Synthesis of education programs, scholarship, loan, and internship opportunities available to assist in increasing the number of minorities working in fisheries and marine sciences

"The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a long history of fostering minority development in the sciences and increasing minority participation in marine, environmental and atmospheric sciences. Cullenberg and Garza (2006. Increasing the number of Alaska Natives and Rural Alaskans working in fisheries and marine sciences: Review and recommendations). Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks ... evaluating the need to increase the participation of Alaska Natives and Rural Alaskans in the marine and fisheries sciences, identified seven impediments to this effort, most of which apply to minorities in general: (1) little or no exposure to these fields while in middle school and high school; (2) limited or lack of strong science and math classes at the high school level; (3) lack of a dedicated marine science pathway to college; (4) lack of retention programs for minorities at the college level; (5) poor linkages between education, funding, internships and employers; (6) different cultural learning styles by Alaska Native students; (7) relevance of current teaching materials to Native and rural Alaska students"--Introduction. Gordon W. Thayer, Paula Cullenberg and Dolly Garza. "March 2007."