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This project engages elementary school students, parents, teachers, and administrators in ocean-themed family science nights based on a proven model. Our key goals are to: (1) educate participants about ocean and earth science issues that are relevant to their communities; and (2) inspire more underrepresented students, including Native Hawaiians, Filipinos, Pacific Islanders, and girls, to pursue careers in the ocean and earth sciences. Hawaii, the Pacific Islands, and Pacific Rim nations will be disproportionately affected by the impacts of global climate change, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion, coral reef degradation, and ocean acidification. Therefore, it is essential to train local geoscientists in these communities. Although designed for Hawaii's students in grades 3-6 and their families, this ocean-themed program can be effective with a range of audiences.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs have been shown to be effective mechanisms to recruit undergraduate students into the sciences and also to retain them, especially as related to underrepresented students. Academic-year REU programs have numerous benefits, including participation in longer-term research projects that allow more time to digest material, develop skills, and draw connections with coursework. This paper describes an academic-year REU program targeted at underrepresented students within the University of Hawaii system, shows how it is aligned with best practices for broadening participation, and presents evaluation results. (Contains 5 tables and 1 figure.)

The article offers information on a pilot course offered in Hawaii for professional development which is highly required for graduate education. Topics discussed include providing expert training for evaluation of student learning, experience working with volunteer organizations and enhancing ability for handling multiple tasks simultaneously.