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Scientists in Parks: A New Program

for the Next Generation of Stewards

Scientists in Parks (SIP) is a new Project areas will encompass the physical, biological, and social
National Park Service (NPS) program sciences and will address a spectrum of topics—including air
that provides immersive, meaningful quality, climate change, geology, hydrology, night skies, paleontol-
work experiences in natural resource ogy, communication, and outreach. The program also invites
fields so aspiring professionals, science-related projects that intersect with the human dimensions
especially those underrepresented of managing natural resources.
in science, can cultivate their career GSA is excited to join NPS, Stewards Individual Placement
potential and connection with Program, Environment for the Americas, and the Ecological
America’s national parks. Society of America as program partners in providing SIP opportu-
nities for the next generation of diverse park stewards.
What Happened to Geoscientists-in-the-Parks (GIP)?
We are uniting with related NPS programs to create Scientists in Jessie Pearl (left) joined
Parks, a new NPS program that will offer the opportunities previ- Saguaro National Park through
ously found through the GIP program and much more. The new Geoscientists-in-the-Parks
program model helps strengthen the framework for providing sci- (2018) and Future Park Leaders
ence-related, career-building experiences in partnership with NPS. of Emerging Change (2019), two
of the programs now merging
The SIP program brings the long-standing successes of three with Mosaics in Science to cre-
NPS programs—the Mosaics in Science Diversity Internship ate Scientists in Parks. Her project-related work investigated crit-
Program, Future Park Leaders of Emerging Change, and ical water sources in low-elevation and high-elevation desert set-
Geoscientists-in-the-Parks—into the same fold. The simplified tings over time. Pearl also received a 2017 GSA Graduate Student
program model unifies the strengths of earlier programs and Research Grant while earning her Ph.D. in geoscience at the
builds capacity for hosting up to 200 opportunities with national University of Arizona. Photo credit: Conservation Legacy.
park units annually.
SIP affords more options to consider for exploring careers in sci- Like GIP, Scientists in Parks will host an application period
ence and land management. Undergraduate students, graduate stu- twice a year for project opportunities in the summer and winter
dents, and recently graduated individuals will find it easier to align seasons. Prospective participants can begin to review and apply
with opportunities based on their career stage and future goals. for summer 2021 projects this month.
One of SIP’s core goals is to broaden diversity within the pro-
fessional levels of the NPS workforce in natural resource fields. Learn more about Scientists in Parks:
The program offers authentic opportunities to find mentorship, 1. Visit GSA’s new website for the SIP program, https://www
learn new skills, network with career professionals, and engage in .geosociety.org/ sip;
leadership development as part of the participant experience. All 2. Check out the new NPS resources related to the program:
projects help address the current natural-resource management https://go.nps.gov/scientistsinparks;
needs of national parks. 3. Receive updates about upcoming deadlines and program-related
resources in the GeoScene, GSA’s emailed monthly newsletter
“I think these are incredible opportunities to gauge where your for students and early career professionals. Subscribe at https://
passions and interests are, and what a wonderful place to do it.” www.geosociety.org/geoscene;
—Jessie Pearl, past participant of Geoscientists-in-the-Parks 4. Find out more about all available projects and where to apply at
and Future Park Leaders of Emerging Change https://www.nps.gov/subjects/science/current-projects.htm.

14 GSA Today | December 2020