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The SCA and AmeriCorps: The Internship That Changed My Career

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Part 2 of the SCA and AmeriCorps Internship Series Why the SCA and Americorps Matter The SCA and AmeriCorps (Student Conservation Association) are more than volunteer organizations. Each internship contributes to preserving our natural resources, historic sites, ecosystems, wildlife, and marine environments. Federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and graduate advisors recognize the value of this experience […]

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GIS Is Becoming a Standard Expectation

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GIS is becoming a standard expectation across the geosciences. Over the past few decades, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have evolved from a specialized technical skill into one of the most valuable tools available to geoscientists. What was once considered an advantage on a résumé is increasingly becoming a baseline expectation for graduates entering the workforce.

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Is a Geology Degree Worth It in 2026?

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So much has changed in the past few years. Higher education has become more expensive, the job market continues to evolve, and artificial intelligence is reshaping industries at a pace few could have predicted. It’s understandable that prospective students are asking a simple but important question: Is a geology degree still worth the investment? Is

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How Nontraditional STEM Students Can Find Funding

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The Financial Reality of Returning to STEM Tuition at colleges and universities has increased dramatically over the past few decades for STEM students. As funding for public education shifts and younger generations continue to face rising costs, higher education becomes increasingly difficult to access for people of all ages. For returning adult students, the challenge

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The Unknown by Christopher D Smith

The Unknown: STEM? It’s About Being There

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I was invited to an IVY Tech Community College- Lake County STEM Club meeting, where I presented “The Unknown”. The objective was to do an outreach/ informational presentation focused on internships, research, and pathways into science through hands-on experience. This presentation explored the role of uncertainty, field experience, and learning through action in STEM. Rather

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The Hidden Challenges Facing Non-Traditional STEM Students

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Oftentimes, the non-traditional STEM students isn’t part of the conversation. The world has changed, and how we think about college students needs to change with it. When many people picture a college student, they imagine someone in their late teens or early twenties moving between classrooms, studying late into the night, and slowly figuring out

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