Abstract Detail

Education and Outreach

Undergraduate students can perform authentic botanical field research without leaving the campus.

Undergraduate research (UGR) is an effective high-impact practice for developing scientific literacy among college students. UGR is traditionally conducted as individual projects outside the classroom, but more instructors are incorporating authentic research projects into the curriculum of the traditional classroom or lab. Lack of funding, resources, and institutional support can be hurdles to implementing authentic research experiences in botany-related courses. This is especially true when the research involves a field component. However, the grounds of college campuses can provide ample opportunities for students to conduct botanical research. I will discuss an example of a low-cost undergraduate research project conducted using the trees on the campus of Mesa Community College in Arizona. Students in non-major biology lab courses measure the campus trees and quantify the ecosystem services they provide. These services include carbon sequestration, particulate matter interception, and stormwater uptake. The students learn the fundamentals of research and data analysis while gaining field experience without even leaving the campus.

1 - Mesa Community College, Life Science, 1833 W Southern Ave, Mesa, AZ, 85202, United States

Keywords:
education
undergraduate
ecosystem services
community college.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: EO3, Education and Outreach III: Diversity & Inclusion in Botany
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Thursday, July 30th, 2020
Time: 3:15 PM
Number: EO3002
Abstract ID:88
Candidate for Awards:None