The first cohort of students in the GEOPAths Go Jamaica project visited Jamaica from July 17 to August 11, 2024. The 3-year project, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF – USA), is aimed at introducing US-based undergraduate students to geoscience research centred on building an Earth Science Learning Ecosystem in Jamaica and at UT Austin. The GEOPAths Go Jamaica team includes local and US-based researchers (mentors) and postgraduate students (near-peer mentors). The first cohort comprised six undergraduate students from The University of Texas at Austin, Howard University, Middle Tennessee State University and Occidental College. The students participated in field research in the East Portland Special Fishery Conservation Area during the first half of their experience, then conducted chemical analyses on water samples collected at the Water Research Laboratory, Chemistry Department. Principal Investigators: Drs. Rowan Martindale, Melissa Kemp, Ashley Matheny, Leah Turner (The University of Texas at Austin), Debbie-Ann Gordon-Smith, Thomas Stemann, Sherene James-Williamson (The University of the West Indies), Isaiah Bolden (Georgia Institute of Technology) and Ms. Denise Henry (Alligator Head Foundation). Pearl Bergan and Matthew Rahamut, postgraduate students in Chemistry and Geography and Geology Departments, also participated as near-peer mentors. Visit the GEOPAths Go Jamaica website: https://www.jsg.utexas.edu/geopathsgojamaica. 

Photo caption:  GEOPaths Go Jamaica Participants, 2024.

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