In 2005, Independent Broadcasting Associates (IBA) received funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to create a series of radio programs for National Public Radio that features the Ganges river basin in South Asia. The radio programs, which are in the process of being produced, will describe the 650 million people who are supported by the river, as well as its cultural and religious significance. The programs will also describe the political and/or economic environment of the river and its surrounding areas. Each of these topics will encourage listeners to divorce themselves from U
GRG conducted summative evaluation of Ganga, a NSF-funded six-segment series of NPR radio programs about the culture and ecology of the river Ganga in India and Bangladesh and its companion Website. Through a web-based survey, GRG assessed the study participants' knowledge gain from and the satisfaction with the series and the Website. The appendix of this report includes the online survey used in the study.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Irene GoodmanIndependent Broadcasting Associates, Inc.
Independent investigator Knight Williams Research Communications conducted a summative evaluation for Sea Monsters. The evaluation consisted of three separate studies which sought to address the following broad questions: To what extent and in what ways did the film appeal to the viewers?, How did viewers react to the film's investigative storytelling and use of 3D?, How did viewers respond to the film in terms of clarity of presentation and the amount of information and science?, What were the most interesting things viewers felt they learned from the film?, What new information, ideas, and
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Valerie Knight-WilliamsNational GeographicDivan Williams Jr.Christina MeyersOra Sraboyants
The Understanding Race website is informative, varied, accessible, and appealing. It speaks to people with a wide range of ages and backgrounds. It is a clear, understandable treatment of a difficult topic. The site is a rich resource for teachers who can use the content with their classes at varying levels. There is also information for scholars who wish to delve more deeply. No educational resource can please everyone, but this one comes close.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Minda BorunS2N MediaAmerican Anthropological Association
Assessing the Impact of a Visit to a Zoo or Aquarium: A Multi-institutional Research Project will create a functional taxonomy of zoo/aquarium visitors' entering knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. This taxonomy, in conjunction with data about the specific experiences visitors have during their visit, will enable investigators to understand and predict the contribution of zoos and aquariums to the public understanding of animals and their conservation. The results will clarify the role of zoos and aquariums as centers of informal learning and point to ways to strengthen their educational impact. The AZA convened a national advisory committee that commissioned and completed a thorough review, confirming a critical need to conduct more research, particularly research that attempts to ask broad questions, collect data systematically, and includes sufficient number and types of institutions to permit community-wide generalizations. Twelve AZA institutions of various sizes, geographic regions and types will participate in the study. The net result of the study will be a descriptive model of zoo and aquarium visitor learning experiences and development of a set of diagnostic tools to help zoo and aquaria staff understand and enhance the nature and extent of their public impact.
These opening remarks took place at the start of the Citizen Science Toolkit Conference, held at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York on June 20-23, 2007.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
This PDF includes a synthesis of presentations and discussions that took place at the Engaging and Learning for Conservation Workshop on Public Participation in Scientific Research, held at the American Museum of Natural History on April 7 & 8, 2011. In a series of introductory presentations, participants are offered an overview of workshop goals and session formats, as well as opening thoughts on public participation in scientific research, illustrated by brief presentations of four project case studies. Co-PI Rick Bonney provides an overview of the state of the field, including early work on
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TEAM MEMBERS:
American Museum of Natural History
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
This presentation is one of three focus point presentations delivered on day one of the Citizen Science Toolkit Conference (at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York on June 20-23, 2007) as part of the opening session titled “Citizen Science Challenges and Opportunities.” Vaughan discusses the importance of citizen science. He describes the Ecological Management and Assessment Network (EMAN), which he coordinates, and shares lessons learned.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Hague Vaughan
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
This PDF includes a synthesis of presentations and discussions that took place at the Engaging and Learning for Conservation Workshop on Public Participation in Scientific Research, held at the American Museum of Natural History on April 7 & 8, 2011. During this series of workshop sessions, participants are introduced to six key questions or overarching issues in the emerging field of public participation in scientific research, and to seven “steps” or stages of program development in an intentional program design process. The questions and steps are presented in a matrix that serves as a tool
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TEAM MEMBERS:
American Museum of Natural History
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
This is the opening talk of the session titled "Community Building for Citizen Science," delivered on day three of the Citizen Science Toolkit Conference at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York on June 20-23, 2007. Linda Green, of the University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension USDA-CSREES Volunteer Water Quality National Facilitation Project, discusses community-based monitoring programs. Green shares successes and challenges associated with these programs and provides useful examples throughout the discussion.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Linda Green
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
These reports were delivered on day three at the conclusion of the Citizen Science Toolkit Conference at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York on June 20-23, 2007. The reports summarize the discussions that took place in five separate breakout groups, which met periodically throughout the conference to focus on key Citizen Science themes and topics that emerged during conference presentations and plenary discussions.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Cornell Lab of OrnithologyCatherine McEverNolan DoeskenGeoff LeBaronSarah KirnRebecca JordanMaureen McConnell
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
This presentation by Sam Droege was delivered as the opening talk for the Citizen Science Toolkit Conference at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York on June 20-23, 2007. This presentation was also delivered at the first conference session, “Citizen Science Challenges and Opportunities.” Droege addresses the value of citizen scientists, volunteer data quality, data management, and lessons learned.