Real-world connections with conservation science through zoos and aquariums

This book chapter describes zoo and aquariums' history of conservation education programming for students and teachers. It showcases several examples of student-teacher-scientist partnerships, including Project TRUE, highlighting the program's success at cultivating sustained interest in science careers among high school youth.

Zoos and aquariums have a long history of providing conservation education to students and teachers. As the conservation work of zoos and aquariums has grown, so have the opportunities to connect students and teachers to the work of these scientists. This chapter highlights a number of exemplary zoo and aquarium programs that connect students and teachers to scientific resources, career opportunities, and firsthand experience doing conservation science. These examples are not exhaustive of all the connections to scientists that zoos and aquariums provide, but rather they are representative of the types of experiences and subsequent outcomes that are possible. The chapter concludes with a discussion of opportunities for the future, including recommendation for robust evaluation and research of these programs.