AGU Bridge Program
The AGU Bridge Program offers students from historically marginalized populations the opportunity to attend institutions that are interested in supporting the continuation of their academic education in geoscience Master’s and Ph.D. programs.
AGU Bridge Program
The Bridge Program increases opportunities for students from historically marginalized populations to obtain graduate degrees in the geosciences and create a network of peers, mentors, and advisers to support and serve them before, during and after grad school. The program is open to those who have not applied to graduate school or applicants who applied to one or more geoscience graduate programs but did not accept an offer or commit to a specific department/program in the current academic year.
As part of the Inclusive Graduate Education Network (IGEN), the Bridge Program has defined standards for recruiting, admitting and retaining students and to develop, adopt and share the best inclusive practices. AGU works as a community with this national network to provide opportunities for students and participating institutions. Download our flyer and learn more.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants Nos. 1834540, 1834545, 1834528 and 1834516. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Now accepting student applications!
Interested students should visit the “Student Benefits & Application” tab below for details. Application deadline is 15 March.
Apply NowAGU Bridge Program Partner Institutions
The AGU Bridge Program is an asset to geoscience departments seeking to promote equity within their graduate programs and within the larger geoscience community. By working together, we can create a more welcoming environment in the Earth and space sciences for everyone.
Congratulations to the five departments selected for partnership in 2022: California State University, Chico, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences; University of Alaska Fairbanks, Department of Geosciences; University of Illinois Chicago, Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences; University of Texas at Austin, Jackson School of Geoscience, Department of Geological Sciences; and William & Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, School of Marine Science.
The five (5) partners selected in 2022 join the existing cohort of 46 partner departments selected from 2019-2021.
Colors represent the year an institution became a partner
Blue pin – 2019
Green pin – 2020
Purple pin – 2021
AGU Bridge Program Partner Benefits
Access to the AGU Bridge Program student applicant database.
Recognition by AGU of the department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the Earth and space sciences.
Recommendation of the department’s supportive post-baccalaureate educational environment to prospective and current Bridge Program students, applicants from historically marginalized backgrounds, and others.
Secure a five-year partnership with the potential to renew.
In addition to the benefits listed above, Bridge Program Partners will also receive access to AGU Bridge Program staff, veteran Bridge Program Partners, and other subject matter experts to provide resources and strategies for supporting historically marginalized students in graduate programs.
Application for Bridge Program Partner
AGU is focused on nurturing a positive culture that supports diversity as well as continued education in geosciences. When departments are accepted as an AGU Bridge Program Partner, they are committing to building and maintaining an inclusive and equitable community within their department and our larger geosciences community thereby increasing diversity within the Earth and space sciences. By working together, we will create a more welcoming environment in the Earth and space sciences for everyone.
We encourage graduate programs that have demonstrated a commitment to working with students from historically marginalized communities and supporting students from such communities as graduate scholars to join the Bridge Program as a Partner Department. The application is free. Applicants must be U.S. based institutions that grant a master’s or doctoral degree in geosciences.
AGU Bridge partner proposals are reviewed annually. A request for proposals opens in June and closes 8 October. Please refer to the 2022 request for proposal instructions 
. Additional instruction on how to submit your application using the online submission platform is available here .
Review the attached Bridge Program Dos and Don’ts for tips on how to submit a successful AGU Bridge partner proposal.
Please reach out to Bridge Program staff at [email protected] with any questions.
Information for interested applicants
Interested in applying to graduate school in the geosciences? Apply through the AGU Bridge Program!
The AGU Bridge Program seeks to recruit and retain students from historically marginalized backgrounds into geoscience graduate programs around the country. Interested applicants can apply using a single, free application to be considered for graduate school admission by our 45+ partner geoscience departments. Our partners are committed to adopting best practices in admissions and retention of students and are striving to improve the geoscience education experience for all students. Students identifying as Hispanic, Black/African-American, American Indian, Pacific Islander, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian are encouraged to apply.
AGU Bridge Program partner departments review AGU Bridge applications each spring and may extend offers of admission to their graduate programs to interested applicants. Students who choose to enroll in graduate school via the AGU Bridge Program are automatically enrolled as program participants with AGU. Offers of admission are not guaranteed and interested applicants should review the various eligibility criteria of some of our partner programs to understand which advanced undergraduate coursework may be required. This may include courses in advanced calculus, math, or other related geoscience coursework. Students without an undergraduate degree in the geosciences should use the application to speak to how their studies have prepared them to successfully pursue a graduate degree in the geosciences.
Eligibility requirements
The Bridge Program application is open to applicants who did not apply to a geoscience graduate program, or, applicants who applied to one or more geoscience graduate programs, but did not accept an offer or commit to a specific department/program in the current academic year. If applicants are waiting to be notified about acceptance into a graduate school program, they should still apply for the AGU Bridge Program.
Successful applicants to the AGU Bridge Program must meet the following criteria:
Attain a bachelor’s or master’s degree in geoscience or a closely related discipline by the time they would enter the AGU Bridge Program.
