Keeping it real - empowering youth in science through water quality monitoring

BioSITE (Students Investigating Their Environment) is a watershed education field program developed by Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose to change the way students engage with science. Students are empowered as citizen... [ view full abstract ]

BioSITE (Students Investigating Their Environment) is a watershed education field program developed by Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose to change the way students engage with science. Students are empowered as citizen scientists by monitoring and evaluating the health of local creeks as they also explore the complexities of river ecology and human/nature interactions. Students "keep it real" by using authentic scientific equipment, field techniques, and real-time interpretation of results. Water quality monitoring provides a powerful framework for science education, bringing science to life and within reach. However, how can student monitors keep it real for everyone else? Without a local forum for disseminating and sharing their data, BioSITE students are limited in the impact of their work. They benefit from their own scientific experience, but could be even more empowered by connecting and sharing their work with a larger community. How can student monitoring groups work together and with wider organizations to bring greater voice and authenticity to the terrific work they do? In this presentation about BioSITE, youth presenters will share their personal experiences as monitors and their perspectives on how to "keep it real" for student scientists moving into the future.