Astronomy program seeks to increase diversity

The UW is offering a unique new major for undergraduates interested in science. The Pre-Major in astronomy program (Pre-MAP) is part of the UW astronomy department and was introduced in autumn 2005.

Pre-MAP is geared toward getting groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the sciences into a science field (the program broadly defines "underrepresented groups" as women, ethnic minorities and first-generation college students).

This is part of a nationwide move by higher learning institutes to increase diversity within mathematical and scientific fields.

According to recent studies by the National Science Foundation (NSF), minorities [HTML_REMOVED] particularly African Americans and Native Americans [HTML_REMOVED] remain grossly under-represented in math and science fields, both in academia and in the workforce.

Similar studies by the NSF found that women constitute half the work force but only one-fifth of science or technical jobs.

Stephanie Gogarten, one of the grad students running Pre-MAP, said getting under-represented groups into the sciences poses some considerable challenges.

"For underrepresented groups, especially first-generation college students, there is often a lot of family pressure to go into something like business, because people don't see going into science as valuable or as an economically viable option," she said.

This problem of perception is compounded by weak math and science programs in public schools, so incoming freshman often don't have the background they need to succeed in college-level science programs.

The Pre-MAP program tries to combat these challenges by working directly with organizations and public schools to recruit potential students early on. Furthermore, the program is structured around a community-based learning environment.

The Pre-MAP program is small (currently only 11 students) and run by grad students who act as mentors. This means students get a lot of attention and advice.

"We try to keep the program small, so students don't get lost in a big crowd," Gogarten said.

She said there are definite benefits to a program run by grad students.

"Faculty members are super-busy," she said. "Grad students have more time."

Daryl Haggard, another grad student and the program's director, said she agrees that the attention given to students on an individual, mentor-style basis distinguishes Pre-MAP from other undergraduate programs.

"Students develop immediate, long-lasting relationships with the faculty," she said. "We combine intellectual stimulation and research opportunities with a mentoring community where we really support students."

Another mission of the program is to provide an opportunity for undergraduate freshmen to do real research with the newest technology.

Over the past year, students in the Pre-MAP program got to experiment with a digital sky survey telescope to hunt for supernovas and use a galaxy-simulation program to test the properties and laws of galaxies.

"The unique thing about this program is that it gets incoming freshman involved in research right away," Haggard said. "The students get to do research and it isn't on a toy problem, it's not a lab where the professor already knows the answer. It's real research with cutting-edge technology [HTML_REMOVED] you know, actual cool science."

The program is expanding, too [HTML_REMOVED]the academic outline was re-approved by the University this year, and the Pre-MAP faculty members are in the midst of applying for a $2 million grant from the NSF to build upon their program model. Haggard said she is confident that Pre-MAP will be a success story and maybe inspire similar programs.

"It's such a good model to get freshman into the sciences," she said. "We hope to see more students take this opportunity."

Reporter Siv Prince: news@thedaily.washington.edu