Program Description
In August 2023, The Bio/Diversity Project launched a new data science track of our environmental science outreach internship program. Led by PI Dr. Katy Prudic and coordinated by Dr. Ellen Bledsoe and Elena Greenberg, the new data science outreach is a 2-year NSF-funded collaborative research opportunity. "Building Capacity in Data Science through Biodiversity, Conservation, and General Education" provides outreach interns robust training and mentorship from local experts and pairs interns with high school teachers to facilitate data science curriculum through the lens of biodiversity conservation.
Data Science Curriculum & Lesson Plans
The Urban Green Space curriculum introduces 8th grade students to the biotic and abiotic factors that sustain desert life. Operating Arduino sensors to collect environmental data, students prepare proposals for an urban green space design in their community.
Lessons culminate with a poster proposal in which students leverage data analysis to justify their green space design proposals.
Links to each lesson are found below:
In this Spanish-language curriculum, 6th graders explore of Sonoran Desert biodiversity. Students examine the unique adaptations of Sonoran Desert wildlife, the critical food webs that support such wildlife, and the keystone species that sustain resilient desert ecosystems.
Lessons culminate with students analyzing data to assess the biodiversity levels of an imagined ecosystem and learning how such data can be used to advocate for biodiversity protections.
Links to each lesson are found below:
This curriculum generates student interest in bird identification and the roles various birds fulfill in our Sonoran Desert ecosystem. Students review data from the wildlife cameras installed on their campus and learn Excel skills to both organize and visualize their bird-sighting data.
Lessons culminate with students preparing a poster presentation in which they leverage data collection and visualization to draw conclusions about the needs of birds in their environment and the human actions that can support bird populations.
Links to each lesson are found below:
In this curriculum, 6th graders learn the importance of pollinators, pollinator migration, and how data can be leveraged to inspire citizen science projects that support the biodiversity of Sonoran Desert pollinators.
Likewise, 9th graders explore the richness of Sonoran Desert pollinators by collecting data from wildlife camera recordings and applying coding techniques to organize and evaluate their data. Lessons conclude with poster presentations featuring data visualizations that build public awareness about the critical needs of Sonoran Desert pollinators.
Links to each lesson are found below:
