NSED 7065 - Community Based Environmental Science

In this course, students will:

Learn the principles and priorities of community-based science (CBS)
Evaluate and Analyze ongoing, local CBS projects
Connect CBS projects to curriculum and educational standards for multiple audiences and grade levels
Identify CBS projects and outcomes appropriate for students’ contexts
Understand and articulate the value of CBS projects for science, activism, and community engagement

In this course, students will engage in the practice of science by collecting data relevant to ongoing science projects with a focus on outdoor environmental science projects. Many of these projects can be adapted to service learning opportunities. We will identify and explore community based science projects that connect to research conducted by scientists throughout the world and locally. Projects may include pollinator monitoring, water quality investigations, marine mammal ecology, ocean debris tracking, and bioblitzes. Students will learn about the impacts of community-based science investigations and how they benefit the global scientific community, as well as local communities. Together we will identify priorities and research outcomes, and develop tools, plans and strategies for implementing rigorous, relevant community-based science projects in your context.

Credits: 2