BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN THE RESEARCH LAB AND K-16 EDUCATION: SOME EXAMPLES FROM A NATIONAL LABORATORY

The National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics (NCED) is an NSF-funded Science and Technology Center devoted to interdisciplinary understanding of the ecological and physical processes that define and shape rivers and river networks. In addition to several research facilities and field sites, NCED has active partners in formal and informal education ranging from a tribal college to a major museum. Pre-service and in-service K-12 teachers intern in the laboratory with research staff and graduate students serve in museum assistantships, while both work with Center staff to design year round environmental camps for tribal youth. A major goal of all of these activities is greater integration of current research data and methods in Earth-surface processes with education at all levels. This session will present preliminary results of this integrated approach to Earth-science education.