National Geographic BioBlitz: Fostering diversity and inclusion, lifelong learning, and meaningful experiences

The National Geographic Society, in collaboration with the U.S. National Park Service, hosts an annual BioBlitz, a 24-hour species inventory that involves students, citizens of all ages, scientists, and other interested... [ view full abstract ]

The National Geographic Society, in collaboration with the U.S. National Park Service, hosts an annual BioBlitz, a 24-hour species inventory that involves students, citizens of all ages, scientists, and other interested individuals. National Geographic also reaches out to schools and communities to support schoolyard bioblitzes and community bioblitzes. The goals of these species inventories are widespread—capturing a snapshot of species living within a variety of areas (including residential, urban, and industrial zones); engaging local communities in efforts to collect data and get outside to explore their own backyards; and encouraging a relationship between the natural and human communities of a given area. The 2014 Nat Geo BioBlitz, held in San Francisco’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area, aimed at including students from underrepresented communities. In this case, supporters were able to provide some school districts with funding to enable students to attend, though budgetary restrictions cannot always allow projects to do this. What options exist for fostering inclusion of those students who aren’t traditionally represented in citizen science? Teacher professional development prior to the San Francisco BioBlitz focused on engaging students before, during, and after the main event. Time in the field is short, and students’ experience should extend beyond this. How do we keep students connected to their environment after the event? Technology presents a range of challenges, from privacy issues for young students to connectivity in the field. Do all students have access to smartphones? Is there an Internet connection available at every site? Is there meaning attached to data collection? We continue to work through these issues as we conduct more park-based, schoolyard, and community bioblitzes. In this presentation, we will share these questions and the lessons we’ve learned through more than eight years of hosting and supporting BioBlitzes.