IGN 15-3
Engaging K-12 students with place-based climate change research

Friday, August 15, 2014
313, Sacramento Convention Center
Johanna Varner, Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Diane Crim, Salt Lake Center for Science Education, Salt Lake City, UT
Niki Hack, Salt Lake Center for Science Education, Salt Lake City, UT
People are most engaged in climate change issues through personal experiences and experiential learning. Uintas Pika Watch is a student-scientist collaboration to monitor pika populations near Salt Lake City. Because they are charismatic and easily observed, pikas are an ideal platform for connecting urban youth to wilderness and engaging them in discussions about the local impacts of climate change. By monitoring the same populations for several years, students contribute valuable long-term scientific data, learn about how scientific research is conducted, and forge meaningful personal relationships with local natural areas.