ACHIEVING A CULTURE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION THROUGH PLACE-BASED INFORMAL STEM EDUCATION AND CULTURAL IMMERSION IN A HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY

Cultural immersion can be a powerful tool for developing a sense of understanding and acceptance essential for a diverse workforce, that may not be achieved through traditional classroom settings. Most undergraduate students, however, have limited opportunities to experience a culture different from their own during their college career. We addressed this issue through a collaboration between Aloha MAP (Meritorious Achievement Program) in Kailua-Kona, HI, and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UW-W). Aloha MAP, a Native Hawaiian education initiative, is a federally funded grant project designed to improve achievement through culturally relevant academic and cultural learning, for high needs Native Hawaiian students enrolled in grades K-12 in eight Kealakehe complex schools along the Kona Coast of Hawai‘i Island. During Summer 2018, a group of UW-W students participated as Aloha MAP educators to lead place-based, culturally relevant, hands-on science activities during the month-long program, while they themselves were immersed in Hawaiian culture.

Place-based activities are powerful agents for making teaching and learning of the geosciences relevant for students. This is especially true for Big Island, HI, which is constantly being shaped by both volcanic activities and marine processes. Furthermore, native Hawaiian culture and traditions are infused with the legacy and scientific practices of the first Polynesian navigators and explorers who settled on the Hawaiian Islands. UW-W student educators designed hands-on activities around ancient and modern navigation techniques, boat design, marine ecosystem, volcanism and seismicity to complement the Aloha MAP learning experience.

This collaboration benefited all participants on multiple levels. UW-W students experienced a rich and vibrant culture, and became ambassadors for this project on their home campus. The Aloha MAP participants were engaged in hands-on science activities designed to promote curiosity and learning in STEM. . This presentation will highlight how we can foster a culture of diversity and inclusion through our collaboration.