Satisfy additional requirements of individual Bridge Program departments. Departments have different requirements and applicants may be asked to submit additional materials if admitted to programs that require them. Applicants are encouraged to ask departments about any additional requirements during the interview/contact period in the spring.
Students who identify with the following historically marginalized identities are encouraged to apply: Hispanic, Black/African American, American Indian, Pacific Islander, Alaskan Native or Native Hawaiian.
Be a U.S. citizen, permanent U.S. resident cardholder, or have current enrollment in the DACA program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are students that have already attained a master's degree still eligible to apply to the AGU Bridge Program?
Yes, you are eligible to apply for the AGU Bridge Program even if you have already attained a master’s degree. The eligibility requirements state that applicants have obtained a bachelor’s or master’s degree in geoscience or a closely related discipline by the time they would enter the AGU Bridge Program. Note that students who have already attained a master’s degree in the geosciences must meet all other eligibility requirements, including not accepting an offer or committing to a specific department/program in the current academic year.
Do students receive stipends if accepted into a program and if so, in what amount?
The AGU Bridge Program does not presently offer funding to successful applicants nor to participating institutions, however, these institutions typically offer financial support, typically comparable or identical to stipends received by other graduate students at the institution. Once students receive graduate program offers, students should consider whether the offered financial support is sufficient for their needs.
Are women specifically included as a historically marginalized identity?
While women of all racial and ethnic groups have been historically marginalized in the geosciences and many other STEM fields, the specific focus of the AGU Bridge Program is to increase the number of graduate degrees awarded to individuals identifying as Hispanic, Black/African American, American Indian, Pacific Islander, Alaskan Native or Native Hawaiian, regardless of gender. Anyone is welcome to apply to the Bridge Program and students who identify with the above, listed identities are especially encouraged to apply to the Bridge Program.
What are some potential career paths I can pursue with a graduate degree in the geosciences?
A graduate degree in the geosciences opens the door to a number of potential career paths! While some students may continue a career in academia, most graduates will go on to careers outside of academia spanning a diverse array of fields including careers in industry, government, and non-profit organizations. For more information on geoscience careers outside academia, explore the resources from this link: https://www.grow-geocareers.com/
Deadlines to Remember
15 March
Deadline for all application materials.
Applicants must submit their applications by the 15 March, 2023 deadline.
April - May
Applicant interviews and offers
April - May
Completed applications and submitted recommendation letters will be reviewed by AGU Bridge partner departments. Departments will contact applicants to schedule interviews during a specific window of time (dates vary slightly each year but typically the interview window begins in mid-April). After the interview period has closed, departments send out offers of admission to students on specific offer dates (dates vary slightly each year but generally begin in April and close in May). Offers of admission will be sent directly from partner department faculty/staff to applicants. Applicants will be given a deadline to accept or decline any offer of admission.
After submitting an application, it is vital to consistently check the email listed on the submitted Bridge application. If using a school email on your application, be sure to confirm that this email will continue to be viable after graduation.
The official application review and offer period closes in May and this is when most offers are sent, however, some departments may continue to make a limited number of offers for fall enrollment throughout the summer. Accepted AGU Bridge Fellows are onboarded into the program in July.
Learn more about mentoring, inclusive practices, advancing equity in the geosciences and how you can get involved.
General Resources
- AGU Ethics & Equity Center curates and shares resources, including workshops and trainings, for cultivating a diverse, equitable and inclusive scientific community in the Earth and space sciences.
- National Association of Geoscience Teachers DEI Resources from the NAGT Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, is a compiled list of organizations, guides, reading materials, and various media about DEI practices in higher education.
DEI in Geosciences Data, Statistics, and Reports
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Data & Statistics
- Geoscience Numbers, Equity in Graduate Education (a collaboration between IGEN and the California Consortium for Inclusive Doctoral Education (CCIDE) project) gathered data regarding the representation of historically marginalized students in the Geosciences (Numbers, Data on general STEM)
- Diversity in Geosciences, from the American Geosciences Institute, shows demographic data in the geosciences from higher education to the workforce
- No progress on diversity in 40 years Bernard, R.E., Cooperdock, E.H.G, a published paper on demographics and diversity in geoscience doctorate programs over the last 40 years
Reports and Articles on DEI in STEM/Geoscience
- Race and racism in the geosciences a published article in Nature from Kuheli Dutt on racism, bias, and individual responsibility
- Moving Beyond the Business Case for Diversity EOS article by Rebecca Haacker, Melissa Burt and Marissa Vara on reframing equity for equity and individual sake instead business and productivity
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Earth and Space Sciences. Special issue of AGU Advances including multiple published papers on trends, climate, call to actions, and best practices/guides
Where to Start
How Departments & Institutions Can Get Started
- FAQ of Doctoral Education from IGEN Research Hub, contains quick information on diversity in science, best admission practices, and impacts of the Bridge programs
- An actionable anti-racism plan for geoscience organizations by Ali, H.N., Sheffield, S.L., Bauer, J.E. et al. On systemic racism in the geosciences and how to combat it.
