Tuesday, August 5, 2008: 8:00 PM-10:00 PM
201 B, Midwest Airlines Center
SS 15 - Projects Linking Science Research and the Community: Examples and Ideas
We will discuss development and implementation of projects connecting research science with society. These involve collection of data by students and community members that is used to address relevant ecological questions. By participating in such research, participants better understand ecology and implications of research. We will discuss ways that others can develop similar projects and contribute to existing ones. In South Africa, the CIB's project "limbovane: Exploring South African Biodiversity and Change", uses ants to teach students about biodiversity as well as land-use and climate change impacts on biodiversity. Data is used to investigate disturbance and macroecology questions. It allows learners and teachers to interact with scientists within their daily context. Discover Life's "Ant Hunt!" teaches discovery in schools, while monitoring ant species to inform ecology and management. The IPANE Project assesses the status of invasive plants throughout New England. Due to its scope, the Project is only successful with the contributions of volunteers. Outreach and education inform and involve volunteers on the impacts of invasive plants in New England. A similar invasive vines program is implemented in Georgia through Discover Life. "Learning Lessons Looking for Ladybugs" concerns teaching science by studying ladybugs. It aims to collect high-quality data over a broad geographic scale to understand the impact of invasive species on native beetles. "The Goldenrod Challenge" involves community groups from multiple states in a competition to "capture" the most photos of arthropod species on goldenrod. Photos are identified and data are used to address questions of biodiversity and climate change.
Organizer:	Lara B. Pacifici, University of Georgia
Co-organizer:	Kirsten Mahood, Stellenbosch University

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