“One of the best and most rewarding experiences of my high school career.” That’s the review from a student participant in Community Science, one of the Seattle Aquarium’s many outreach programs that thrive with your support. This hands-on marine science education program is designed to stimulate scientific inquiry among historically underrepresented high school students in the Puget Sound area.
The Community Science program partners with local high school classes to have them participate in real data collection and culminates in groups of students designing and conducting their own scientific studies. One teacher reflected that, “The program provides valuable real-world experience with science—there is no substitute for it that would be possible in the classroom. It definitely helped me achieve my goal of getting the students familiar with a real field study and how to conduct one.”
Community science enters a new era of learning
In 2024, the Seattle Aquarium’s Community Science program begins a new partnership with the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) to help implement a long-term study of marine debris on local beaches and its impact on wildlife.
The previous 15-year study of local beaches and intertidal life will be used to chronicle changes in the coastal environments of Puget Sound. These data sets will be made available to students and professionals at a future date.
The COASST study seeks to analyze the health of our local beaches and compel those in power to protect seabirds and other marine wildlife in the Salish Sea and beyond.
The program’s goals are to:
- Stimulate scientific inquiry and conservation action among historically underrepresented high school students.
- Bolster scientific collection and data analysis of marine debris to support the ongoing scientific work of the Seattle Aquarium’s field research teams.
For the current Community Science study, the Seattle Aquarium aims to:
- Establish a science education program that trains high school students to collect and analyze data with the goal of providing meaningful, inquiry-based field experiences that allow students to participate in real-world problem-solving.
- Partner with COASST to contribute to an ongoing study conducted along the entire western coast of North America. This data will help with species protection and contribute to solving the real problem of marine pollution.
- Encourage high school students to learn the value of scientific procedure and problem-solving, while also engaging in the Aquarium’s mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment. This goes beyond scientific procedure, helping students on their journeys of community action, career preparedness, environmental justice and building skills for a changing world.
If you are a high school teacher interested in getting involved with the Community Science program, please contact us at registration@seattleaquarium.org.
