DID-NOW

This proposal addresses the need to engage STEM students in Navy-centric educational opportunities in order to develop pathways to the Department of the Navy’s current and future workforce. The geosciences, and oceanography in particular, have significant underrepresentation of women and minorities with regard to recruitment, retention, and promotion in academic and research positions. Undergraduate internships can be especially effective in directing students to pursue new career paths because the participants tend to be eager to learn, open to new opportunities, and uncertain of their direction. APL-UW’s extensive and wide-ranging research programs can provide stimulating and life-changing experiences that broaden education beyond the classroom and motivate students to pursue STEM careers with Navy relevance. Our approach will be to establish the DID-NOW (Developing an Inclusive and Diverse Naval Oceanographic Workforce) program, a comprehensive summer undergraduate fellowship program that will provide (1) project-based research experience, (2) mentoring and support outside the research activity, (3) community building and support opportunities through peer-to-peer relationships, and (4) tools and strategies to navigate the pathways to a Navy-relevant career. This broad-based strategy is intended to go beyond the research experience itself by providing supplemental perspectives and resources to participants. Recruitment will target racial and ethnic minority students and military-connected students through community and Navy partnerships. Weekly meetings will include guest speakers in Navy-related jobs, tours of APL-UW laboratories and facilities, and career counselors familiar with DON STEM pathways. The program will include community-building activities to enable the intern cohort to strengthen peer to peer relationships. All interns will be given the opportunity to participate in a one-day training cruise on the UW research vessel R/V Rachel Carson in Puget Sound.