Enhancing Scientific Literacy Through Environmental Science: Developing Scientists and Citizens

Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry, Syracuse NY

Investigators

Abstract

Graduate and Undergraduate Fellows are working directly with Teachers drawn from 13 participating Environmental Science and Forestry in the High School schools to cooperatively lead course-specific, co-curricular and inter-school environmental science classroom, laboratory, and field experiences. In addition they are helping organize a district-wide 7th/8th grade science fair (The Environmental Challenge) and a 13-high school student science research symposium (The Environmental Summit) as two specific synthesizing events. Formative evaluation information is being collected and used to monitor, take corrective actions as necessary, and ensure the project achieves four outcomes: improved Fellow communication and teaching-related skills; teacher content gain and professional development; enriched student science learning; and strengthened school/college partnerships The project uses specific instructional and professional development activities to present environmental science themes such as sustainability, human population growth, a global perspective, the urban environment, and ethics. As examples: the Onondaga Lake Ecosystem Study provides a setting for study of a severely polluted urban lake and its restoration/recovery plan; the Onondaga City Park landscape frames vital issues of urban ecosystem biodiversity, land use and sustainability; and the Adirondack Highlands Regional Ecosystem Study offers opportunities for learning about the globally significant phenomenon of ecological impacts of chronic atmospheric deposition on aquatic and terrestrial communities and projected recovery as Clean Air Act emissions reductions are implemented. The broader impacts of the project include the widely diverse audience in the schools served; the Syracuse City School District with 25,000 students is one of New York State's "Big Five" urban school districts, while the additional partnering school districts represent a rich mix of suburban and rural characteristics. This project is partially supported from funds from the Directorate for Biological Siences. Project Title: Enhancing Scientific Literacy Through Environmental Science: Developing Scientists and Citizens Institution: State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) PI/co-PI: Dudley J. Raynal, Charles Spuches, Richard Beal, (SUNY) and Donna DeSiato (Syracuse City Schools) Partner School Districts: Syracuse City Schools, Liverpool Central, Chittenango Central, Marcellus Central, Fabius-Pompey Central, DeRuyter High, Beaver River High, Skaneateles High Funding: $1,295,228 total for 3 years Number of Fellows per year: 8 Graduate; 4 Undergraduate Setting: urban, Suburban, Rural Target Audience: High School NSF supported disciplines: Biological Sciences