Collaborative Research: Introducing the Principles and Processes of the Earth's Critical Zone to Teachers, Informal Educators and Academically At-Risk Youth

斯特劳德水研究中心和西切斯特大学正在克里斯蒂娜盆地临界区天文台的研究基础上，将其作为向教师、非正式教育工作者和宾夕法尼亚州东南部外来农业工人的子女交流地球系统科学的一种方式。人类在地球表面占据着一个动态的、不断变化的环境，称为临界区。这一区域从土壤底部一直延伸到植被顶部，是人类与地球系统直接接触并对其产生影响的地方。了解形成这种环境的原则和过程对于了解地球和人类对环境的影响至关重要。该项目为参与者创造了以地点为基础的教育体验，向他们介绍了塑造地球关键区域内环境的自然过程和人类影响。通过将在地方范围内进行的过程与在全球范围内发生的条件联系起来，该项目为参与者提供了一种理解地球系统科学的综合和复杂性质的手段。为实现这一目标，该项目制定、提供和评估：1)为教师和非正规教育工作者举办讲习班/研究生课程；2)为当地移徙农业工人子女举办课后和暑期活动。

The Stroud Water Research Center and West Chester University are building on research of the Christina Basin Critical Zone Observatory as a way to communicate Earth system science to teachers, informal educators and children of migrant agricultural workers in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Humans occupy a dynamic, ever-changing environment at the surface of the Earth called the Critical Zone. This zone, stretching from the base of the soil to the top of the vegetation, is where humans come into direct contact with, and have an impact on, Earth systems. Understanding the principles and processes that form this environment is vital to understanding the planet and human impacts on the environment. This project creates place-based educational experiences for participants that introduce them to both natural processes and human impacts that shape the environment within Earth's Critical Zone. By linking processes that act at the local scale to conditions that occur at the global scale, this project provides participants with a means to comprehend the integrated and complex nature of Earth system science. To accomplish this, the project develops, delivers and evaluates: 1) workshops/graduate courses for teachers and informal educators; and, 2) after-school and summer activities for children of local migrant agricultural workers.