Big Bend Conservation & Education Assessment

As the field of marine animal conservation tackles significant challenges within social-ecological systems, there is a growing need to enhance our comprehension of how learners enact change within these systems. Our multidisciplinary team spent the past year forging partnerships with stakeholders in Levy, Dixie, and Taylor Counties to positively impact the conservation of key marine animals by empowering resiliency in local communities. We learned that community members frequently encounter marine mammals; believe all should be protected; engage in conservation, and are very interested in community science. We have also come to recognize the unanticipated potential of the local school system as a key partner. This project will extend our efforts to include the curriculum practices of secondary science and social studies teachers, the students and school clubs they serve, and their interest in community science projects. Marine animal conservation requires scientific and sociopolitical knowledge; thus, science and social studies teachers are important resources for advancing conservation efforts. After our needs assessment, we will offer a professional development (PD) workshop complete with locally relevant conservation curriculum materials. This work will directly impact underserved rural communities through a genuine and sustained partnership with key stakeholders. This project will build partnerships with teachers at Cedar Key School, Yankeetown School, Nature Coast Middle School, Ruth Rains Middle School, Dixie County High School, Taylor County Middle School, and Taylor County High School.