Minority participation in Earth science

Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey has been making intensive efforts to increase the numbers of members of minority groups (especially Blacks, Chicanos, and American Indians) and women qualifying for professional employment as earth scientists. The USGS Central Region Committee on Minority Participation in Earth Science, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, has initiated many projects designed to attract more members of these groups to enroll in college earth science courses, with the hope that some will decide to become earth science majors and seek careers in earth science. Many of these projects were included in an earlier report, ‘Geological Survey Activities in the Earth Sciences Minority Program’ (E0S, 54, 850–851, 1973). Summer employment of minority high school and college students has become a major part of that program.