3C-1 - A New Approach to Building and Forging Equity in Science Education

Abstract: There are many approaches to expand the reach of astronomy education and to deepen learning experiences. Some address educational equity and are designed to benefit underserved audiences. Strengthening the skill level of the “providers” is one approach often used. We strive to work with professional and amateur astronomers, university and government astronomy research centers, teachers of astronomy at all levels, astronomy visitor centers, and informal institutions including museum and planetariums.

In the United States, but also in many other countries, there are active forces working against these equity efforts. Attack to devalue education professionals, dismiss the importance of public schools, and to attack the independence of libraries are common. Respect for scientists and an understanding of the importance of evidence-based science are diminishing. This flood of assaults affects science education and may discourage or even defund programs that promote diverse thinking, system-based knowledge, and especially indigenous knowledge. An intolerance of diverse ways of thinking, knowing, and learning is becoming normalized.

What can we do as STEM professionals to reverse this trend? I will addresses a broad, practical plan to promote educational equity and inclusive approaches. As such, it can be used to support more diverse ways of knowing and learning in audiences not reached by many current efforts. My talk provides a broad perspective on what has been tried, what works and what doesn’t, and how we can make progress in better utilizing STEM professionals and their STEM-based organizations. The approach described is based upon my decades of engagement with the science education ecosystem as a teacher, informal educator, educational consultant, NSF program PI, and EPO leader at the U.S. national observatory.