Node 1 - Overview

Authentic Science Opportunities for Youth

Focus

Node 1 of the Pacific Center has been designed to provide authentic science experiences to students and to research what they learn in the process. The experiences include internships in scientific laboratories for high school students and field trips at the elementary school levels. The fundamental assumption of this node is that knowledge is not between the ears and underneath the skull but visible in the forms participation in science-related activities (internships, environmentalism). The work in this node was informed by two books on the topic: AUTHENTIC SCHOOL SCIENCE (Roth, 1995) and RETHINKING SCIENTIFIC LITERACY (Roth & Barton, 2004).

Students work with a biologist and environmentalist using a colorimeter to collect data for a study on water quality

Rationale

In Node 1 of the Pacific Center, we take a two-pronged approach in providing authentic experiences in the two ways defined above. On the one hand, the Pacific Center will participate in providing or provide authentic science for diverse student populations (and their teachers), with particular attention to the needs of students from First Nations, to become scientifically literate to the extent that it prepares them for participating in public debates, community decision-making, and personal living consistent with long-term environmentally sustainable forms of life. This aspect of the Pacific Center is designed to increase the scientific literacy of students on a broad scale. On the other hand, the Pacific Center will provide opportunities for a small, interested and select group of students and teachers with internships in scientific laboratory and field research, particularly targeting students from First Nations.
This aspect of the Center is designed to increase the number of students eventually interested in pursuing scientific and engineering careers. Various research groups and individual scientists will support.