August 15th, 2010 - July 31st, 2014 | PROJECT
"Saving Species" will engage large and diverse public audiences in inquiry-based learning and environmental stewardship through a system of exhibits at zoos and other informal science education institutions throughout the U.S. The exhibit system will include more than 70 touch screen interactives and related technological infrastructure being created by Project Dragonfly at Miami University (Ohio). Project partners include the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Brookfield Zoo, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, Denver Zoo, Liberty Science Center, Louisville Zoological Garden, New York State Zoo, Oregon Zoo, Pittsburgh Zoo, Riverbanks Zoo, Santa Barbara Zoo, Shedd Aquarium, Toledo Zoo, The Wilds, Woodland Park Zoo, and Zoo Atlanta. Touch screen exhibit components will be designed for specific programs at partner zoos. The partner institutions in this consortium are establishing exhibits nationwide linked to one of three Saving Species campaigns: 1) the Great Ape Campaign allows families to conduct research on captive ape populations and to help save wild apes by joining the work of experienced field researchers; 2) the Wild Cat Campaign focuses on endangered cat species and allows families to join in conservation efforts along with professionals; 3) the Sustaining Life Campaign builds on widespread interest and growing exhibitry in environmental stewardship, renewable energy, and climate change. The consortium includes a shared library of public inquiry and public-action tools (e.g., cell phone recycling), as well as remote monitoring capabilities that provide real-time measures of station success, facilitating the development of variations of exhibit interactives across the country. More than 500 staff from informal science institutions are participating in "Saving Species" professional development through workshops and graduate courses in major cities and conservation sites worldwide. The formal educational opportunities include two new Master\'s degree programs co-delivered by Miami University and informal science institutions: (1) the Advanced Inquiry Program, and (2) the Global Field Program. Strategic partners include the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, public television, Conservation International, and the Society of Conservation Biology. Project evaluation by the Institute for Learning Innovation includes specific assessment protocols that are identifying patterns of engagement by gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic class so that disparities can be addressed across these demographics. A planning study and front-end evaluation will inform the future development of personalized, post-visit engagement opportunities on social networking platforms. "Saving Species" will achieve broad impact nationally, reaching millions of visitors to the participating institutions annually during the funding period and beyond, fostering the relationship between science inquiry and public action, and building multi-institutional partnerships committed to sustaining life on our planet.
Project Website(s)
(no project website provided)
Project Products
iSaveSpecies Prototype and Rapid Testing Handbook.
Saving Species: Socially-Networked Exhibits for Science Inquiry and Public Action presentation
Extending Zoo Visitor Engagement through Conservation Action Stations Onsite and Conservation Campaigns at Home: iSave Species Extended Engagement Interactives Research Study
iSaveSpecies Summative Evaluation Report
iSaveSpecies—Sustaining Life Summative Evaluation Report for the Toledo Zoo
iSaveSpecies—Sustaining Life Summative Evaluation Report for the Oregon Zoo
iSaveSpecies—Sustaining Life Summative Evaluation Report for the Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo
iSaveSpecies—Sustaining Life Summative Evaluation Report for the Boonshoft Museum
iSaveSpecies—Great Apes Summative Evaluation Report for the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
iSaveSpecies—Great Apes Summative Evaluation Report for the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
iSaveSpecies—Great Apes Summative Evaluation Report for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
iSaveSpecies—Great Apes Summative Evaluation Report for Zoo Atlanta
Team Members
Christopher Myers, Principal Investigator, Miami UniversitySamuel Jenike, Co-Principal Investigator, Miami University
Funders
Funding Source: NSF
Funding Program: ISE/AISL
Award Number: 1010938
Funding Amount: 1899065
Tags
Audience: Families | General Public | Museum | ISE Professionals
Discipline: Climate | Ecology | forestry | agriculture | History | policy | law | Life science | Nature of science
Resource Type: Project Descriptions
Environment Type: Aquarium and Zoo Exhibits | Exhibitions | Higher Education Programs | Informal | Formal Connections | Professional Development | Conferences | Networks | Professional Development and Workshops | Resource Centers and Networks