Place-based Earth Science. A new way of teaching a college earth systems science course at the University of Oklahoma

To a great extent, the college students we educate are a displaced group. They are displaced from their sources of water, food, energy, materials, families and inspirations. In addition, many of the students taking courses in the earth sciences have no sense of connection with their environment, resulting in an absence of a sense of care or responsibility. Earth systems courses in many cases have become a linear set of topics, one leading to another, but with a lack of the circular vision that ties each topic together to form a sense of place. In this program, the newly formed OU Colleges of Earth and Energy, Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, the Art Department, and Native American Studies are providing earth systems research and educational opportunities for Native American students at both the secondary and college level. The project strives to increase the awareness of earth systems science and its importance for the public at large and the Native American community in particular. In this project, a “pipeline” is being developed that starts at the Middle School/High School level, and continues through the introductory college level and the upper-class college level (Figure 1). This “pipeline” has three components: 1) An education and research enrichment program for 7-12th grade Native American students which integrates indigenous knowledge into the geosciences as well as a research experience for teachers (RET) who work in schools with a high percentage of Native American students, 2) An introductory undergraduate earth systems course that integrates indigenous knowledge into the geosciences, uses Native American Art as a vehicle of learning, and acknowledges the learning styles of Native American students, and 3) A program to provide research internship opportunities for Native American students from OU as well as from partner institutions.