LabVenture - Revealing Systemic Impacts of a 12-Year Statewide Science Field Trip
Since 2005, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) has been busing 70% of all of Maine’s 5th and 6th graders to Portland annually – more than 120,000 in all – to participate in an interactive, technology-rich, hands-on field trip experience exploring the complexities of local marine science ecosystems. Through a multi-layered and multi-staged research process involving analysis of existing records, interviews with past participants, surveys, a community study, and a statewide phone survey, the project seeks to understand and advance knowledge on the short and long-term impacts of the program within different communities and contexts. It also seeks to understand the potential role of a field trip on the overall learning ecosystem. As a Research in Service to Practice project, LabVenture Systemic Study works with both researchers and practitioner advisors to conduct the study and disseminate its findings, including through a practitioner convening.
Clients and Collaborators:
Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI),Oregon State University Center for the Study of Lifelong STEM Learning
Funder:
National Science Foundation - joint funding by AISL and DRK12 (DRL1811452)
Our Role:
Research Collaborators
Project Staff:
Jim Hammerman, Sabrina De Los Santos
