — 2024-07-09 21:15:18 UTC

Being able to apply science

mcotton30 — 2024-07-09 21:20:16 UTC

Create a decision support system to address the problem of society. Doing more group work to bring students to come together and work on individual group project. People who know how to teach applied science.

What are the ultimate goals of the program, have those changed?

mcotton30 — 2024-07-09 21:28:22 UTC

Backwards design the program. Really design what is the goals of the program and how can we get metrics of them. Redesign and revise our goals to meet what we want to see based on alumni and protege feedback as well as workforce feedback.

Variability within each of the sectors

mcotton30 — 2024-07-09 21:51:11 UTC