The IMPACTS Community of Practice (Impactful Partnerships for Advancing Community Ties in STEM) brings together SZ4D leaders and student affairs and co-curricular professionals (SACP) from US institutions to address geohazard workforce development. Facing a projected labor shortage in geoscience over the next decade, the SZ4D Community Engagement and Workforce Development committee (CEWD) created IMPACTS in 2023, funded by the National Science Foundation Catalyst grant, to support student participation in geohazard careers and academics. IMPACTS offers resources and recommendations focused on recruiting and retaining undergraduates in the geohazard workforce.
Learn more | SZ4D Community Engagement and Workforce Development Committee
IMPACTS has established the following goals to strengthen student engagement in geohazard academic and career pathways.
Foster a collaborative community that promotes communication and expands opportunities among SACPs across US Institutions.
Provide SZ4D with recommendations and resources to identify funding sources and activities that enhance student participation in effective geohazard academic and workforce pathways.
IMPACTS Projects
Explore ongoing IMPACTS initiatives
Why a Community of Practice?
What is a Community of Practice?
A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of people who share a common challenge or area of interest and collaborate regularly to address it. Members share resources, expertise, and strategies, working together to meet both individual and group goals. Through this collaboration, CoPs often develop tools, recommendations, and new knowledge that can be applied in their own contexts or shared more broadly.
As part of the SZ4D Catalyst grant, CEWD proposed establishing a CoP, drawing on members’ prior successful experiences with these communities.
Learn more | Introduction to the concept of communities of practice
Why Is SZ4D Supporting a Community of Practice?
The geoscience workforce is projected to face a labor shortage over the next 10 years (Gonzalez & Keane, 2020), which could impact SZ4D’s mission to understand geohazards, their societal impacts, and strategies for mitigation. To address this challenge, SZ4D seeks to increase student participation in geohazard-related academic and career pathways.
To support this goal, the SZ4D CEWD committee launched a year-long Community of Practice (CoP) engaging student affairs and co-curricular professionals (SACPs) from 15 US Institutions. These SACPs bring unique insights and best practices for increasing student interest and participation in geoscience and STEM more broadly.
Reference:
Gonzalez, L., & Keane, K. (2020). Geoscience Currents: Geoscience Workforce Projections 2019–2029. Data Brief 2020-025. Retrieved from https://academic.cpp.edu/senate/docs/AP009245ref_9.pdf
Benefits of the IMPACTS Community of Practice
Benefits
Benefits
to CoP Members
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Join a community of SACPs from similar institutions, with opportunities to exchange ideas and best practices for increasing student interest and participation in geoscience.
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Implement recommendations, strategies, and tools developed by the group at their own institutions.
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Receive an honorarium in recognition of their time and contributions.
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Coverage of travel expenses for a two-day in-person meeting.
Benefits
Benefits
to SZ4D
Community
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Gain insights and knowledge on effective practices to increase student participation across a variety of institutions.
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Access recommendations, strategies, and tools to support geoscience education and collaborative initiatives.
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SZ4D scientists at MSIs participating in the CoP gain an SACP collaborator for local projects and outreach.
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Contribute to long-term growth in student participation in SZ4D and geoscience more broadly.
IMPACTS over time
The IMPACTS CoP launched in March 2024 and has progressed through several phases aimed at strengthening the community and achieving its goals. These phases are not strictly linear - some overlap, and the group may revisit earlier phases as needed.
Meet the Team
The IMPACTS Community of Practice brings together student affairs and co-curricular professionals (SACPs) from US institutions and two facilitators from the SZ4D CEWD committee.
Members of the SZ4D community played a key role in identifying and recruiting participants from US institutions with strong ties to STEM research.
* Facilitators
