Empowering Urban High School Students in Geoscience Through School-Based Instructional Modules: “It’s Like They’re the Trees and We’re the Fungi” (Poster 3)

• In Event: Sunday Poster Session 7:45 am
  In Poster Session: Contemporary Issues in Science Teaching and Learning

Abstract

Underrepresented racially and ethnically minoritized (URM) residents in urban communities are disproportionately impacted by environmental contamination. This underrepresentation can, in part, be attributed to decreased access to geoscience coursework and exposure at a high school level that causes a disproportionately low bachelor’s degree attainment by URM (<20%). In response, we designed a geoscience education intervention consisting of hands-on exploration of geoscience concepts related to issues of urban contamination, administered in partnership with a high school teacher to their environmental horticulture class (n=6). Survey data and focus groups showed increased interest in the geosciences through seeing the connection between social and environmental systems as well as developed agency through social and political organizing for environmental justice.

Authors

• Lisa Marco-Bujosa, Villanova University

• Hannah Feldman, Villanova University

• Steven Goldsmith, Villanova University

• Kabindra Shakya, Villanova University

• Vanessa Boschi, Villanova University

• Jesse Lepkowski, School District of Philadelphia

• Najwa Smith, School District of Philadelphia