Improving Rural Population Health through Air Quality and Cardiovascular Health Education

项目总结/摘要 在农村和医疗服务不足的社区长大的儿童面临着独特的挑战， 并不总是容易获得教育机会， 生物医学知识和对科学事业的兴趣。为了解决这个问题，我们建议 扩大一个以调查为基础的科学教育计划，称为清洁空气和健康的家园 方案（CAHHP）。通过四个目标，我们将利用我们在31所学校的50名教师网络， 位于蒙大拿州、爱达荷州的农村和美洲印第安人/阿拉斯加原住民社区， 阿拉斯加通过由混合方法设计组成的评估计划，我们将检验总体假设 CAHHP，新的重点是PM2.5，心血管和人口健康，可以成功地 在农村，服务不足的地区使用，以提高初中/高中学生对基础和 临床医学研究。我们将测试这个假设与以下目标：目标1）公民科学： 使用新型PM2.5和心率监测仪开发真实的研究体验，新的重点是 心血管/人口健康;目标2）科学交流：培养学生的技能，信心和 通过为学生提供机会将他们的研究成果转化为不同的形式，提高他们对科学的兴趣 目标3）学生指导：提供参与和指导活动，支持 学生研究和接触学生的职业生涯在基础和临床医学研究;和目标4） 教师专业发展：为教师和预科生提供多种学习机会 服务教师，以促进他们对生物医学概念的理解， 与学生一起实施CAHHP模式。在SEPA的资助下，我们打算提供 为农村地区31所学校的5 000多名学生提供教育机会， 洛矶山脉和阿拉斯加北方的地区。

Project Summary / Abstract Children growing up in rural and medically underserved communities face unique challenges, and may not always have easy access to educational opportunities that provide experiences with cultivating biomedical knowledge and interest in scientific careers. To address this issue, we are proposing to expand upon an inquiry-based science education program called the Clean Air and Healthy Homes Program (CAHHP). Through four Aims, we will leverage our network of 50 teachers in 31 schools located in rural and American Indian / Alaska Native communities throughout Montana, Idaho, and Alaska. With an evaluation plan consisting of a mixed method design, we will test the overall hypothesis that CAHHP, with a new focus on PM2.5, cardiovascular and population health, can be successfully utilized in rural, underserved areas to increase middle/high students' interest in careers in basic and clinical medical research. We will test this hypothesis with the following Aims: Aim 1) Citizen Science: Develop authentic research experiences using novel PM2.5 and heart rate monitors with a new focus on cardiovascular/population health; Aim 2) Science communication: Build student skills, confidence and interest in science by providing opportunities for students to translate their research findings to different audiences; Aim 3) Student mentoring: Provide engagement and mentoring activities that support student research and expose students to careers in basic and clinical medical research; and Aim 4) Teacher Professional Development: Provide multiple learning opportunities for teachers and pre- service teachers in order to facilitate their understanding of biomedical concepts and their successful implementation of the CAHHP model with students. With SEPA funding, we intend to provide educational opportunities for over 5,000 students from 31 schools located within rural and underserved areas of the northern Rocky Mountains and Alaska.