Hawaiʻi recognized for integrating science with civic engagement, preparing “citizen scientists”
The statewide UH team builds on work from Kapiʻolani Community College, Windward Community College, UH Mānoa and UH Hilo along with the Native Hawaiian Initiative and Hui o Moku.
What do the economics of climate change, the upkeep of a Native Hawaiian fishpond and the removal of invasive algae have in common? They are all part of what makes the University of Hawaiʻi the leading institution in the nation in integrating science with civic responsibility.
The National Center for Science and Civic Engagement has identified Hawaiʻi as the first model state for Science Education for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities (SENCER). The Hawaiʻi SENCER Team was honored at the Washington symposium and national meeting held in late Sept. U.S. Representative Mark Takai addressed the audience and spoke with pride about Hawaiʻi’s efforts to effectively integrate science with civic engagement and to prepare “citizen scientists.”
Hawaiʻi’s SENCER work is varied and includes social and indigenous sciences with natural sciences as its focus. The now statewide UH team builds on recent work of faculty from Kapiʻolani Community College, Windward Community College, UH Mānoa and UH Hilo and two groups within its team of SENCER practitioners—the Native Hawaiian Initiative and Hui o Moku.
Hui o Moku is inter-island, interdisciplinary and uses activities such as service learning, and community-based research, to strengthen “SENCERized” transfer bridges from community colleges to universities for all students, especially Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island youth.
The Native Hawaiian Initiative links social and natural sciences to indigenous Hawaiian knowledge. The team is currently designing a two-year program that includes coursework, community-based research, engagement and peer mentoring for Native Hawaiian undergraduate College of Social Science majors.
See examples and full story at UH System News website to learn more.
