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An Important Investment in the Future of

the Geoscience Community: Scholarships for

Expanding Representation in the Geosciences

Compared to all other science and engineering fields, the geosci- geographic Sections. Ranging from $1,500 to $2,000 each
ences have the lowest level of engagement from students from (depending on each year’s available funds), the scholarships may
diverse communities, according to the National Science Foundation. be used to purchase textbooks, pay college fees, or attend GSA
Since 2008, GSA’s Scholarships for Expanding Representation in field trips or meetings. Along with the cash award, students
the Geosciences (formally the Minority Student Scholarships), one receive complimentary membership and Annual Meeting registra-
of the Society’s programs to help address this alarming statistic, tion to further aide in their engagement with the greater geosci-
have been granted to students from groups traditionally underrepre- ence community and encourage participation in a professional
sented in the geosciences. society—where many of us meet our mentors, colleagues, and
What began in partnership with a corporate sponsor became even friends that help guide the course of our careers.
such a mainstay of GSA programming that upon completion of
that initial sponsorship, the Society and the GSA Foundation have Natalea Cohen says, “Receiving the GSA Minority Student Scholarship
remained committed to the program’s continuation through a com- has greatly impacted my geoscience studies and career path goals.
bination of occasional corporate funding and GSA strategic funds. I was also a GSA On To the Future student and had the opportunity to
attend the annual 2019 GSA meeting in Phoenix, including the diver-
Hearing recipients’ experiences cements our resolve to continue sity committee meeting. Being a recipient of this Minority Student
funding the annual grants to students from each of GSA’s six Scholarship helped solidify my passion for wanting to increase the
importance of diversity in the geosciences. Attending the meeting gave
me the opportunity to network with professionals and gain possible
contacts for future internship/job opportunities. I also learned about
field camp and scholarship opportunities for field camp. The scholar-
ship also contributed to the continuation of my academic studies at Fort
Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. I am a current junior pursuing a
geology major with mathematics and Spanish minors. I am extremely
excited about volcanology and my goal is to complete international
geologic work. I will be graduating … in December 2020 (after 3.5
years as an undergrad). I hope to do an internship next spring if I do
not go straight into research at a graduate school.”
Please consider helping us in our commitment to sustain the
Scholarships for Expanding Representation in the Geosciences each
year, so that students like Natalea are able to pursue their studies;
network, present, and learn at GSA meetings; and become involved
in the Society’s leadership through opportunities such as the GSA
Diversity Committee. You can make a contribution at https://gsa
-foundation.org/fund/minority-scholarship/ or contact Debbie
Marcinkowski at +1-303-357-1047, dmarcinkowski@geosociety.org.

Natalea Cohen.

www.gsa-foundation.org