The Blue Whales Project: Engaging audiences in adaptation related science content through a giant screen film and educational activities in science centers and rural libraries

尽管有丰富的适应及其进化基础的科学证据，但公众对生物多样性世界中的进化、自然选择过程和适应存在一些误解。这种误解很早就开始了。年纪较小的小学生往往不相信一种“种类”的动物可能是从另一种完全不同的动物演化而来的，他们认为特征是一直存在的。其他一些误解导致了一种不准确的信念，即个体生物在一生中获得的变化会直接传递给后代，或者整个种群作为一个整体发生了变化。这些认知偏见和“直觉”上的误解会持续到成年。“发展创新”项目将通过一个非正式的科学项目来反驳这种说法，该项目关注的是蓝鲸——自然界最壮观的适应故事之一。这是一个生活在极端环境中的物种：长途迁徙者、深海潜水者、暴饮暴食者、有史以来最大的动物。凭借其令人敬畏的大小和丰富的解剖学，生理学和行为学专业的马赛克，它可以作为丰富理解基础生物学普遍概念的桥梁，并可以开始消除根深蒂固的误解。该项目的可交付成果包括一部巨幅电影，记录了科学家在印度洋和墨西哥湾研究蓝鲸的实地工作；多平台教育模块和程序将建立在蓝鲸的内容，从电影中使用的科学中心项目和农村图书馆；以及专业发展网络研讨会，为ISE引导者提供内容利用和演示技巧。项目合作伙伴包括加州科学中心、STAR图书馆教育网络、HHMI纠结银行工作室和SK电影公司。外部评价研究将从20个参与的农村图书馆和6个科学博物馆收集数据。电影的形成性评价将在一个有75个家庭参加的大屏幕影院进行。在观看了电影的精细版本后，他们将完成适合年龄的观影后调查，调查内容包括电影的参与度、讲故事、内容的吸引力和清晰度，以及在传达关键科学概念方面的学习价值。外部总结性评价将包括三项研究。研究1将评估该项目在26个组织中的实施情况，解决以下问题：该项目在多大程度上按照图书馆和科学中心的设想实施？将收集基线资料，稍后合作伙伴将完成赠款后调查，以报告其实际执行项目要素的情况。此外，该研究将审查与专业发展有关的结果。研究2将对400名青少年和家长在科学中心体验的电影进行评估，并检验以下问题：体验电影在多大程度上吸引了青少年和家长，并影响了他们对蓝鲸、改编和科学过程的兴趣、好奇心和知识？研究3将考察：体验教育模块（虚拟实地考察、实践活动、增强现实）在多大程度上以及如何影响青少年和家长对适应和科学过程的兴趣、好奇心和知识？作为加强非正式环境中学习的总体战略的一部分，推进非正式STEM学习（AISL）计划旨在推进非正式环境中STEM学习的设计和开发的新方法和基于证据的理解。这包括提供多种途径，扩大STEM学习经验的获取和参与，推进非正式环境中STEM学习的创新研究和评估，以及发展参与者对深度学习的理解。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2)Despite the rich scientific evidence of adaptations and their evolutionary basis, there are concerning public misconceptions about evolution, processes of natural selection, and adaptations in the biodiverse world. Such misconceptions begin early. Younger elementary school children are often resistant to the idea that one “kind” of animal could descend from a completely different kind of animal, and they see features as having always existed. Other misconceptions lead to an inaccurate belief that changes in individual organisms acquired in a lifetime are passed directly on to offspring or that entire populations transform as a whole. These cognitive biases and "intuitive” misunderstandings can persist into adulthood. This Innovations in Development project will counter that narrative through an informal science project focusing on the blue whale one of nature’s most spectacular stories of adaptation. It is a species that lives life at extremes: a long-distance migrator, a deep diver, an extravagant eater, the largest animal to ever exist. With its awe-inspiring size and rich mosaic of anatomical, physiological, and behavioral specializations, it serves as a bridge to an enriched understanding of universal concepts in elementary biology and can begin to dispel the deeply rooted misconceptions. The project deliverables include a giant screen film documenting the field work of research scientists studying the blue whales in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Mexico; multi-platform educational modules and programs that will build on the blue whale content from the film for use in science center programs and rural libraries; and professional development webinars that will offer content utilization and presentation skills for ISE facilitators. Project partners include California Science Center, STAR Library Education Network, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and SK Films. The external evaluation studies will gather data from 20 participating rural libraries and 6 science museums. A formative evaluation of the film will be conducted in a giant screen theater setting with 75 families. After viewing a fine-cut version of the film they will complete age-appropriate post-viewing surveys on the film’s engagement, storytelling, content appeal and clarity, and learning value in communicating key science concepts. An external summative evaluation will include three studies. Study 1 will assess the implementation of the project at the 26 organizations, addressing the question: To what extent is the project implemented as envisioned in the libraries and science center settings? Baseline information will be collected, and later partners will complete post-grant surveys to report on their actual implementation of the project elements. In addition, the study will examine outcomes relating to professional development. Study 2 will be an evaluation of the film as experienced by 400 youth and parents in science centers and examining the question: To what extent does experiencing the film engage youth and parents and affect their interest, curiosity, and knowledge of blue whales, adaptations, and the scientific process? Study 3 will examine: To what extent and how does experiencing an educational module (virtual field trips, hands on activities, augmented reality) affect youth and parents’ interest, curiosity, and knowledge of adaptations and scientific process?As part of its overall strategy to enhance learning in informal environments, the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program seeks to advance new approaches to, and evidence-based understanding of, the design and development of STEM learning in informal environments. This includes providing multiple pathways for broadening access to and engagement in STEM learning experiences, advancing innovative research on and assessment of STEM learning in informal environments, and developing understandings of deeper learning by participants.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.