Effects of Astrobiology Lectures on Knowledge and Attitudes about Science in Incarcerated Populations.

ABSTRACT: The incarcerated population has little or no access to science education programs, STEM resources, or scientists. We explored the effects of a low-cost, potentially high-impact informal science education program that enabled NASA scientists to provide astrobiology lectures to adults inside 16 correctional institutions in three states. Post- versus pre-lecture surveys suggest that presentations significantly increased science content knowledge, positively shifted attitudes about science and scientists, increased a sense of science self-identity, and enhanced behavioral intentions about communicating science. These were significant across ethnicity, gender, education level, and institution type, size, location, and state. Men scored higher than women on pre-lecture survey questions. Among me

SUBMITTER: Nadkarni NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7591373 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature