Abstract
Women and students of marginalized race/ethnicity continue to be underrepresented in many science and engineering fields, and access to special programs, mentors, and internships may influence awareness, intention, and persistence in STEM fields. This mixed-methods case study investigated the experiences, beliefs, and career intentions of thirteen undergraduate students from historically underrepresented groups in the United States as they engaged in a federally funded grant program, “Sustainable Futures”. The program consisted of online courses, workshops, and a summer internship, intended to increase awareness, interest, and diverse participation in bioeconomy-related industries. The expectancy-value theory of achievement motivation theoretical framework guided this investigation of students’ changes in beliefs about bioproducts, bioenergy, the bioeconomy, and their career intentions. Program courses helped students develop skills and knowledge and program internships inspired and reinforced their career directions. Following program activities, students expressed greater intention to pursue bioproduct/bioenergy-related careers and articulated their career intentions with greater specificity. This study provides insight into the viability of focused academic and professional development programs as a practical method to promote students’ awareness, beliefs, and intentions to participate in careers in a sustainable bioeconomy, particularly across diverse populations.
Highlights
IntroductionOur use and reliance on fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources undermines global environmental resilience [1,2]
The combination of focused course work and supported internships contributed to changes in these students’ beliefs about the benefits of bioproducts and bioenergy in their own lives and in society, addressing calls for workforce development and academic training [7], for individuals who are underrepresented in the field [9]
Drawing from our understanding of previous research, we recognize that students bring with them varied backgrounds and worldviews, influenced by socioeconomic factors, geographic region, racial background, and gender, which influence their persistence and career pathways [36]
Summary
Our use and reliance on fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources undermines global environmental resilience [1,2]. The sectors whose activities support a transition away from a fossil-fuel dependent society, such as some sustainable practices in forestry, agriculture, and biotechnology, are collectively called the “bioeconomy” [5]. The U.S federal government describes the bioeconomy as “the global industrial transition of sustainably utilizing renewable aquatic and terrestrial resources in energy, intermediate and final products for economic, environmental, social and national security benefits” [6] The bioproducts and bioenergy sectors of the bioeconomy grew 17% from 2014 to 2016, and are expecting continued growth [6]. The federal National Bioeconomy Blueprint [7]
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