College and university Earth System Science Education for the 21st century (ESSE 21)

Abstract

The NASA/USRA Cooperative University-based Program in Earth System Science Education (ESSE), initiated a decade ago through NASA support, has led in the creation of a nationwide collaborative effort to bring Earth system science into the undergraduate classroom. Forty-rive ESSE institutions now offer over 120 Earth system courses each year, reaching thousands of students annually with interdisciplinary content. Systemic change in the offering of courses and content and the organizational infrastructure of colleges and universities emphasizing cross disciplinary curricula, programs, degrees and departments are at the heart of this effort. Building on this successful experience and collaborative infrastructure within and among colleges, universities and NASA partners, a new program called ESSE 21 is being proposed. Through expanded partnerships the Program seeks to further develop broadly based educational resources, including shared courses, electronic learning materials and degree programs that will extend Earth system science concepts in the undergraduate classroom and laboratory. These resources emphasizing fundamentals of Earth system science serve to advance the nation's broader agenda for improving science, technology, engineering and mathematics competency and are critical to extending and solidifying a knowledge based foundation for decision making in the future by both scientists and citizens. ESSE 21 aims to solicit proposals from undergraduate institutions to create or adopt undergraduate and graduate level Earth system science content in courses, curricula and degree programs.