Biophilia Connections: An Examination of Connections Between Evolution Acceptance and Attitudes Toward Nature

• In Event: 25.077 - Science Teaching and Learning SIG Paper Session: Discipline-Specific

Abstract

High school biology is traditionally taught in discrete units of content. However, most biology content is conceptually related. The relationships between evolution learning and ecology/environmental science learning, as well as the relationships between evolution acceptance and attitudes/connection toward the environment, are not well understood. Given the conceptual, societal, and philosophical connections that bind evolution and ecology, we sought to determine the extent to which students perceive these connections, especially in light of constructs like nature connectedness and domination that have surfaced in the literature. This presentation will discuss the relationships between evolution acceptance, connection to nature, and human-wildlife relationships in terms of gender, college major, science and non-science majors, and year in college.

Authors

• Vanessa Ann Klein, University of Maine at Orono

• Lisa A. Borgerding, Kent State University