U.S. and Brazilian Educators Learn Conservation Lessons
With funding from the Ford Motor Company the EWI Conservation Initiative ran the first
bi-national educator team to the Pantanal CRC. The team included 5 Brazilian secondary high school teachers from various schools in Campo Grande, the capital of the state of Matto Grosso and closest city to the Pantanal Research Center. Three of the US educators came from Hudson High School, a school in Massachusetts with a large Brazilian immigrant population. The other two US teachers came from international schools in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
The purpose of the pilot educator team was twofold 1) to assist EWI researchers, Reginaldo Donatelli ("Pantanal Birds Project") and Don Eaton ("Pantanal Wetlands") in collecting baseline data on birds, aquatic species, and mammals critical to conserving the region's rich biodiversity and 2) to shape goals for EWI's Conservation Education programs, that would work both in US and Brazilian classrooms.
Don Eaton, the aquatic specialist observed, "For me, and Reginaldo, this team was extremely positive and productive. It's obvious to us that the students lucky enough to be taught by these teachers will leave the classroom inspired and with a clear sense of the importance of basic science to conservation."
"The team was indefatigable," reported Meg Warren, EWI Manager of Collaborative Projects who accompanied the group to the Pantanal, and facilitated the discussion of education topics along with Mariza Silva, CI-Brazil Environmental Education Coordinator. "We started work as early as 4: 30 am, and were going strong all day long sometimes as late as 9 pm at night, recording birds, censusing mammals, or catching fish. When not busy collecting or entering data, we were discussing education priorities. "
During "siesta", the teachers were able to draft a common purpose statement and a set of 7 educational goals. The goals will help to guide collaboration and curricular development with a focus both on conserving the Pantanal, and on comparing the Pantanal and local school environments.
Since April, pilot team participants have presented numerous slide shows to students, colleagues, and school committees. US students have conducted local biodiversity studies, and exchanged introductory emails and information via the Internet. Campo Grande teachers have met several times to plan student field trips to the Pantanal, and are sponsoring a Teachers' Workshop on the Pantanal at the end of June.
Earthwatch Institute is an international nonprofit organization which supports scientific field research worldwide by offering members of the public unique opportunities to work alongside leading field scientists and researchers. The Institute's mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment