RESEARCH, TEACHING AND SERVICE: ADDING NEW ENTREES TO THE UNDERGRADUATE FEAST

Most major university institutions have intentions to impart research, teaching and service proficiency upon their students. This mixture of skills is not always met through traditional lab-lecture learning formats. The out-of-lecture format of the Environmental Science Teaching Program (ESTP) at UC Berkeley primes students for job preparedness and gives students opportunities to expand upon their knowledge of science. The interdisciplinary nature of science as a problem-solving tool requires students to have a certain level of aptitude in order to be successful post graduation. ESTP enables its participants to execute research projects in a field-related setting, while letting students innovatively examine varying environmental earth science issues. In addition, students are given the chance to attend science society meetings, to engage in the role of an undergraduate Teaching Assistant and to mentor and teach High School and Middle School students through ESTP's CalSci program. ESTP members share their learning experiences with one another in presentation format throughout the course of the year. Alternative teaching tools may increase the richness of the undergraduate smorgasbord and mold the undergraduate journey into a lifelong learning experience. Through increased social skills and an augmented knowledge of the political dimensions of science, college students receive both the hands-on experience and the background necessary to further pursue alternative education methods and science-based careers.