The Bio/Diversity Project aims to increase interest and diversity in the environmental sciences among students who are traditionally underrepresented in these fields (e.g., girls, Latino/a, Native American, African American students), and also foster a sense of environmental responsibility among program participants. To do so, we train UA student interns majoring in environmental science-related fields to work with local teachers to develop and implement engaging lessons in K-12 classes at schools serving primarily students of color and low-income students. UA interns work with teachers to identify lessons and activities that compliment existing curricula, and then visit schools to deliver these lessons for a minimum of 1 hour per week for about 12 weeks per semester.

The Program coordinates a field trip for all participant classes to either Saguaro National Park or the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; admission costs are covered by the program. Classes also receive a FREE visit from local environmental science educators from partner organizations (who often bring live animals or other interactive props).  During the spring semester, all participating classes will work on an action project to help foster greater biodiversity in their schoolyard.  Projects might include planting a pollinator garden, building bat boxes, or organizing a buffel grass pull.  Each class will be given a small budget for necessary supplies.  

No prior knowledge of environmental science or biodiversity is required to participate in this program as a partner teacher.  However, a commitment to fostering diversity in the sciences and environmental responsibility among students is!  

If you are interested in participating as a partner teacher during the 2019-20 academic year, please complete the short application that follows. Email Elena Greenberg at elenagreenberg@email.arizona.edu with questions.

This program is a collaboration between the UA Women in Science and Engineering Program, the Friends of Saguaro National Park, and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. It was funded by the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice through 2018, and is now funded by the UA Green Fund through 2020.