CULTIVATING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND ENGAGEMENT IN SCIENCE EDUCATION AT OXNARD COLLEGE: AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PERSPECTIVE

Oxnard College offers a vibrant learning environment where students actively engage with diverse teaching methods and tangible materials. Visual representations depict students immersed in activities exploring Earth's structure, plate tectonics, and ocean currents.

Utilizing an Earth Globe featuring tectonic plates and seafloor bathymetry, paired with Play-Doh to represent internal Earth layers, demonstrates a tactile method for understanding geological structures. This hands-on approach fosters effective comprehension among students and aligns with the goal of creating inclusive science communication settings.

The use of Pizza and Lava Lamps to simulate plate tectonic movement and mantle convection currents enriches the learning experience, making complex scientific concepts accessible. Employing a wave tank provides firsthand observations of surface waves, further enhancing the learning environment. Through visual aids and interactive demonstrations, instructors enhance comprehension and foster inclusivity in the classroom.

Students engage with ocean density circulation models in the laboratory to explore heat transfer through convection, gaining insights into complex circulation patterns. Fieldwork assessing volcanic centers within the Conejo Volcanics and Ventura County’s beach sand migration patterns provides practical techniques and improves communication skills. These activities underscore the importance of culturally relevant content in education, validating students' identities and enriching their learning experiences within diverse perspectives in science communication.

Our initiatives reflect a commitment to addressing educational disparities and supporting students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. By acknowledging their specific challenges and striving to provide equitable access to educational opportunities, instructors embody effective science communication principles. Fostering a supportive community and building relationships based on trust and inclusivity empower students to overcome obstacles and succeed academically. This narrative advocates for reimagining science communication through a lens of environmental justice, urging a shift from performance-driven approaches to community-responsive, relational engagement, thereby advancing scientific discourse and inclusivity.