Science literacy encourages students to find practical solutions to environmental problems
- Feb 22, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Parami first-year students have finished the three-week-long Citizen Science (Cit. Sci) Program. At the end of the three-week program, Parami students applied the scientific concepts and evaluations learned and developed practical solutions to the climate change and environmental issues facing their community. Incorporating the curriculum of Bard College, all incoming freshman students are required to take mandatory workshops, such as the Citizen Science (Cit. Sci) Program, that prepare them for the transition to higher education
Citizen Science (Cit. Sci) Program is a science literacy foundation program that introduces students to various approaches to scientifically analyze pressing issues in society. The program aims to equip first-year students with the knowledge and skills to become scientifically literate by developing a core understanding of both the conduct and the content of science. At the end of the program, students will be able to demonstrate the importance of science literacy in everyday life, provide concrete examples of the role of science in society, and connect some scientific concepts to their university studies.
The project's theme varies from year to year, and the selected theme for each year reflects its importance and relevance to society. The chosen theme for this year's citizen science projects was ‘Climate Change and Environment,’ and students were put into four groups to work on four areas: (1) Air, (2) Life, (3) Land, and (4) Water.
Parami's students are excited to discuss the inspiration behind their projects and their experiences with the Citizen Science Program.
The ‘Air’ project team was awarded the Platinum Prize (1st Prize) for raising awareness of the negative environmental impacts of air conditioning and encouraging individuals to participate in solving this problem.
“The demand for air conditioners has been increasing. People are trying to comfort themselves with air conditioning, but they do not see its dark side. The more they use the air conditioning, the more they feel the heat. Only a small percentage of people have noticed it. We believe our project can raise awareness of how air conditioners affect the environment. At least, if people recognize that, we can say our project is successful.” — Hnin Ei Wai Lwin, a member of the 'Air' project team
Many people may be aware that coral reefs are crucial to underwater ecosystems and help protect coastal areas from storms and erosion. Read more about the research by the Gold prize winner 'Life' project team advocating that individuals can simply contribute to protecting the coral reefs by recycling their trash properly and making sure that the fish or a group of fish you are buying at the market is ethical.
“Our team aims to raise awareness of the effects of climate change on the coral reefs, and we hope this project will make the public more aware of climate change. Furthermore, we hope that our efforts could help the biodiversity, especially the coral reefs, to recover from the weakened condition to its best by making people realize that they are important for the ecosystem and must protect them at all costs.” — Sai Sai Ohum Khay, a member of the 'Life' project team
Mining is another major contributor to climate change; however, few are aware of the consequences for people's lives. Learn more about climate change on mining from a project by the Silver award winner 'Land project team.
As we, human beings, live on the land, the well-being of the land is also important. Thus, it is relevant to all people living on the land, and it is everyone's responsibility to maintain it. — Min Thant Hein, a member of the 'Land' project team
Water pollution and water shortage are other environmental issues faced by many societies around the world. Through close observation of their communities and their curiosity, the Bronze award-winning 'Water' project team developed solutions to address these problems.
“As a ‘Water’ team member, I got to observe the harmful actions of citizens from various sectors damaging the water resources: flooding, water scarcity, and pollution. Water is a survival need for all species, so it is essential for the public to be aware of the environmental limitations and work to resolve them and prevent future risks. We focused on delivering the foundation of the water problem in the 21st century’s causes and presenting some solutions for households to businesses level so that people could participate in this journey to a sustainable environment,” said May Lawoon, a member of the 'Water' project team
Students who participated in the Citizen Science Program reported gaining valuable knowledge and practical skills related to environmental science, teamwork, and responsible citizenship. May Lawoon emphasized that the program strengthened scientific and environmental literacy, helping students make informed decisions and better understand how technology can support sustainable development. Sai Sai Ohum Khay highlighted teamwork experience from collaborating with 20 members on climate change and biodiversity projects, which improved adaptability, flexibility, and communication skills. Similarly, Hnin Ei shared that the workshop changed her perception of environmental responsibility, inspiring her to practice planting trees and flowers in her daily life. Meanwhile, Min Thant Hein gained practical experience in land-related environmental management and project coordination within a diverse team at Parami University, noting that overcoming early communication and organization challenges ultimately improved team collaboration and project management skills.
See all the research projects from the Citizen Science Program in 2024:
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