Educating and Training Under-Represented Students in Climate Change and Sustainability

Our Education Partnership in Climate Change and Sustainability (EPiCCS) provides research and educational experiences thematically centered on global climate change and sustainability. EPiCCS builds on an ongoing partnership between the Hampton University, Elizabeth City State University, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences.  These institutions have successfully trained underrepresented undergraduates and provided paths to graduate education in the sciences.  The EPiCCS project was designed to (1) support the development of underrepresented students in STEM (2) have new courses on Global Climate Change and Sustainability (3) use current technology to promote problem based learning and (4) engage the students in critical thinking and communication skills in the areas of Climate Change and Sustainability. We delivered course modules that progressed from the basics of climate science, to recent global climate change effects, to solutions using green technologies and sustainable practices.  We advanced the training of students through workshops that developed their computer, presentation and communication skills.  Students also participated in outreach projects to local communities centered on the sustainability theme.  Finally, we engaged the students in research projects during the academic year and worked to find students internships in REU and other summer research programs.