- To GRE or not to GRE: FAQ questions, answers, and cited sources on using the GRE in graduate school admissions. Also read GRE in Geosciences Nature articles - discusses current perspectives in the geosciences - and #GeoGRExit EOS article on why programs are dropping the GRE
- Highlighting altruism in geoscience careers aligns with diverse US student ideals better than emphasizing working outdoors published article from Carter, S.C., Griffith, E.M., Jorgensen, T.A. et al. on reframing to increase diverse recruitment and interest in the geosciences
- Fisk-Vanderbilt Master’s-to-PhD Bridge Program Toolkit compiled their lessons learned, strategies, and tools to inspire and provide concrete guidance for other practitioners in the field seeking to develop similar programs. To access these resources, you must fill out their form.
Mentoring Centers
- Mentoring365 is a safe virtual mentoring platform for those interested in the Earth and space sciences (ESS) community. You can become a mentor or mentee, no matter your expertise, interest or location, and connect with others to help with career search, skills, exploration, and navigation. (Mentors/Mentees)
- Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) (IGEN partner) develops, implements and studies evidence-based and culturally aware trainings, facilitations and communities for research mentoring relationships. (Mentors)
- The Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM Online Guide from National Academy Of Sciences with resources, tips, and tools on effective mentorship (Mentors)
Student & Faculty Relationships
- Equitable Practices For Writing, Reading, And Soliciting Letters Of Recommendation, a guide from Equity in Graduate Education University of Southern California (Mentors/Mentees)
- Writing Reference Letters for People With Disabilities, authored by Michelle Cooke, University of Massachusetts Amherst, AGU Bridge Partner department (Mentors/Mentees)
- Resources for Supporting Graduate Student Wellbeing, from IGEN Research Hub, a curated list of mental health and wellness resources (Mentees/Mentors)
Best Practices for Faculty
- Toilet stops in the field: An educational primer and recommended best practices for field-based teaching published article from University of Birmingham Earth Sciences Department professors, for more Field-based teaching tips check out Ten Steps to Protect BIPOC Scholars in the Field - Eos By J. Anadu, H. Ali and C. Jackson
- Ten simple rules for building an antiracist lab published article from Chaudhary VB, Berhe AA, who further discuss this in Building Antiracist Spaces in Your Department a free online webinar from AGU Heads and Chairs program and the American Geosciences Institute
Affinity Groups
Learn about some of the affinity groups in geosciences. Click on the links to get involved and learn more.
- 500 Queer Scientists
- 500 Women Scientists
- American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
- Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Geosciences (AAPIiG)
- Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG)
- Black In Geoscience (BiG)
- Black in Marine Sciences (BiMS)
- Black Women in Ecology, Evolution and Marine Sciences (BWEEMS)
- Earth Science Women's Network (ESWN)
- GeoLatinas
- Geoscience Alliance (GA)
- Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success in Earth System Science (MS PHD’S®)
- National Association for Black Geoscientists (NABG)
- National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals (NOGLSTP)
- Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
- Society Of Latinos/Hispanics in Earth and Space Science (SOLESS)
- Society of Exploration Geophysists (SEG) Women’s Network (SEGWN)
- Women of color and non-binary people of color in ecology, evolutionary biology, and allied fields (WOCinEEB)
The AGU Bridge Program is part of the Inclusive Graduate Education Network (IGEN), a partnership of over 30 societies, institutions, organizations, corporations, and national laboratories. Learn more about the network and other partner institutions through IGEN’s Partner page. This work is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants Nos. 1834540, 1834545, 1834528 and 1834516.
Fellows
First Year PhD Student in California
| Bridge Fellow[The Bridge Program is ] a huge influence on my career, I ended up studying the topic I do because of meeting my advisor through the Bridge Program.
[I would recommend this program to other students in the future because ] It’s a great way to explore new opportunities and avenues!
First Year PhD Student in Northeastern United States
| Bridge Fellow[I would recommend it because ] This program will help improve diversity.
First Year PhD Student in California
| Bridge Fellow[The Bridge Program ] has played a defining role in my career... I have my dream job working as researcher.
I would absolutely recommend the bridge program to any one who is interested and motivated to pursue a PhD or masters. The program has shown they truly care about our success and make us part of a community that is committed to our success.
Partners
Dr. John Gierke, Michigan Technological University
| Bridge Partner
Dr. Steven Lower, Ohio State University
| Bridge PartnerThe AGU Bridge helped us do a better job recruiting (minoritized students) in the regular admission window.
The AGU Bridge Program is helping to boost diversity even when students don't come directly through the Bridge program.
Dr. Oliver Timm, University at Albany
| Bridge Partner
Dr. Nievita Bueno Watts, Humboldt State University
| Bridge PartnerContacts
