Biosphere 2 Outreach Scholars Green Fund Proposal, January 2016 Kevin Bonine, Director of Education & Outreach, Biosphere 2 kebonine@email.arizona.edu 520-621-0232
Poster symposium & certificate ceremony at Biosphere 2 Summer Science Academy. Note young students in blue shirts presenting their results and proud UA student Outreach Scholars in red shirts.
PROPOSAL OVERVIEW
Abstract Biosphere 2 Outreach Scholars are the reason the Biosphere 2 Summer Science Academy has been so successful in its first two years. By supporting these UA students, who serve as role-models and mentors for 80-90 middle and high school students, we are taking an important step in providing the educational base necessary for sustainable, evidence-based decisions in all facets of society. UA students will apply to be chosen as Green Fund–supported Outreach Scholars, receive intensive training and a $1,000 stipend for their time in residence at Biosphere 2 in summer 2016, and become better able to navigate the important intersection where science and education meet. This intersection is how sustainability can be realistically pursued and achieved in the future. The UA Green Fund Outreach Scholars will facilitate research experiences, collaboration skills, and leadership development of middle and high school students. Along the way, the scholars will expand their knowledge and capacity in these areas and perhaps pursue scientist-educator as a career path or be inspired to put their scientific training toward solving society’s grand challenges.
Project Narrative
“It was the most amazing week of my life.” -Biosphere 2 Summer Science Academy Participant
The key to a sustainable future is effective education and evidence-based decision making. To achieve this, we need present and future generations to have the interest and capacity to learn about our environment in both a rigorous and data-driven way, but also from a personal and humanist perspective. The children of today are the citizens and leaders of tomorrow. They need to be able to assess and understand the potential impacts of various policy and personal decisions, and work collaboratively to generate innovative technical solutions in a socially relevant context. Getting students to continue with, and excel in, science education, indeed all STEM fields, is an important reason why we started the Biosphere 2 Summer Science Academy in 2014, and is part of the dual mission of the UA involvement at the unique facility near Oracle, Arizona. By showing kids how fun science can be - and how interesting, useful, relevant, and important - we hope to instill a life-long love and appreciation for the pursuit of answers to questions big and small that affect our world and our collective quality of life. These are the same questions we need to answer in order to achieve a more sustainable way of life. The Outreach Scholars, wonderful UA undergraduate and graduate students, are the best idea we brought to the science academy. In 2014 we had 12 dynamic and hard-working scholars, and in 2015 we had 16. They play a critical role in providing the kids life-altering experiences: being examples of the pursuit of a college education and service to community; modelling and teaching effective teamwork and communication; training in appropriate data collection and analysis; showing how to use a microscope in the lab and paddle a boat in the Biosphere 2 ocean; providing constructive criticism; and helping the young participants to form healthy, long-term friendships based on shared interests and experiences. The Summer Science Academy is life-changing for the young participants and the UA student scholars; many of both groups have returned for multiple years because of the value they see in the experience, the process, and the outcomes. Several of the Outreach Scholars have gone on to do longer term research and/or outreach internships at Biosphere 2, and at least two have moved into paid positions at Biosphere 2. Others are volunteering or working in local schools to bring better science-education outcomes to Tucson students. The capacity for departments and other units on campus to work effectively with school groups and the public is aided by the capacity building inherent in our Outreach Scholar program.
One of the most important initiatives on campus at the University of Arizona is student engagement – experiences outside the typical classroom. The Biosphere 2 Outreach Scholar program provides that and more in areas critical for future sustainability success. Included are experiential learning, service learning, mentorship, multi-dimensional personal growth, and the opportunity to provide a brighter future for us all through enhancing the education of middle and high school students.
Project Members List Primary members include Biosphere 2 research staff and education/outreach staff. We will work with colleagues in several academic departments, including Education, and science outreach venues such as Flandrau Science Center, Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, and Mt. Lemmon Sky Center. Non-UA stakeholders include school districts, local businesses like Technicians for Sustainability, and other community groups. These partners will help us recruit outreach scholar applicants and train them in best practices of formal and informal science education, research project oversight, and student mentorship through a scientifically informed sustainability lens.
