RT Journal Article ID 590bac3711e267d8 A1 McCallum, Carmen A1 Libarkin, Julie A1 Callahan, Caitlin A1 Atchison, Christopher T1 MENTORING, SOCIAL CAPITAL, AND DIVERSITY IN EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE JF Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering JO JWM YR 2018 FD 2018-04-13 VO 24 IS 1 SP 17 OP 41 K1 mentoring K1 diversity K1 earth system science K1 STEM bottom of form AB Mentoring relationships are crucial in the development of student scientists. The purpose of this study was to identify the role of mentors in supporting career satisfaction among students in Earth System Sciences (ESS). Attendees of a national conference for Earth Sciences completed an anonymous survey with questions regarding experiences with an academic mentor, a sense of belonging in the community, and career satisfaction. Responses from a total of 192 undergraduate and graduate students were used for confirmatory factor analysis of three separate scales: Trust in Mentor, Sense of Belonging, and Career Satisfaction. Linear regression yielded different models for the relative importance of these three scales on career satisfaction for members of underrepresented groups in ESS, for women, and for all participants. Qualitative data from surveys supported major findings of quantitative analyses: levels of trust in mentor as well as having a sense of belonging contributed to career satisfaction; for members of underrepresented groups, mentoring may be especially significant. An implication from these results is that programs aimed at supporting diversity in ESS can benefit from developing trust between mentors and students. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/00551c876cc2f027,5495db3154115a2d,590bac3711e267d8.html