GeoPEERS aims to make research experiences in the geosciences more accessible

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The geosciences fields are at a turning point, where the jobs of the next 50 years are likely to be quite different from the jobs of the last 50 years. As the world’s dependence on energy increases, it is becoming increasingly clear that the ways in which those energy needs must be met are changing.

Through funding from the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, Maureen Feineman, associate research professor of geosciences at Penn State, is leading a three-year REU, "Geosciences Program in Energy and Environmental Resource Sustainability," or GeoPEERS, to address those needs.

The goal of the REU is to prepare a diverse cohort of geoscientists to succeed in a rapidly evolving professional landscape. Energy continues to be a dominant employment target for geosciences graduates, yet the field is rapidly expanding beyond fossil fuels and into new markets, such as critical minerals exploration to provide raw materials for energy.

“Looking to the future, we can no longer think about energy and environmental science as two separate disciplines,” said Feineman. “We need to train the next generation geoscience workforce for industry and academia to consider the whole system. We have increasing energy needs, and we need to develop sustainable ways of meeting those energy needs. All fields of geosciences, and well beyond, must include sustainability in their business models on all levels.”

Geosciences has historically been one of the least diverse fields in the sciences. This REU is one of several efforts aimed at broadening participation in geosciences by opening doors for under-represented and non-traditional students and building inclusive research communities.

“The goal of REU programs, broadly speaking, is to make research programs more accessible to students who wouldn't necessarily have access at their home institution or wouldn't be able to afford to take a summer away from work to conduct research,” said Feineman. “Through the NSF funding, the students are given a stipend and housing to come to Penn State and work over the summer. This creates the opportunity to have an authentic research experience as an undergraduate student at an R1 research institution without sacrificing summer income or enduring other significant financial hardships in order to have that experience.”

The students spend eight weeks during the summer conducting research and engaging with their faculty mentors. Field trips, group discussions and engagement with graduate students are also part of the program. REU participants also have the opportunity to submit an abstract and present their research at a national conference. Members of the 2022 cohort attended or presented at conferences including the National Association for Black Geoscientists, the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science, the Geological Society of America and the American Geophysical Union.  

“This first summer, we had eight students,” said Feineman. “Their individual projects pertained to either energy or the environment, or some combination of both. We had group discussions on how the subdisciplines of geosciences interface with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, how energy systems and environment systems overlap, and how the synergies between them tie into urban living, food production, air quality and water quality.”

Students accepted for the REU do not need to be majoring in geosciences. Aiden Thomas, now a senior at Cornell University in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences program, said he applied to the REU program because he wanted the research experience.

“One of the main drivers to apply is that I wanted to experience doing research outside of the classroom setting,” said Thomas. “We have research projects and stuff in classes but it's very different when you're leading your own project. A lot of programs have great research opportunities, but I think what set this apart was our weekly meetings with various professors who talked about opportunities after graduation and discussed connecting global issues with sustainable development.”

Sarrah Vipond, who grew up in Colorado Springs and spent four years in the military stationed in Virginia Beach before starting college, said the program opened her eyes to the vast opportunities in the field of geosciences.

“The really great thing about this program is that it opened my eyes to other possibilities,” said Vipond, who is majoring in geosciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. “I thought that geochemistry was what I really wanted to do, but I now realize that there are so many subcomponents like hydrology, oceanography, or oil and gas to consider. It's so exciting just to know that there so many options.”

Through emphasis on fundamental research in geosciences fields related to energy and the environment, the REU hopes to provide transferable skills that will support participant success in graduate school and careers.

“We aim to train future leaders in sustainable, socially responsible resource production and environmental management by providing exposure to concepts and skills relevant for emerging research directions,” said Feineman.

View application information for the 2023 program.