Document: STE-3-28-28

K-12 environmental science education on the US-Mexican Border.

BESTELMEYER, S.* ¹, P.HYDER ¹, E.FREDRICKSON ², K.HAVSTAD ², J.HERRICK ², L.HUENNEKE ³ and J.ATCHLEY ⁴

Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park, Las Cruces, NM, USA ¹
USDA-ARS, Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces, NM, USA ²
Dept. of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA ³
World Wildlife Fund ⁴

Abstract:
Environmental conflicts on the US-Mexican border are increasing as populations grow, resources (especially water) become more limiting, and waste disposal concerns mount (e.g., low level nuclear waste near Carlsbad, NM and New York City sewage sludge outside of Sierra Blanca, Texas). The ability of the local population to evaluate potential options is limited by generally low literacy levels, including low ecological/scientific literacy. The Jornada LTER and the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range have recently developed a partnership with the non-profit Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park in order to increase understanding of the arid and semi-arid ecosystems dominating the border region. This partnership has generated a number of new programs that have effectively increased the number of students served by the LTER/ARS scientists. We are currently using a combination of structured field trips, school-based field measurements (schoolyard LTER sites), and classroom visits to engage students. We are also working with teachers in several regional school districts to integrate these programs into the K-12 curriculum. Future plans include the development of a bilingual ecology curriculum for the Chihuahuan Desert and a permanent educational facility to be located on the Park's 1000 acre field site.

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This abstract is being presented at: 3:30 PM in session:
Poster Session #3: Education.