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The Curriculum
Photo by Pete Mauney '93 MFA '00

The Curriculum

In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, PFAS (a class of toxic forever chemicals) were identified in the waterways of Parkersburg, West Virginia and were later linked to multiple forms of cancer. Since that time, these forever chemicals have been identified around the globe. From fresh water resources in Asia to the rainforests of South America, PFAS has even been identified within common household products like infant formula in South Africa. Now, 20-30 years later, it is assumed that this toxic chemical is found in the blood of virtually every person on the planet. Through the lens of PFAS contamination, the Citizen Science Program tackles urgent, present-day questions related to water contamination and works to place these conversations within the students' daily lives and imagined futures. We will consider in what ways social, historical, and political factors are at work even when we think we are engaged in “objective” science. In 2023 we will explore the properties of water, as well as how these properties influence the contamination (and decontamination) of water. Using laboratory investigations and active classroom discussions during these few intensive January weeks, the focus will be on the creation, analysis, and interpretation of scientific evidence. The program consists of a common core of coursework plus students select one of three different lab strands: (1) The Environmental Water Lab, (2) Science Communication and Education, or (3) Public Action.
 

Many Paths to Engaged Science

Each day of the program, Citizen Science students have two, 75-minute sessions of common core coursework, a 30-minute final project session, plus a 90-minute "lab" strand session.  Based upon their submitted rank-order preference, students are assigned to a strand during the fall semester.  Each year the lab strands are re-imagined and re-designed to ensure they are up-to-date and represent the best of the evolving curriculum and faculty. For 2023, students have three lab strand options.

  • Environmental Water Lab (2023)

    Environmental Water Lab (2023)


    Water is one of the most fundamental building blocks of life. This colorless, flavorless, and seemingly ‘uninteresting’ liquid covers nearly 71% of the Earth's surface. However, only a small fraction of that water (~2.5%) exists as freshwater used by countless animals, plants, fungi, and microbes every day1. How then, do we understand and protect this resource vital to life? In the Environmental Water Lab, we will conduct both laboratory assays and novel experiments to explore and better understand how both human and non-human factors affect the water around us and those living downstream. In this strand, students will work towards building a portfolio  focused on understanding the science, technology, and data surrounding how water impacts our daily lives and is vital in supporting a sustainable future.
    1Water in Crisis: A Guide to the World’s Freshwater Resources (1993)
  • Science Communication and Education (2023)

    Science Communication and Education (2023)


    The students in this lab strand will be placed either in a section focused on Science Communication for Education, or a section focused on the broader field of Science Communication.   Differences are explained below.

    Science Communication for Education
    In this strand, students will learn about theories and practical strategies for transformative science education, culminating in designs for hands-on science activities for use in community-based settings.  In the lab, students in this strand will engage in research of their own and develop classroom activities for middle school aged learners. Students in this strand will be spending part of their  lab sessions working directly with local 8th grade students that have come to campus for a science focused field trip. This strand is ideal for students who are interested in any field of education, and for those who would like to gain experience and knowledge for doing hands-on work within community-centered contexts. 

    Science Communication
    We are increasingly surrounded by scientific information and misinformation. As consumers, how can we have a more informed and nuanced understanding of how science is communicated? Additionally, how do we strengthen our understanding of the connections among science, education, art, and society? In the Science Communication strand, we will engage with the pillars of communication to understand how one can become a more conscious producer and consumer of information. Students in this strand will consider both general communication theory and specifically science communication by developing a portfolio leading to their own science communication piece.
  • Public Action (2023)

    Public Action (2023)


    The Public Action strand will dive into topics of public health, science policy, and environmental justice. We will discuss how science impacts (or does not impact) how policy is created, implemented, and what makes these policies more or less effective. We will examine why marginalized communities experience disproportionate health burdens and how communities can organize for justice. We will work towards developing a portfolio exploring art and writing related to the environment, and look at what has worked to change minds in the past with an eye toward our future.

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    PO Box 5000
    Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504
    [email protected]
    845-758-7490
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PO Box 5000
Annandale-on-Hudson, New York 12504-5000
Phone: 845-758-6822
Admission E-mail: [email protected]
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