Hi everyone,
I'm designing a new course in which I want science (Honours) students to use science to help out the local community. In other words, they have to find out or brainstorm on issues that they know people experience in the area (whether it is challenges in primary education or water shortages), and figure out a way of actually addressing these problems through the application of science (probably biology). A kind of "community service" for scientists course.
Does anybody have advice or experience with running or taking part in similar courses? I'd love to hear about the pitfalls and things that could really work well, in your experience.
Thanks!
Aliza
Dear Aliza, I am not an expert in your field, but attach a brief Google Scholar search including two or your key words. We recently had to submit "ODeL" planning documents in which we had to indicate how we aim to incorporate community engagement in our teaching in the coming years. Something that I saw in the brief search is that ethics may also play a role - another field that we currently are required to respect, particularly in our research. We have to obtain ethical clearance for the majority of our research projects. Good luck with this initiative!
https://scholar.google.co.za/scholar?hl=en&q=biology+and+community+engagement+and+South+Africa&btnG=&as_sdt=1%2C5&as_sdtp=
Engaging communities can dramatically increase the effectiveness of professional practice in a wide range of industries. Community engagement is therefore of interest to a wide range of disciplines including engineering, architecture, health, arts, social work and education. When communities are treated as partners rather than as part of the "problem", new possibilities emerge. Research and case studies from a range of fields of study will explore different perspectives and practices in engaging communities. Students will use this information to examine current practices in their particular field of study. Students will develop foundation skills to enable an awareness of principles of practice and strategies for community engagement in a diversity of settings.
https://www.newcastle.edu.au/course/HLSC2241
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