The award will support the program's initiative to engage Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander undergraduate students in geoscience degree programs and careers.

Pathways into the fields of geoscience are being encouraged through an exploratory summer institute where local geoscientists showcase their careers and research to students.

Barbara Gibson, researcher with the Pacific Biosciences Research Center at UH Manoa and principal investigator on the grant, said in a UH news release: "Through project activities, students will become more aware of geoscientist role models and job opportunities within the Hawaiian Islands."

Also supporting her on the project are co-investigators, David Sing and Sharon Ziegler-Chong of the University of Hawai'i at Hilo.

Ten students will be selected to participate each year in the three-week summer institute, which will feature instruction on use of geotechniques such as GIS, remote sensing, and GPS technologies; field trips to geologically interesting sites; visits to the laboratories of UH researchers in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology; and presentations by scientists working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and U.S. Geological Survey, among others. Cultural connections to native communities and locally important features are being integrated with Western science concepts.

Freshmen and sophomore students are being recruited within the University of Hawai'i system and area community colleges, with particular emphasis on those who have undeclared majors or an interest in geoscience degrees. Paid internships with professional geoscientists and scholarships will be provided to a subset of students who wish to continue in these fields following the summer institute.