The Role of Youth-based Citizen Science in Improving Overall Community Health: Individual and Family Relationships with Citizen Science

The East Bay Academy for Young Scientists (EBAYS) aims to support members of non-dominant communities in their struggles to improve and maintain overall community health. One of the essential strategies employed by EBAYS... [ view full abstract ]

The East Bay Academy for Young Scientists (EBAYS) aims to support members of non-dominant communities in their struggles to improve and maintain overall community health. One of the essential strategies employed by EBAYS entails presenting programs at middle and high schools that enable young people to develop deeper understanding of relevant science content, as well as key scientific practice skills necessary for effective participation in collaborative research projects. Once they have engaged in EBAYS activities , participants are provided with opportunities to engage in research projects that generate information useful in addressing critical environmental issues. In addition, participants receive opportunities to present results of their research to other members of their communities and the scientific community at large. These combined activities have proven to be effective as a means of: a) increasing appreciation for the value of scientific practices as a tool for addressing important community-based issues; b) helping raise community awareness of important issues; c) sparking interest in other forms of community activism; and d) generating valuable environmental quality data.

Three stories will be presented that illustrate the impact that EBAYS programming has had on youth participants and their families. We will outline the programmatic and personal steps taken to achieve this impact, and describe the planned and unexpected changes that have happened at individual, organizational and community levels. Speakers will include EBAYS educators, a mother, and her two sons – one a UC Berkeley freshman who began work with EBAYS in 6th grade, and the other a high school student and current EBAYS scientist. We will share the successes and challenges of supporting positive scientific, educational and community outcomes in non-dominant communities, as well as the motives that have sustained our participation in citizen science.