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

Trafzer 9809709近年来，人们越来越意识到在我们的社会中需要加强科学教育和科学素养。人们还日益认识到，各族裔和文化群体在所有科学领域的代表性一直偏低，地球科学也不例外。美洲原住民是一个文化群体，在包括地球科学在内的所有基础科学中的代表性特别低。许多少数群体，尤其是美洲原住民的代表性不足的原因往往与基本的教学和文化风格有关，这些风格可能不会自动与许多基础科学常见的教学和研究风格相适应。地球科学在美洲原住民获取知识的方法和更传统的“西方”科学方法之间提供了一座潜在的桥梁。地球科学在他们的实践中通常是综合主义者，故意利用来自许多不同领域的知识，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，我们地球科学专业以非常“积极”的方式教授学生，允许学生根据自己的先验知识和创造力，与新材料和新问题作斗争，直到他们自己解决问题。这些知识和教学风格使地球科学成为最容易接触到许多美洲原住民文化的科学。地球科学和所有科学都将受益于美洲原住民群体之间通过有组织的宣传而产生的更多的理解和兴趣。该奖项支持为期三个月的三次会议系列会议，这将促进实践研究人员、专业人员和许多与地球科学有关的项目在其土地上运作的团体之间进行直接和坦率的讨论。该计划包括一系列温和、坦率和开放的讨论，讨论各种政治、经济、精神、哲学、文化和教育问题，这些问题对地球科学家和美洲原住民都很重要。该项目的最终目标是增进对我们区域景观和地质学的历史和意义的科学和传统解释的相互理解和教育。将建立一项新的交流，旨在增加美洲原住民对地球科学的直接参与，并提高科学界对美国原住民文化、价值观和对地球的解释的认识和欣赏。这种交流将通过研讨会会议、专题演讲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.