Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

Geoscience Education and Research Fellowship

The Geoscience Education and Research Fellowship was initiated by then CIRES Director Dr. Susan Avery in 1999. The fellowship expands CIRES' commitment to diversity in the science workforce, by creating and sustaining long-term partnerships with institutions in diverse communities. The goals of the fellowship program are:

• to strengthen ties between CIRES and other institutions, particularly two-year colleges and smaller four-year colleges and universities;
• to support scientific research at these institutions, by providing faculty members with improved access to specialized equipment and materials necessary to conduct their research;
• to increase diversity in the environmental science research workforce, by providing access to excellent research and education opportunities for students from a broad range of communities.

For example, Dr. Laurel Lacher received the fellowship in 2000-2001; her Tribal Watershed Training Program (TWTP) is designed to develop tribal members' skills as natural resources professionals. CIRES' support for the TWTP addresses the need for communication and partnership between tribal members and researchers studying tribal lands, and long-term integration of the two communities.

This fellowship provides a unique opportunity for a science faculty member to simultaneously enhance his/her research and to develop educational expertise. Of special interest to CIRES is the impact this fellowship may have in enhancing science education and research opportunities among a broad and diverse group of students, and in building new partnerships with other U.S. educational institutions.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact us in advance to discuss proposed plans, particularly for educational activities. Prospective applicants can apply via the CIRES Visiting Fellowships program.

Past and Current Fellows:

2007-2008
Sarah Wise
Ph.D., University of Colorado at Boulder
"Teaching Publically Controversial Science"

2006-2007
Ryan Vachon
Ph.D., University of Colorado at Boulder
"Documentary film making: celebrating polar science, environments, climates and societies in conjunction with the International Polar Year, and understanding processes controlling patterns of stable isotopes of precipitation."

2005-2006
Jadwiga (Yaga) Richter
Ph.D., University of Washington
"Developing weather and climate educational opportunities for Mile Hi Girl Scouts."

2003-2004
Dorrie Panayotou
Ph.D., University of California, Davis
"Biological monitoring and assessment of the health of streams throughout local Boulder and Denver"

2002-2003
Edward Walton
Ph.D., University of Maryland
"Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds"

2001-2002
Ray Biersdorfer
Ph.D., Univ of California, Davis
"The Use of Creative Projects in Undergraduate Geoscience Courses"
Geology Dept., Youngstown University, OH

2000-2001
Laurel Lacher
Ph.D., Univ of Arizona
The "Tribal Watershed Leadership Training Project"