PS 26-102 - Using publicly available datasets to teach majors and non-majors about ecology, conservation, and climate change

Abstract: In recent decades, science education research has repeatedly demonstrated the benefits of pedagogy that engages students in “doing science” rather than merely learning “about science”. For ecologists, this often means teaching courses with a field-based laboratory component. However, large introductory courses and courses offered for non-majors are often scheduled without labs; and, in some climates, opportunities for field-based laboratories can be significantly limited by weather. Increasingly, publicly available data sets are used by ecologists, conservation biologists, and climate scientists to study a broad range of questions including studies of plant/animal phenology and/or geographic distribution, the impacts of climate change on mutualistic and antagonistic interactions, and the impacts of human activities on populations and/or extinction risk. Applying lessons learned from my own research involving data collection through citizen science initiatives, I’ve successfully used publicly available data to engage students in “collecting” and analyzing data to address relevant ecological questions in the classroom. For example, these have included the use of Audubon Christmas Bird Count data, data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in courses for science majors and non-majors in the areas of ecology, conservation biology, and environmental science. This presentation will share specific examples of classroom activities that engage students in the process of doing science, including activities developed with NASA funding (through the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium) that have been incorporated into a recently developed climate change course for non-majors and advanced courses in Ecology and Conservation Science taken by Biology and Environmental Science majors. I have found the introduction of these activities to significantly improve student understanding of ecological concepts, the process of science, and data analysis and interpretation.