Tuesday, August 5, 2008: 1:30 PM-5:00 PM
104 B, Midwest Airlines Center
SYMP 9 - Linking Scientists With Non-Traditional Public Audiences to Enhance Ecological Thought
Two major problems society faces are the widening gaps between humans and nature, and between scientists and non-scientists. In response to these negative trends, programs to enhance ecological literacy have increased. However, these efforts are almost entirely aimed at either: (1) segments of the population who are already aware of the importance of nature (the “ecologically aware”) or (2) audiences who are exposed to such programs via formal education. Often, such outreach is carried out by members of the media who may lack the scientific training and passion needed to inspire listeners or readers. Academics have this knowledge of content, and very often, the passion to inspire others. However, outreach – especially to non-mainstream audiences – is not actively encouraged within academia. A major challenge for ecologists in this millennium is to overcome existing obstacles within academia to carry out effective outreach to audiences who may appear to be distant from ecological values, but who may be attracted to learning more because of a perceived link between their interests, hobbies, or livelihoods and that of the ecologist. We gather some scientists and science practitioners who describe projects and programs that have connected their work or study organism to a segment of the non-traditional public. We cover a diverse range of projects, from ecological outreach to prisoners to citizen-science projects in inner-city areas. Speakers will discuss the methods to evaluate the results of these efforts in terms of collaborative scientific products, such as research publications, curriculum modules, or nuggets to raise public awareness. The central questions we raise include: how can ecologists effectively harness the “way of knowing” and communication abilities that non-scientists have to enhance research and education efforts? What are the obstacles that academics face when they do outreach to non-scientists? What are the rewards that help them overcome these obstacles? The final portion of the session will be organized as a Panel Discussion, during which all presenters will: (1) offer a brief recap of their conclusions; (2) discuss 2-3 prepared questions to elicit synthetic thinking; and (3) respond to questions from the audience.
Organizer:	Nalini Nadkarni, Evergreen State College
Co-organizer:	Robert Stevenson, University of Massachusetts
Moderator:	Kathleen C. Weathers, Institute of Ecosystem Studies
1:30 PM			Introductory Remarks
1:35 PM	SYMP 9-1		Preachers, prisoners, and poets as partners: Challenges and benefits of ecological outreach to academic ecologists Nalini Nadkarni, Evergreen State College
1:55 PM	SYMP 9-2		Ecological research in enforced residential instituions: Collaborations of ecologists and prisoners Craig Ulrich, Cedar Creek Correctional Center, Nalini Nadkarni, Evergreen State College
2:10 PM	SYMP 9-3		Using the visual and performing arts to change and challenge environmental beliefs, raise awareness, and communicate environmental information in the extension (outreach) context David J. Curtis, University of New England
2:30 PM	SYMP 9-4		Faithful environmentalists: Working with churches to save the natural world Mallory McDuff, Warren Wilson College, Jill D. Rios, Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina
2:50 PM	SYMP 9-5		Celebrate urban birds: Exploring gateways to science for all Karen Purcell, Cornell University, Janis Dickinson, Cornell University
3:10 PM			Break
3:20 PM	SYMP 9-6		Project Budburst: Citizen science for all seasons Sandra Henderson, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Carol A. Brewer, University of Montana, Kay Havens, Chicago Botanic Garden, Paul Alaback, University of Montana
3:40 PM	SYMP 9-7		We want your data! Designing a citizen-science program based on active and passive volunteerism Jennifer Forman Orth, University of Massachusetts
4:00 PM	SYMP 9-8		Civic scientific literacy: A requirement for responsible citizenship in the 21st century? Jon D. Miller, Michigan State University
4:20 PM	SYMP 9-9		Developing a PDA/GPS and PC user interface for non-literate African animal trackers Louis Liebenberg, CyberTracker Conservation, Justin Steventon, Steventon Consulting, Karel Benadie, CyberTracker Conservation, James Minye, CyberTracker Conservation, Horekhwe Langwane, CyberTracker Conservation
4:40 PM	SYMP 9-10		Icky bugs and plant blindness: Novel identification tools to promote biodiversity observations Robert D. Stevenson, University of Massachusetts, William A. Haber, Missouri Botanical Garden, Jennifer Forman Orth, University of Massachusetts, Jacob K. Asiedu, University of Massachusetts, Gary Alpert, Harvard University, Robert A. Morris, University of Massachusetts

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See more of The 93rd ESA Annual Meeting (August 3 -- August 8, 2008)