April 2009 News Release
Contact:
Miriam Kojnok
MentorNet
408.296.4405
info@mentornet.net
FOR RELEASE April 15, 2009
NSF AWARDS MENTORNET $150,000 TWO-YEAR GRANT TO EXTEND MENTORING TO GEOSCIENCES
(San José, CA) – At a time when there is more focus than ever on understanding the Earth and its future impact on sustaining human life, the need for strong and diverse talent in the geosciences is more crucial than ever. And one of the most effective ways to get and keep talent in the pipeline is through sustained mentoring of students on campuses.
To this end, the National Science Foundation has awarded MentorNet, a San José non-profit organization, a $150,000 two-year grant to target the geosciences with its award-winning e-mentoring services. MentorNet matches protégés studying engineering and science on over 100 college and university campuses throughout the U.S. with professionals from over 1000 employers, including corporations, government labs, and in academia over the Internet. After a match is made, MentorNet guides their one-on-one relationship by email.
"MentorNet has a long track record of guiding and retaining women and minorities in engineering, science and related fields through our programs," noted David Porush, MentorNet CEO. "Bringing our experience and services to geosciences to expand the pool of talent is a wonderful extension of our mission. We're grateful to the NSF for their recognition of the value of what we do and their support of this effort."
Dr. Mary Lou Zoback is one of the principal investigators on the project. Dr. Zoback is former Chief Scientist of the USGS Earthquake Hazards team in Menlo Park, CA and Vice President, Earthquake Risk Applications with Risk Management Solutions in Newark, CA.
With this grant, MentorNet will seek to forge partnerships with campuses that have reputable programs in geosciences, and with companies, including the energy giants and utilities that rely strongly on geological sciences and engineering, and with major geosciences organizations such as the American Geophysical Union that represent tens of thousands of geoscientists. "Over time, the relationships we create and guide often lead to the mentee going to work for the mentor's company," Porush said. "While we target women and minorities, our program is open to anyone on our partner campuses, so the result is a powerful recruitment tool for the companies who work with us, especially those seeking to diversify their workforce."
About MentorNet - www.MentorNet.net/mentor
MentorNet, headquartered in San José, California, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization working to further the progress of women and others underrepresented in scientific and technical fields through the use of a dynamic, technology-supported mentoring network. MentorNet aims to advance individuals and society, and enhance engineering and related sciences, by promoting a diversified, expanded and talented global workforce. In partnership with colleges and universities, corporations, government labs and agencies, and professional societies. MentorNet was recognized in 2001 with the (U.S.) Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring and in 2004 with the Cisco Grand Prize of Educational Engineering. Major funding is provided by IBM, Intel Foundation, Texas Instruments, Cisco Systems, 3M Foundation, the Alcoa Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.