"Doing Science" as Service Learning

 

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2008, Volume 29

Beth Landon

Abstract

Community service performed by students in university science departments has most often been in forms such as mentors in tutoring programs, supporting science fairs, or in outreach programs designed to ignite incipient scientists to a lifetime of discovery. However, the question has been raised, how can a science department in a college or university actually "do science" and be of service to the community? How can scientists-in-training perform testing and experiments in the field and in laboratories that will provide a quantifiable benefit to the local community? Oklahoma City University in partnership with the Blue Thumb Program has found a way to take this initiative in a new direction. Students, both majors and non-majors, in the Department of Biology at Oklahoma City University collect data and perform chemical testing on local streams. This information, collated and analyzed with data from other volunteer groups around Oklahoma, is used to guide decision-making by groups as diverse as neighborhood associations, the local food bank, the State Department of Environmental Quality. The University is also graduating citizens with a greater awareness and responsibility for their communities and with real skills to bring about change.

Keywords:  service learning

University of Kentucky (2007)