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Project Descriptions

Pathways: Collaborative Research: iSWOOP--Interpreters and Scientists Working On-Site at Our Parks

October 1, 2013 - September 30, 2015 | Public Programs, Professional Development, Conferences, and Networks, Exhibitions
National Parks are full of interesting and unusual STEM features which often intrigue visitors whose questions are answered by park personnel. In addition to the natural features, there are often researchers in the parks gathering data and conducting experiments. Park personnel are not apprised of these studies yet are often questioned about them. This collaborative project's goals are to derive a mechanism to educate the park personnel so they can respond to the visitor's inquiries. Collaborators include the National Park Service (NPS), TERC, Winston-Salem State University, and the park personnel at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The plan is to work through the park interpreters who are employees of NPS and often are the voice for explaining the park's natural features. For this project, the interpreters and researchers will collaborate on the explanations of the science and TERC will work with the interpreters on interacting or educating the public visitors on the research. This is a pilot study to determine how best to bridge the scientists and their research to the park visitors. Evaluation on all elements in this study will be done by Char Associates and the Institute for Mathematics and Science Education at New Mexico State University. The results of this study are to determine the issues in explaining the research to the park interpreters and thence to the park visitors. If successful, it is anticipated that a model will be developed in collaboration with the NPS for use in other National Parks.

Funders

NSF
Funding Program: ISE/AISL
Award Number: 1323558
Funding Amount: 64138
NSF
Funding Program: AISL
Award Number: 1323030
Funding Amount: $205,021

TEAM MEMBERS

  • REVISE logo
    Principal Investigator
    Winston-Salem State University
  • 2013 08 05 MMerson 150x225
    Principal Investigator
    TERC
  • Discipline: Ecology, forestry, and agriculture | Education and learning science | Geoscience and geography
    Audience: Museum/ISE Professionals | Scientists | Evaluators
    Environment Type: Public Programs | Park, Outdoor, and Garden Programs | Professional Development, Conferences, and Networks | Professional Development and Workshops | Exhibitions | Parks, Outdoor, and Garden Exhibits

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