Exploring the Ripple Effect: After School Programs’ Impact on Marine and Environmental Science Education

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 12:40 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Cultivating Equity and Empowerment in Environmental Education: Investigating Spaces, Identities, and Community Impact (Table 6)

Abstract

This study examines the impact of after-school programs on marine and environmental science education for underrepresented minorities (URM) in South Florida. Due to the lack of educational resources and low socioeconomic status, URM representation in higher education within STEM has not improved in over four decades (Bernard and Cooperdock, 2018). The Mangrove Community Center provides after-school programs that integrate Critical Race Pedagogies (CRP) and community-specific content, enhancing URM students' engagement with marine science. Using multimodal approaches, including hands-on and experiential activities, this project improved students’ understanding of marine science and environmental stewardship, and emphasizes the importance of community-based education and CRP in enhancing academic success, social responsibility, and climate justice among BIPOC students.

Author

• Cameron Shaw, University of Miami