Engaging schools with long-term monitoring of nature

Engaging schools with long-term monitoring of nature

School Science Review, 2021

Citation

Pearce-Higgins, J.W. 2021. Engaging schools with long-term monitoring of nature. School Science Review 102: 31. The Association for Science Education

Overview

In a new paper for the School Science Review (SSR), a themed journal for science teachers, BTO’s Director of Science describes how schools can contribute to long-term biodiversity monitoring schemes, and the benefits to schools and students of them doing so.

Abstract

Biodiversity-monitoring citizen science schemes provide valuable long-term monitoring data and benefit participants. There is increasing interest in engaging young people with nature. The British Trust for Ornithology’s ‘What’s Under Your Feet?’ project shows how school children can monitor soil invertebrates. Although individual projects like this are often funding- and time-limited, more generic long-term biodiversity-monitoring citizen science schemes may be equally suitable for school participation. Example schemes from the UK are reviewed, and the potential advantages in school participation for teachers and students are highlighted in order to raise awareness of this potential opportunity.

Staff author(s)