257-1 Building Career Readiness in Geosciences: A Student Perspective on the LET’S GEO Program

Session: Diversifying Geoscience Education Across the Academic Playing Field: Using Creative Methods to Foster the Current and Next Generations of Geoscience Professionals (Posters)

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Abstract:

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Department of Geosciences developed a career-readiness program called LET’S GEO (Learning Ecosystems for Training Students for Geoscience Employment Opportunities) to connect undergraduate and graduate students with geoscience professionals through a variety of career-building activities. The primary goal of LET’S GEO is to enhance student preparedness for the workforce by bridging the gap between academic training and professional expectations. Students can participate in a range of LET’S GEO activities, including a directed mentorship program, short courses covering career related topics, invited talks by non-academic geoscientists, and subsidies to attend career events at professional meetings.

As a master’s student, I have participated in multiple program components and can offer the student perspective on their impact. Through LET’S GEO, I attended the North-Central GSA meeting career events, earned 40-hr HAZWOPER training and completed a short course on environmental regulations. The mentor program pairs students with professionals in industries that align with their career goals. I was paired with a geologist in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula due to my interest in the mining industry and goal to work in the region. This connection broadened my professional network and helped me gain insight into career opportunities, particularly within state agencies.  

LET’S GEO also supported students’ attendance at GSA career workshops, allowing them to apply the skills they learned from their mentorships. These workshops highlighted the value of passing the Fundamentals of Geology Exam and the importance of preparedness, adaptability and resourcefulness in your career. Additionally, LET’S GEO offered three short courses developed with input from geoscience professionals targeting skill gaps identified in early-career employees. One of the short courses focused on state, federal and international regulations, through which I learned the most important skill is to know how and where to find needed regulations. Two other courses focused on survey of geoscience careers, and writing and speaking professionally as a geoscientist. The LET’S GEO program allowed me to earn training that gives me an advantage for hiring and gain valuable insight into my desired industry before entering the workforce. Participation in this program has added value to my graduate student experience and allow me to be more prepared to enter the workforce upon completion of my master’s degree.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

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