Minority Opportunities for Research Experience in Earth Science at the University of Texas at San Antonio (MORE Science at The University of Texas at San Antonio), funded by the U.S. Department of Education (Grant Award No. P120A050061), was a three-year project (October 1, 2005 to September 30, 2008) designed to provide research and field experiences to undergraduate Earth science majors.

Activities sponsored under MORE Science at The University of Texas at San Antonio included:

• Research experience at The University of Texas at San Antonio or one of our partner institutions (including Southwest Research Institute, UT-Austin, UT-El Paso, and TSU-San Marcos) providing undergraduates an opportunity to work closely with a faculty mentor on a specific research topic. Twelve paid research positions ($2500 per student) were available each summer.
• A 10-day all expense paid field trip to west Texas and south New Mexico each summer to bring together the undergraduates involved in research or internship programs and their advisors.
• An annual student colloquium at The University of Texas at San Antonio where students presented their summer research. Cash awards were offered for the best project presentations.
• Travel support for students to present their research in professional conferences at the local, regional, or national level.
• Science mentoring in the public schools, to keep undergraduate participants excited about their science and to help attract younger students to careers in the sciences.
• Two new undergraduate courses in the cross-disciplinary field of remote sensing, GIS, and GPS. The first of these courses was offered in Fall 2006; the second one was offered in Fall 2007.
• A twice monthly seminar series focusing on issues in Earth science and geospatial science and technology, bringing experts from industry, government, and academics to The University of Texas at San Antonio to share their research and experience with our students.

Participation in science research through MORE Science at The University of Texas at San Antonio is anticipated to increase student marketability in entering graduate schools or beginning careers upon graduation from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Priority was given to minority undergraduate students majoring in Geology, Geography, Environmental Science, or MDS, but non-minority and women students were also encouraged to apply.

Management Committee

• Dr. Hongjie Xie (PI), The University of Texas at San Antonio
• Dr. G. Randy Keller, The University of Texas at El Paso
• Dr. Marius Necsoiu, Southwest Research Institute
• Dr. Cesar Ocampo, The University of Texas at Austin
• Dr. Le Wang, Texas State University

funding provided by

partners