Park Break: collaborative opportunity established for graduate students
Among the many topics discussed during the 2007-2008 George Wright Society (GWS) board meetings was the subject of how to inspire students seeking careers in science and natural resource management to consider the Department of Interior (DOI) in general, and the National Park Service (NPS) and the US Geological Survey (USGS) in particular, as good options for future employment. Board members participating in these discussions included Suzette Kimball, now acting director of USGS, and Gillian Browser, now a research scientists with Colorado State University, who envisioned a program that would offer an alternative to the break from classes that universities typically offer students in early spring.
Since those initial discussions among the GWS board members, Park Break sessions have been held in eleven different NPS sites across the country. Each session has sponsored six to eight graduate students in various stages off their university programs for a week-long seminar focused on a specific theme relevant to the host park, such as conversation policy and climate change. Sessions have varied in format but all generally have been composed of a week of field and classroom activity with participation from local, state, and national experts.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2014 |
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Title | Park Break: collaborative opportunity established for graduate students |
Authors | Robin P. White, John Donahue, Debbie O'Leary |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | The George Wright Forum |
Index ID | 70099348 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Office of Science Quality and Integrity |