ENGAGING UNDERGRADUATES IN INFORMAL GEOSCIENCE EXPERIENCES

Undergraduate geoscience (paleontology) education typically consists of formal coursework involving classroom, laboratory, and field experiences. Other opportunities exist within the realm of informal science education (ISE) that can provide students with experiences to broaden their undergraduate education. ISE includes out-of-school, “free-choice,” and/or lifelong learning experiences in a variety of settings, including of relevance to paleontology, museums, science and nature centers, and national and state parks. This presentation will discuss the field of ISE as it pertains to undergraduate earth science (paleontology) education and present some case examples. Within this context, students can participate in the development of exhibits as well as implement museum-related educational programs containing paleontological content. They also can work or intern as explainers either ‘on the floor’ of museums, or as interpreters at science-related parks. ISE-related activities can also provide opportunities to engage in citizen science and other outreach initiatives, e.g. with undergraduates assisting in fossil digs with public (volunteer) participation and giving talks to fossil clubs. During these activities, students have the opportunity to communicate about controversial topics such as evolution, the latter of which is neither well understood nor universally accepted by the general public. Engagement in these kinds of activities likewise equips the students with a combination of specialized STEM content (paleontology, geology) knowledge and ISE practice that may position them to pursue non-traditional careers outside of the academic arena. ISE participation therefore results in undergraduate students being better equipped to conduct Broader Impact activities as they develop their professional careers.