Professor leads two National Science Foundation-funded projects to enhance climate science learning
Researchers, led by School of Education Professor Rossella Santagata, partner with students, educators and local communities to create inclusive, equity-centered curriculum for high school students
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Irvine, Calif. October 12, 2023 — UCI School of Education Professor Rossella Santagata is leading as principal investigator for two innovative National Science Foundation (NSF) grants that aim to create inclusive and accessible curricula through community partnership to encourage environmental and climate science learning for high school students.
“These two projects share a common goal, that of equipping the next generation with the skills and knowledge needed to enter environmental science careers and engage with academic and civic leaders on climate change-related issues. Our hope is to contribute to fostering resilience in students by preparing them to tackle the impacts of climate change, while also learning to advocate for their communities,” said Santagata, who is a founding faculty and director of the school’s Education Center for Research on Teacher Development and Professional Practice. Environmental engineering education A three-year, $1.6 million grant focused on creating a model for high school environmental engineering education that aims to inspire and properly equip students for careers in this area of study to address climate change challenges with equity and justice in mind. The project, “Fostering Systems Thinking in High School Environmental Engineering through Engagement of Coastal Communities,” will develop an inclusive curriculum to equip the next generation of environmental engineers with the necessary skills to analyze complex natural and social systems, collaborate with diverse communities and develop creative solutions. |
Rossella Santagata
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“In this project, we will utilize a new paradigm of ‘model-validate-iterate,’ where students model aspects of a dynamic real-world system, use data to validate whether their initial presumptions resonate with reality and then create multiple iterations as they explore how that system is changing over time. This is a novel way to teach engineering at the high school level, where typically a ‘design-build-test’ paradigm is emphasized, even though it is not applicable to climate change engineering solutions,” Santagata said.
The project will examine students’ learning process and development of critical science agency, as well as co-design curriculum with local teachers, informal science educators, students from minoritized communities, and nonprofit and community partners.
The interdisciplinary team comprises of UCI researchers: co-PI Hosun Kang (School of Education associate professor), co-PI Jennifer Long (education & outreach coordinator for the Center for Environmental Biology); and collaborators Symone Gyles (School of Education assistant professor), and Brett Sanders (The Henry Samueli School of Engineering professor). The team also includes co-PI Sara Ludovise of the Orange County of Department of Education.
Co-designing curriculum with AI
Another three-year, approximately $500,000 grant will investigate the use of artificial intelligence to assist K-12 science learning. The project, “Equity-Centered Design of Conversational Agents for Inclusive Science Communication Education in High Schools,” will develop an AI-guided science curriculum for learning and practicing inclusive science communication about marine biodiversity and climate change.
Santagata is working with co-PIs Ludovise and Ha Nguyen, assistant professor from Utah State University and a School of Education Ph.D. alumna.
Students will interact with conversational agents representing different community perspectives around the local marine ecosystems, and collaborate with peers to train and create their own conversational agents to share views on marine conservation. The project will provide high school students with meaningful engagement and a deeper understanding of science communication, AI literacy, and interest in careers in AI and broader science fields.
The research will also focus on facilitating equitable and collaborative partnerships among informal educators, community partners and students to co-design curricula that encourage positive learning outcomes.
“Ha Nguyen, Sara Ludovise and I have designed this project to facilitate the integration of the lived experiences of students from minoritized groups into conversational agents’ data and to support students to think through strategies for conversational agents to avoid biases against people from different backgrounds. Our research will provide insights into how youth leverage their cultural, social and personal identities in interaction with AI and how these interactions shape their engagement and learning,” Santagata said.
The project will examine students’ learning process and development of critical science agency, as well as co-design curriculum with local teachers, informal science educators, students from minoritized communities, and nonprofit and community partners.
The interdisciplinary team comprises of UCI researchers: co-PI Hosun Kang (School of Education associate professor), co-PI Jennifer Long (education & outreach coordinator for the Center for Environmental Biology); and collaborators Symone Gyles (School of Education assistant professor), and Brett Sanders (The Henry Samueli School of Engineering professor). The team also includes co-PI Sara Ludovise of the Orange County of Department of Education.
Co-designing curriculum with AI
Another three-year, approximately $500,000 grant will investigate the use of artificial intelligence to assist K-12 science learning. The project, “Equity-Centered Design of Conversational Agents for Inclusive Science Communication Education in High Schools,” will develop an AI-guided science curriculum for learning and practicing inclusive science communication about marine biodiversity and climate change.
Santagata is working with co-PIs Ludovise and Ha Nguyen, assistant professor from Utah State University and a School of Education Ph.D. alumna.
Students will interact with conversational agents representing different community perspectives around the local marine ecosystems, and collaborate with peers to train and create their own conversational agents to share views on marine conservation. The project will provide high school students with meaningful engagement and a deeper understanding of science communication, AI literacy, and interest in careers in AI and broader science fields.
The research will also focus on facilitating equitable and collaborative partnerships among informal educators, community partners and students to co-design curricula that encourage positive learning outcomes.
“Ha Nguyen, Sara Ludovise and I have designed this project to facilitate the integration of the lived experiences of students from minoritized groups into conversational agents’ data and to support students to think through strategies for conversational agents to avoid biases against people from different backgrounds. Our research will provide insights into how youth leverage their cultural, social and personal identities in interaction with AI and how these interactions shape their engagement and learning,” Santagata said.