Biosphere 2 Business Manager: Julie Stringer ([email protected]). Biosphere 2 Education Outreach Program Manager: Matt Adamson ([email protected]) Program Coordinator: Marsha Colbert ([email protected]) UA Student Employee and former Outreach Scholar: Katie Morgan ([email protected]) UA Graduate Student at Biosphere 2, and former Outreach Scholar: Yadi Wang ([email protected])
UA Student Benefits For this proposal, we will support 15 UA student applicants who will spend 2.5 weeks training for, and mentoring middle and high school students at Biosphere 2 during our July 2016 Summer Science Academy. We expect to have 10 undergraduates and 5 graduate students in the 2016 cohort of Biosphere 2 Outreach Scholars. They will help 80-90 middle and high school students engage in sustainability- relevant research, collaboration, and leadership activities at Biosphere 2. UA students will receive intensive training in teaching, different research areas (including marine science, tropical rainforest physiology, soil ecology, watershed function, and more) represented at Biosphere 2, and mentorship prior to the arrival of younger students. Based on the descriptions of the five levels of student engagement, it seems that they fit best under ‘Student Worker’ category. If any of the UA applicants are especially well qualified, they could be asked to step into ‘Coordinator’ type roles.
Project Timeline We will recruit outreach scholars to apply via online application in February, 2016. Selected UA students will be notified in March. Two days of weekend training will take place in April. Outreach scholar residential training will take place 27-30 June. Outreach scholars will live on site and mentor middle and high school students from 09-23 July 2016. Stipends will be distributed in late July 2016. Summary evaluation materials will be compiled in fall 2016.
PROPOSAL METRICS
Desired Impacts The goals of this project are many-fold: 1. Leverage the iconic UA Biosphere 2 facility to encourage more K-12 students to pursue STEM careers, embrace evidence-based decision making, and understand the sustainability implications of myriad life choices. 2. Improve the quality and quantity of STEM education in Arizona. Recent results from surveys in Arizona (see Tucson Values Teacher report at: tucsonvaluesteachers.org) remind us of the uphill battle we need to continue to fight in this state. Our collective success in this area is critical for the future economic development and quality of life in Arizona, including incorporation of sustainability criteria in community policy and personal decisions. 3. Make college and science disciplines accessible and relevant to 80-90 middle and high school students by getting them in front of top-quality UA students for an intensive week of research, collaboration, and leadership training. Importantly, we aim to provide scholarships for 25% of the young students (assuming our fund-raising efforts are successful to cover $2500+/participant), thereby bringing young students to Biosphere 2 who would otherwise not have the opportunity. Partners for selecting these students include Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs, Native American Advancement Foundation, and more. 4. Recruit top K-12 students to attend the UA by highlighting excellence in environmental science, earth science, and sustainability-relevant disciplines. 5. Improve the communication and teaching skills of the 15 selected UA students, while providing them experience of a lifetime. 6. Recruit top STEM students at UA into education careers.
Measurement and Reporting Plan Before, during, and after the Biosphere 2 Outreach Scholar Training, and the Summer Science Academy, we will collect data on participation, effectiveness, attitudes, and areas for improvement. Data on outreach scholars will be collected as part of the application process, including major, year in school, reason for applying, etc. We have used, and will again use, both written evaluation/feedback and online surveys. During the Science Academy we hold daily meetings to assess program execution and participant experiences. Reporting includes summaries of evaluations available for supporters and sponsors. Photographs are an important way to document student experiences and keep parents up-to-date on their children’s experience without risking the home-sickness that can be brought on by personal communication such as phone calls or video chats.
