Redistributing Power in Community and Citizen Science: Effects on Youth Science Self-Efficacy and Interest

• In Event: Exploring Environmental Justice, Climate Action, and Activism With Children and Young People

Abstract

There are emerging opportunities to leverage community and citizen science (CCS) projects for science learning and increasing communities’ capacities to respond to environmental change. This study focuses on two culturally responsive CCS projects, each with a youth-focused component, monitoring resources that hold cultural and practical significance for people across Alaska. Each CCS project was implemented in two separate models (contributory vs. cocreated) to test whether project design impacts youths’ science interest or science self-efficacy. These learning outcomes are explored as two indicators of youths’ motivation and ability to pursue science as a tool for helping their communities address the impacts of climate change. Preliminary quantitative results are presented; final quantitative and qualitative analyses will be presented in the conference paper.

Authors

• Sarah Clement, University of Alaska - Fairbanks
  Presenting Author

• Laura E Oxtoby, University of Alaska Fairbanks
  Non-Presenting Author

• Katie Spellman, University of Alaska - Fairbanks
  Non-Presenting Author