Theoretical Ecology
Using the Wonderwise model to engage minority students in ecology careers
Carmen R Cid*
*Corresponding author: Carmen R Cid
School of Arts and Sciences, Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT, USA
F1000Posters 2012, 3: 1262 (poster) [English]
Poster [515.23 KB]
Presented at
Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting 2012,
1 - 6 Aug 2012, P23
The award-winning English-Spanish Wonderwise series showcase the work of nine women scientists, including seven ethnic minority women through virtual field trips, highlighting their career paths and how their research can help solve current environmental problems. Wonderwise is used as a model to develop guidelines for how ecologists can turn their research into activities that engage minority students in ecology careers.
Wonderwise curriculum research indicates that minority students feel more confident and gain greater understanding of the scientific content provided because the virtual field trips and interactive CD-ROM activities help them identify more closely and positively with the researchers. The human connections lead the minority students on a self-discovery adventure in the application of ecological concepts to solving global problems.
We should film current undergraduate and graduate minority students who are doing environmental research and develop a research-complementary inquiry activity that can be used to teach minority youth the ecological concepts showcased in the virtual field experiences. This can be done with ecology professors' work to increase the number of times young students experience first-hand the joys, rigor and discoveries of environmental research.
No relevant competing interests disclosed.
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