More information about the Biosphere 2 Summer Science Academy, including a summary of evaluation from prior years, is available at: http://biosphere2.org/education/student-science-academy
PROPOSAL BUDGET To offer the Biosphere 2 Summer Science Academy to 90 middle and high school students last summer required a budget of about $300,000. One of the best investments we have made is in UA students who can mentor and chaperone the young students while honing their own leadership, scientific, communication, problem solving, and teaching skill sets. To prepare and train the outreach scholars requires an investment, and we want to offer a stipend to reward and attract the best, most qualified UA students. To abide by important rules, such as constitute the UA minors policy, requires that our Biosphere 2 staff work with UA Human Resources, and pay, to have background checks performed on these UA students that will be working with minors from all over the country that are living on site for a week at a time. We propose recruiting and training 15 Outreach Scholars. Relevant costs are provided here with explanation and justification.
Stipend of $1000 (x 15 outreach scholars) $15,000 Overnight lodging, double occupancy, at Biosphere 2 is $40/person/night as $10,800 dictated by UA and federal rate study guidelines. (18 nights x 15 scholars) Meals need to be provided for 4 days of training and 2 weeks of science academy. $12,150 ($45/person/day x 18 days x 15 scholars) Minors Policy background checks through UA HR ($75 x 15 scholars) $1,125 Consumables such as paper, pens, flip charts, tape, printing, nametags, etc. $225 Uniform (2 t-shirts, a hat , and water bottle per scholar; $40 x 15 scholars) $600 Administrative costs to Biosphere 2 staff for arranging catering, initiating $2,000 background checks, ordering supplies, arranging for stipend disbursement, facilitation of training in research areas, communicating safety protocols and minors policy, etc. (approx. 5% of dollar amount requested) TOTAL $41,900 Auto-calculated in Excel spreadsheet are ERE and Admin Service Charge which bring total higher.
Not included in the budget, but will be supported by Biosphere 2: o Transportation for Outreach Scholars during training (one weekend day in April to Biosphere 2, one weekend day to UA Extension Challenge Ropes Course for training on safe belaying etc., to and from Biosphere 2 for intensive training 27-30 June and then for Science Academy from 09- 23 July). o Researcher staff time for training in our four research areas in which the middle and high school kids will conduct their projects.
Additional funds (to comprise total budget of $300K) to make the experience possible for both UA student outreach scholars and younger student participants in science academy: o Participant tuition ($1500-$2000 depending on when paid) o Scholarship support for 25% of participants raised by Biosphere 2 and college of science to allow underserved students to experience the academy. Scholarship recipients are chosen by collaborating with Big Brother Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs, Native American Advancement Foundation, Tucson Unified School District, etc. o Underwriting by foundations and donors. Value of these contributions in 2015 was more than $50,000 and we are pursuing similar amounts this year. o Salary for me and several of my colleagues to develop, fund, and execute the outreach scholar program and the summer science academy. Biosphere 2 and the UA College of Science are paying these personnel costs.
MARKETING As with previous Green Fund support at Biosphere 2, we will display name and logo prominently in all print materials, on our website, via social media, in announcements and application materials, and on student posters which we will display for several months at Biosphere 2. Participants accepted for the 2014 and 2015 Biosphere 2 Summer Science Academies were from more than 25 US states and three countries providing ample opportunity to raise the profile of UA and its role in promoting STEM education and sustainability.
In 2015 we had 90 middle and high school students come to Biosphere 2 for the summer program, and we sent the announcement to 9,000 teachers, schools, and Biosphere 2 members. Acknowledgment of the UA Green Fund support can be included in all of these emails sent around the state, country, and world.
Biosphere 2 receives about 100,000 annual public visitors, 10% of them K-12 students, and additional web traffic. UA student virtual and residential experiences, use of the Biosphere 2 conference center facilities by folks from around the world, fundraising and VIP visits by UA administrators, elected officials, and others all comprise other opportunities for visibility.
Biosphere 2, and the UA College of Science, devote staff expertise and marketing funds to social media, including Facebook and Twitter. My colleague, Matt Adamson, provides excellent updates and Biosphere 2 ‘LIKES’ have exceeded 26,000; targeted investment in Facebook marketing campaigns have aided this growth.