Project

Supporting the Development of Socioecological Literacy

Connecting underserved youth with regionally relevant careers.

This project advances efforts to better understand and promote practices that broaden access to and interest in regionally relevant science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) occupations for underrepresented youth. Situated within the context of Maine's vibrant aquaculture industry, third graders from across the state will explore human-nature interactions in marine resource-dependent economies through hands-on learning experiences at active farms, the construction and revision of computational models of natural systems, and engagement with choice-based virtual economic games.

Project Goals:

  • Broaden participation in Maine’s growing aquaculture industry.
  • Elucidate a model for local school districts to connect participating youth with a regional workforce through industry and community partnerships.
  • Provide Maine elementary students with a foundation of systems thinking and economic reasoning.
  • Support a future citizenry who understand how particular decisions based on anticipated futures can achieve or not achieve certain environmental goals.

Project Team

Project Sponsor

This project is funded by the National Science Foundation, award #2048828.

Project Partner

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