Influence of Experience and Risk With Natural Hazards on Geoscience Interest and Career Expectations
Date of Award
8-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Engineering and Science Education
Committee Chair/Advisor
Dr. Kelly Best Lazar
Committee Member
Dr. Matthew Boyer
Committee Member
Dr. Lisa Benson
Committee Member
Dr. Emily Scribner
Abstract
Understanding student interest in geoscience is important, as it has the potential to inform departmental decisions such as the selection of classroom examples and marketing strategies to attract new geoscience majors. Recruitment to geoscience is critical to address future social and environmental challenges. Our work may also provide insight into how to approach persistent recruitment problems within departments, such as student enrollment and the lack of diversity within the geosciences. This work involves developing a geoscience interest scale, integrating geospatial and educational data sets related to hazard risk and interest, and an exploring career motivations as related to natural hazard risks and experiences. We found that students’ geoscience interest is related to some natural hazard experiences, students have an interest in the connections between social and environmental systems, and that students in introductory courses may have global, altruistic career goals. Our work aims to further understand ways in which interest develops, particularly in relation to natural hazards, and how that interest impacts students’ choices in their career pursuits. Developing an understanding of what drives student interest is important in supporting our students to achieve their goals through their academic and future careers.
Recommended Citation
Conner, Shannon, "Influence of Experience and Risk With Natural Hazards on Geoscience Interest and Career Expectations" (2025). All Dissertations. 3998.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/3998
Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1162-1756