The Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success (MSPHD) in Earth System Science initiative was developed by and for underrepresented minorities with the overall purpose of facilitating our increased participation in Earth system science. The Professional Development Program will engage 30 minority undergraduate and graduate student participants in a series of activities (conducted in three phases) designed to: * Increase exposure to the Earth system science community, via participation in scientific conferences, mentoring relationships, virtual activities, and fieldtrips * Enhance professional skills, grantmanship, oral and written communication * Provide resources regarding future funding, education and career opportunities * Facilitate networking opportunities with established researchers and educators * Provide on-going interaction, communication and support via membership within a virtual community comprised of peers, junior- and senior-level researchers, and educators committed to facilitating the full participation of minorities in Earth system science. Phase I – Student participant and mentor partnership orientation, initial mentor-mentee partners’ interactions, networking, professional development, broad Earth system science and engineering exposure and MS PHD’S community building activities will occur during Phase I. This phase will occur during the Fall American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco, CA. Phase II – Participants will engage in additional Earth system science and engineering exposure, mentor-mentee interaction, networking and professional development activities at one of the MS PHD'S Organizational Partners' meetings ( American Geophysical Union, American Meteorological Society, American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, National Association of Black Geologist and Geophysicists, Joint Oceanographic Institutions, Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry (OCB) program, On the Cutting Edge Professional Development for Geoscience Faculty program, and The Oceanography Society). Each participant will attend the meeting that most closely aligns with his or her specific academic and professional interests. Phase III – The final phase includes ‘capstone’ activities, which will occur at the National Academies in Washington, D.C. During Phase III, participants will engage in a series of brownbag discussions, government agency visits, and dialogs with professional society and foundation representatives. In addition to these activities, each student participant will also receive a scholarship award of up to $1,000.00 and participate in a tour of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center facilities. At the conclusion of the MS PHD’S in Earth System Science Initiative’s Professional Development Program, it is anticipated that the student participants will be better prepared to achieve their academic and professional goals. It is also expected that as a result of mentor-mentee partnerships, science exposure, and networking activities, these individuals will remain actively engaged in their fields of specialization and respective professional societies. The applications will be available late summer 2008 to start in fall 2008. Please go to http://www.msphds.org/index.html For more information, please contact Aixa Aleman-Diaz MSPHD Alumni 2006-08 aixa.maricelis@gmail.com