diversity, equity, and inclusion
We are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable research and educational program and environment - not just within the FONTTTS group, Geosciences department, and USU, but beyond USU. This means a commitment to anti-racism and anti-sexism in our work and our daily lives. We support and affirm the USU Department of Geosciences Commitment to Inclusivity, Diversity, and Anti-racism. We strive to expand access to science in underserved and underrepresented communities and developing students' STEM identities through place-based, educational activities that give students and members of the broader community organic experiences doing science. Some examples of educational and outreach activities are below.
middle school engagement in earthquake science
The integrated education plan of my NSF CAREER grant applies place-based and research-based field and lab learning activities and sustained engagement with role models to ignite middle school student interest in earthquake science and STEM, and inform an underprepared and underserved population about relevant seismic hazards. Assisted by the FONTTTS team, I work with 5th-6th grade students at the Promontory School for Expeditionary Learning in Perry, UT, and their teachers, who live in rural communities situated in the shadow of the seismically-active Wasatch fault zone. Education activities involve classroom, field, and laboratory learning experiences that mirror real research activities to provide students experiences doing real science at a critical age when they are forming their STEM identities. This work has been featured in local news and by the National Science Foundation.
field
lab - scanning electron microscopy
native american student mentoring program
The goal of USU's Native American Student Mentoring Program (NASMP) is to engage Native American undergraduate students at USU Blanding’s 2-year college in research through active learning experiences. This facilitates NASMP student translation into a 4-year undergraduate and even graduate programs. The FONTTTS team have hosted and mentored Native American undergraduate students on on-going, NSF-funded fault research in both the field and the lab.