Abstract
The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) is engaged in several formal
and informal partnerships within the Geosciences community, and is vital
for all faculty, staff, and students involved with undergraduate
research. CUR is structured into thirteen (13) separate divisions, of
which one of the most active is the Geosciences Division, affectionately
known as GeoCUR. CUR has a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with
the American Geophysical Union (AGU) to foster collaboration and mutual
benefit. CUR is also an Associated Society of the Geological Society of
America (GSA), and a Member Society of the American Geosciences
Institute (AGI). Within CUR, the GeoCUR regularly sponsors technical
sessions, awards, poster sessions, and/or workshops at the AGU and GSA
annual meetings, and an exhibit booth at the GSA Annual Meeting to raise
awareness of CUR and the benefits of undergraduate research (UR). For
the first time ever, GeoCUR will have an exhibit booth at the AGU
meeting in 2018, and will be actively recruiting and engaging AGU
meeting attendees. CUR advocacy is expanded when CUR staff and members
participate in GSA Associated Societies and AGI Member Societies
meetings. CUR is the voice for the UR community, and has worked with
both AGU and other scientific societies to advise and educate
legislators and federal agency representatives of the importance of UR,
and also the continued support of geoscience research priorities, such
as climate change research. One of the CUR’s most effective advocacy
avenues is its annual Posters on the Hill event, now entering its 23rd
year. EvaluateUR is an important outgrowth of CUR partnerships, and
illustrates CUR’s important role in UR assessment. EvaluateUR is an
evidence-based model for improving UR student outcomes, funded by NSF
WIDER, and partnering SUNY Buffalo State, NAGT/SERC and CUR. EvaluateUR
started at SUNY Buffalo State, has expanded to a diverse array of
institutions, and is actively seeking new potential partners.