About Us

GeoFORCE is a free youth education outreach program for high school students across Texas. The Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas created GeoFORCE to identify and develop the next generation of STEM leadership for discovery, research, and management of energy, minerals, water, the environment, and natural hazards for the benefit of society.

Each summer GeoFORCE Texas takes over 400 high school students on awe-inspiring geological field trips in Texas and throughout the United States. Taught by university faculty, research scientists, and area educators and mentored by professional geologists from our industry partners, the trips engage and empower students by exposing them to something completely different than their home and school environment.

GeoFORCE Texas believes that the world’s greatest resource is its young people and that the high achievers among them have a right to recognition and personal development. The purpose of GeoFORCE Texas is to inspire the next generation of geoscientists and create an increased awareness of the importance of geosciences. Student learning is achieved by providing interactive opportunities for critical thinking through hands-on field experiences and coursework. GeoFORCE Texas encourages individual social responsibility among individuals and lays the groundwork for intelligent decision-making in the future.

Methodology

1. Identify at an early age (eighth grade) students who show an interest in STEM and engage them over four years.
2. Present students with opportunities to experience the excitement of science outside the classroom through awe-inspiring summer field trips each year of the four years they are involved in the program.
3. Provide the students with examples of exciting careers that await those who stay the course and obtain degrees in STEM.
4. Continue to motivate and monitor participating students each year of high school, through college, and into their early careers.

In March 2015 President Barack Obama awarded GeoFORCE Texas the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). The White House awards the recognition to individuals and organizations whose crucial goal is to provide mentoring in the personal and academic development of students actively studying science and math.  A White House press release and a UT Austin press release are available for more information.

The GeoFORCE Texas program does not give preference on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin to an applicant or participant, and evaluates students based on their interest in STEM and the geosciences.