NCSCE and KQED are partnering on a new project, Do Now U. Do Now U engages undergraduate students in online discussions about current scientific issues through the innovative use of social media.
This week’s post, “Should Animals be Kept in Zoos? Why or Why Not?,” was created by Sophia Buscher and Victoria Staudenraus, students at Saint Mary’s College of California, in partnership with the Lindsay Wildlife Experience. In creating the post, the students followed the Lindsay Wildlife Experience’s mission statement of “connecting people with wildlife to inspire responsibility and respect for the world we share.” Saint Mary’s College of California and Lindsay Wildlife Experience are a cross sector partnership supported by SENCER-ISE.
The post, “Should Animals be Kept in Zoos? Why or Why Not?,” details the conservation and educational benefits of zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which has high standards for animal care, science, and conservation, as well as the arguments against animal captivity in zoos, such as high stress levels, and issues with breeding programs.
Join the Conversation!
Do Now U is an excellent way to encourage students to flex their STEM communication muscles and engage in national conversations. Assign this or other Do Now U posts as a warm-up exercise, homework assignment, or as part of a class discussion. Students can comment directly on the post, or on Twitter using the hashtag #DoNowUZoo.
Previous Do Now U posts explore topics ranging from minimum wage to health and wellness. View all posts to find a topic that interests you.
Photo credit: Sean MacEntee (CC BY 2.0)