Two Decades Supporting Diverse Students in Aquatic Sciences: Evaluation of the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography Multicultural Program (ASLOMP)

For almost 24 years, the National Science Foundation has funded the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography Multicultural Program (ASLOMP). The program’s goal is to encourage interested under-represented minorityundergraduate and graduate students to pursue a career in aquatic sciences, which includes oceanography, limnology, stream ecology, marine biology, fisheries, and other subfields. In 2011, AIR began an evaluation of ASLOMP. Through a survey of former participants, the evaluation seeks to answer basic questions about the participants, their experiences in ASLOMP, and their education and career outcomes.

The authors found that ASLOMP participants felt they derived benefits from their participation. Participants typically attained postsecondary degrees in the aquatic sciences or STEM fields and were generally employed in aquatic sciences or STEM careers. However, further research is needed to determine the extent to which ASLOMP influences or causes these outcomes.