Enhanced Environmental Biology Literacy for all Undergraduate Students

越来越多的文献充分证明了美国公众的科学和环境素养水平较低。为了解决这一问题，我们正在提供一个框架，使所有佐治亚南方大学(GSU)的本科生都能实现基本的环境和科学素养。我们正在开发一门环境生物学课程，该课程将成为格拉斯哥州立大学新的核心课程的一部分。所有希望从格陵兰州立大学获得学位的学生都将完成这一核心课程，包括理科专业、非理科专业和未来的K-12教师。新的生物学课程利用环境问题来介绍和讨论相关的科学概念，生物系预计每年招收2325名学生。该提案的主要重点是提供设备，以便开展与地方、区域和全球环境问题有关的创新动手实验室活动。预期的项目成果包括：能够从事环境意识行为和知情公民身份的毕业生；提高科学和环境知识；以及认识到科学与“现实世界”问题之间的联系。这项提案要求为为大量格拉斯哥州立大学学生开发新的、独特的和有意义的环境练习所需的设备提供资金。该项目制作了可供其他机构改编的实验室练习。通过在国家会议、教师发展研讨会、出版实验室材料和专业文章以及一个项目网站上介绍这项工作来传播这项工作。这种模式是一种独特的模式，可以很容易地被其他机构改编，因此在大学以外具有很好的潜力。

A growing body of literature amply documents the low levels of scientific and environmental literacy among the American public. To address this issue we are providing a framework in which all Georgia Southern University (GSU) undergraduates can achieve basic environmental and scientific literacy. We are developing an environmental biology course that will be part of GSU's new core curriculum. All students who wish to obtain a degree from GSU will complete this core curriculum including science majors, non-science majors, and future K-12 teachers. The new Biology course utilizes environmental issues to introduce and discuss relevant scientific concepts and the Biology department expects to have an estimated annual enrollment of 2325 students. The main focus of this proposal is to provide equipment to allow development of innovative hands-on laboratory activities related to local, regional, and global environmental problems. Expected project outcomes include: graduates who are able to engage in environmentally-aware behavior and informed citizenship; improved scientific and environmental knowledge; and appreciation of the connections between science and "real-world" problems. This proposal requests funding for equipment necessary to develop new, unique and meaningful environmental exercises for a large number of GSU students. The project has produced laboratory exercises that are available for adaptation by other institutions. Dissemination of the work is through presentation at national meetings, faculty development workshops, publication of laboratory materials and professional articles, and a project web site. This model is a unique one that can be easily adapted by other institutions and, therefore has excellent potential outside the university.