North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Conference Recap

From November 5th-9th, members of the Center for Community & Citizen Science presented at the North American Association for Environmental Education Conference and Research Symposium (NAAEE) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Heidi Ballard hosted two presentations, one focused on her recently published literature review and another roundtable discussion about the center’s partnership with the Insight Garden Program. Youth Education Program Manager Peggy Harte and Ph.D. student Becca VanArnham hosted a roundtable discussion during the research symposium to gain insightful feedback on the Spinning Salmon Project and to inform other environmental education scholars about the benefits of participatory science.

Heidi presented her literature review, Environmental Education Outcomes Of Community And Citizen Science: A Systematic Review Of Empirical Research, which thoroughly examines participatory community and citizen science practices. This critical review demonstrated how YCCS can bridge the barrier between the broader population and the realms of environmental education and research. Diving into both the downsides and benefits of various methods helped give attendees the building blocks to conduct their own participatory science-based programs, especially with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion. The examples and suggestions provided were based on comprehensive evidence of methods that created positive learning outcomes, furthered scientific knowledge, and increased self-determination in local communities. While the paper was centered on environmental education, the principles of CCS have the potential to be applied across disciplines, which is reciprocally beneficial to adult participants, youth, and researchers alike. Hopefully, these findings will encourage other researchers to develop their own plans for community engagement. 

Heidi also led an Insight Garden Program roundtable to share the benefits achieved through their ongoing collaboration with CCCS. This partnership implements participatory citizen science-based research in several different prison gardening programs, which assists in establishing self-efficacy, fostering community, and lowering recidivism rates for incarcerated people. Spreading the word about the success of this program – and challenges to its implementation – has the potential to inspire many other researchers to create participatory programs in marginalized communities worldwide.

With colleagues from all over the world, Peggy and Becca discussed the Educational research design of the Spinning Salmon Project and how using a Youth-Focused Community & Citizen Science (YCCS) framework elevates environmental education. They discussed how  school students in this program become key players in monitoring thiamine (B1) deficiency in salmon populations, collaborating alongside professional scientists around the United States.,.. The results of this program have been promising; students report a greater sense of responsibility, agency, and even identity as members of the scientific community, teachers report a deeper understanding of their watershed and a sense of support in teaching hands-on science. Finally, scientists shared feeling more motivated to incorporate participatory science in their other research projects. The attendees at the roundtable were encouraged to give feedback and offer advice on how to expand the program’s design and curriculum to foster more inclusion of students from marginalized backgrounds.

We’re excited to share this short but enlightening adventure, and grateful to have the opportunity to receive feedback from so many other professionals in the field!