Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS)
SOARS is a multi-faceted education program that creates a pipeline to bring ethnically-diverse college and university students into careers in the atmospheric and related sciences, including engineering, mathematics and the social sciences. Principal funding for SOARS is provided by the NSF-ATM Division and UCAR, NCAR and UOP. Additional sponsors include DOE Environmental Sciences, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, NOAA Office of Global Programs and the university community. Through this combination, SOARS is positioned to increase class, race, and gender diversity in the scientific community.
During FY 1998, 27 students from colleges across the United States and Puerto Rico participated in SOARS. Nineteen of the SOARS protégés participated in summer research internships at NCAR. In addition to working side by side with NCAR scientists, the summer program provided scientific writing, presentation, critical thinking and cultural diversity curricula. Each protégé presented his/her summer research project at the August 10-12 SOARS Protégé Colloquium. While all 27 protégés received mentoring and career counseling throughout the year, several were funded in order to present their summer research project at the 78th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society, the 1997 Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union and the 14th Annual Indian Education Conference of the First Nations Education Council, Quebec.
Several SOARS protégés received academic accreditation this past year. Three protégés received bachelor of science degrees; two of whom enrolled in graduate school programs this fall term. Seven other protégés attended graduate school programs in the atmospheric and related sciences during FY ‘98. One protégé from the 1996 inaugural class received a master’s degree and became the first SOARS alumnus. SOARS assists protégés in applying to and paying for graduate programs at some of the most well-respected institutions in the country.
Formal and informal responses from protégés, mentors, and members of the UCAR, NCAR, UOP and university communities indicate that SOARS is making solid progress towards its goals of:
- Increasing the number of ethnically-diverse, underrepresented students enrolled in master's and doctoral degree programs in the atmospheric and related sciences; and
- Increasing the number of traditionally underrepresented people of color in the scientific community of the future.
SOARS program director Tom Windham was one of eight Boulder County residents honored at the ninth annual Multicultural Awards Banquet held in October 1997. After being notified of the award in the science category for his work with SOARS, Tom said: "Although I was the recipient of this award, it was really a family affair. It represents our UCAR mission, the SOARS program goals, and all of the people who support it and make it work...staff, mentors, protégés, sponsors and friends."
For additional information about the SOARS program, visit the SOARS web site. Inquiries can be sent to Thomas Windham, SOARS Program Director, PO Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000, (303) 497-8624 or by e-mail: twindham@ucar.edu
