Engaging K-12 students with place-based climate change research

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.