The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Chesapeake Bay office is working to incorporate more inclusive and diverse programs to "more fully represent the communities that we serve," the organization said in an April 1 news release.
NOAA Fisheries offers internships for people of color and/or first-generation college students through the C-StREAM program with Chesapeake Research Consortium, according to the release. This helps to create a more equitable workforce. The agency recruits, advises and mentors college students from populations that have been underrepresented in environmental research and management professions.
“Incorporating more diverse voices broadens our knowledge and perspective and ultimately makes our work better,” NOAA said. “To support this vision, we are making changes in how we work in order to increase the diversity of the people, places and programs we work with.”
To accomplish this, NOAA Fisheries is expanding its applicant pool by actively pursuing applicants from educational institutions serving people of color and underserved communities, the release said. Projects are being selected to educate and employ both undergraduate and graduate students from groups underrepresented in marine science careers.
NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay-Watershed Education and Training funds environmental education experiences for K-12 students and teachers. It engages with youth primarily through NOAA B-WET, according to the release.
Diversity, equity, inclusion and justice considerations are put into all projects, NOAA reported.
