The School Malaise Trap Program: Coupling educational outreach with scientific discovery.

ABSTRACT: The School Malaise Trap Program (SMTP) provides a technologically sophisticated and scientifically relevant educational experience that exposes students to the diversity of life, enhancing their understanding of biodiversity while promoting environmental stewardship. Since 2013, the SMTP has allowed 15,000 students at 350 primary and secondary schools to explore insect diversity in Canadian schoolyards. Students at each school collected hundreds of insects for an analysis of DNA sequence variation that enabled their rapid identification to a species. Through this hands-on approach, they participated in a learning exercise that conveys a real sense of scientific discovery. As well, the students contributed valuable data to the largest biodiversity genomics initiative ever undertaken: the In

SUBMITTER: Steinke D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5402927 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature