PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 16: Ecology Education
Tuesday, August 9, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Exhibit Hall 220 A-E, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal

The Role of Learning Communities in Ecological Research & Education.

Kaneshiro, Kenneth ¹, ¹ University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

ABSTRACT- The largely negative impact of economic activities on nature, and the widespread dependence of human health, security, and prosperity on natural systems have led to the general agreement that we must redesign our stewardship of the natural assets of our planet. While basic research in the environmental sciences has significantly increased our understanding of the global environment, an even more rigorous research effort is required to advance new insights and acquire the fundamental knowledge needed to address the entire range of emerging environmental issues. This effort must truly be integrative, linking the social and natural sciences. Education must also play a key role in this redesigned approach if society is to truly realize benefit in the long-term from this new information and technology. This will require both a strong, comprehensive school-based component spanning grades K through graduate level as well as innovative educational programs tailored to local communities. The challenge is to stress collaborative research and learning and a participatory approach to gathering and assessing information and to set basic but mission-oriented research goals that can contribute to a better understanding of ecological processes and ecosystem function. The process of science is not well understood by many teachers, students, and citizens as a whole. Science is usually seen as a collection of facts to be learned in a classroom at school. By facilitating and nurturing the formation of diverse learning communities as its central operating principle, large-scale, big science projects such as the proposes NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network) enterprise, a new kind of participatory research/education programs where non-scientists experience the scientific process can be established. By providing scientists and educators with seed ideas, training, models, tools, resources and support to create and sustain interest-based learning communities that engage students, managers, citizens, educators, teachers and scientists from diverse disciplines, the NEON project has the opportunity to establish a new paradigm for ecological research and education. ß©

Key words: Learning Communities, ecological education, socio-ecological systems