2016 San Diego Science Education Conference

Mackenzie Bergstrom (10:30 am)
The Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) is a master's degree program delivered by San Diego Zoo Global in partnership with Miami University that focuses on conservation. Students develop and implement projects that relate to personalized goals that incorporate scientific inquiry, promote community participation and voice, increase understanding of local and regional conservation issues, and inspire environmental stewardship. In this session, two AIP students will share research and insights from projects they developed, and note their application to education and school curricula.

Angela Kemsley (10:35 am)
Bringing the Outdoors Into the Classroom: Creating Better Citizens through Citizen Science
Current research suggests that getting children outside and connected with nature is vital to the development of emotional intelligence. Despite this research, our children tend to spend mere minutes per day outdoors. Educators are working diligently to transition curricula to align with Common Core and NGSS and it is often difficult to find time for outdoor activities during school hours. This presentation will highlight research done for the Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) Master’s Degree at San Diego Zoo Global regarding the incorporation of citizen science into K-12 curricula. Educators will learn practical ways in which citizen science may be used in and out of the classroom to immerse students in nature while satisfying educational standards.

Katie Buess (10:55 am)
Community Outreach for the Purpose of Increasing Conservation
Water conservation is a shared communal responsibility. In this period of extreme drought, community engagement is one way to increase active participation in the issue. We will discuss some of the local government programs in place as a way to help activate the community. When this information is shared in the classroom, students learn to play an active role in conservation at an early age.