Conference on the Synthesis of Southern California Native American Traditional Knowledge and the Earth Sciences

近年来，越来越多的人意识到我们社会需要加强科学教育和科学素养。人们也越来越意识到，在所有科学领域中，不同种族和文化群体的代表人数一直不足，地球科学也不例外。印第安人是一个文化群体，在所有基础科学（包括地球科学）中尤其缺乏代表性。许多少数民族，特别是印第安人代表性不足的原因往往与基本的教学和文化风格有关，这些风格可能与许多基础科学共同的教学和研究风格不自动兼容。地球科学在印第安人的知识方法和更传统的“西方”科学方法之间提供了一座潜在的桥梁。地球科学在实践中通常是整合主义者，故意从许多不同领域汲取知识，并在理解地球是一个综合系统的情况下应用这些知识。此外，我们在地球科学课程中以一种非常“积极”的方式教授学生，允许学生在新的材料和问题上挣扎，直到他们基于自己的先验知识和创造力自己解决它们。这些知识和教学方式使地球科学成为所有科学中最容易接触到许多美洲土著文化的科学。地球科学，以及所有的科学，都将受益于有组织的外展活动在美洲原住民群体中产生的理解和兴趣的增加。该奖项支持为期三个月的三次系列会议，该会议将促进实践研究人员、专业人员和团体之间进行直接和坦诚的讨论，这些团体的许多地球科学相关项目都在他们的土地上运作。该节目包括对各种政治、经济、精神、哲学、文化和教育问题进行适度、坦率和公开的讨论，这些问题对地球科学家和印第安人都很重要。该项目的最终目标是增进相互理解和教育，以科学和传统的方式解释我们区域景观和地质的历史和意义。将建立一种新的交流方式，目的是增加美洲土著对地球科学的直接参与，并提高科学界对美洲土著文化、价值观和对地球的解释的认识和欣赏。这种交流将通过讲习班的介绍和随后的扩展讨论来建立。

Trafzer 9809709 In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the need for increased science education and science literacy in our society. There is also a growing awareness that various ethnic and cultural groups are persistently under-represented in all fields of science, with Earth Science as no exception. Native Americans are one cultural group especially poorly represented in all basic sciences, the geosciences included. Reasons for the under-representation of many minority groups and particularly for Native Americans is often linked to basic pedagogical and cultural styles that may not be automatically compatible with the teaching and research styles common to much basic science. The Earth Sciences offer a potential bridge between a Native American approach to knowledge and the more traditional "Western" scientific approach. The Geosciences are commonly integrationist in their practice, deliberately drawing on knowledge from many different fields, and applying that knowledge with the understanding that the Earth is an integrated system. Additionally, we in the Earth Sciences teach our students in a very "active" manner, allowing students to struggle with new material and problems until they solve them on their own, based on their own prior knowledge and creativity. These styles of knowledge and pedagogy make the Geosciences the most accessible of all the sciences for reaching many Native American cultures. The Earth Sciences, and all sciences, stand to benefit from the increased understanding and interest generated among Native American groups resulting from organized outreach. This award supports a three-session conference series taking place over a total of three months which will foster direct and candid discussions between practicing researchers, professionals, and groups on whose lands many various Earth Science-related projects operate. The program includes sets of moderated, frank and open discussions of various political, economic, spiritual, philosophi cal, cultural, and educational issues important to Geoscientists and Native Americans alike. The ultimate goal of this project is to improve mutual understanding and education of the scientific and traditional interpretations of the history and significance of our regional landscapes and geology. A new communication aimed at increasing direct Native American participation in the Earth Sciences and at increasing awareness and appreciation in the scientific community of Native American culture, values, and interpretations of the Earth will be established. This communication will be established through workshop sessions via presentations and subsequent extended discussions.