Discipline: Ecology Environmental and Earth Sciences
Subcategory: STEM Research
William Krugh - California State University, Bakersfield
Co-Author(s): Graham Andrews, Dirk Baron, Christine Cruz-Boone, Janice Gillespie, Junhua Guo, Robert Horton, Eduardo Montoya, and Robert Negrini, California State University, Bakersfield
As part of the NSF-supported Centers for Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST), student and faculty researchers at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) have been investigating the regional impacts of climate change as well as evaluating the potential of local contributions to its abatement. Highlights of this research include: 1) the development of a high-resolution climate record from Tulare Lake sediments that spans the past 20,000 years; 2) the quantitative analysis and prediction of climate change impacts on Sierra Nevada snowpack; 3) the detailed subsurface characterization of San Joaquin Valley oilfields targeted for CO2 sequestration; and 4) the evaluation of proposed host rock suitability under simulated CO2 injection conditions. To date, CSUB CREST supported research has resulted in 26 contributions to peer-reviewed journals (currently published or in-review). A primary goal of CSUB CREST is to improve the recruitment, retention, and success of students from the local community, the majority of whom are from backgrounds under-represented in STEM disciplines. More than 28 students have been directly involved in the basic and applied research projects supported by this program. The majority of these students have received, or are on track to receive, an M.S. degree and have ultimately gained employment in a STEM field or been accepted into a Ph.D. program. This presentation will focus on the accomplishments, challenges, and strategies for success gleaned from CSUB CREST Phase 1.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF CREST 1137774
Faculty Advisor: None Listed,