Overview
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) Climate Studies Diversity Project, funded primarily by NSF, leverages resources from NOAA, NASA, and academic and non-profit partners to build climate education capacity at minority serving institutions (MSIs). Through a five-day professional development workshop, the project trains MSI faculty to implement the introductory-level AMS Climate Studies course at their institutions. The workshop is designed for faculty both with and without previous Earth science teaching experience. Participants are immersed in the course materials and, by the end of the workshop, demonstrate the ability to interpret and analyze climate data acquired through direct observations and remote sensing; an understanding of climate from a dynamic, Earth system perspective; and an understanding of the course delivery system and a variety of implementation strategies. Workshops began in 2012 and are held annually, reaching ~25 faculty members each round.

Research and Societally Relevant Outcomes
The United States faces a serious challenge in attracting young people, and especially members of underrepresented groups, to Earth science careers (including teaching), in part because of limited opportunities to enroll in introductory-level courses. The AMS Climate Studies Diversity Project helps to address this problem by enhancing climate science learning opportunities for both educators and students, and has already led to the implementation of the AMS Climate Studies course at 52 MSIs.

Engagement with the project continues after the workshop and extends beyond the implementation of the course: participants share best-practice strategies learned from teaching the AMS Climate Studies course with their professional community, and engage in a network connecting students with scientists for internships, research, and career counseling. Participants also receive support to attend the AMS Annual Meeting, where they present their progress at the Education Symposium.

The following link provides more information:
ametsoc.org/amsedu/online/climateinfo/diversity.html