using forest ecology exercises in science fairs to increase interest in forest resource education:...
TRANSCRIPT
USING FOREST ECOLOGY EXERCISES IN SCIENCE USING FOREST ECOLOGY EXERCISES IN SCIENCE FAIRS TO INCREASE INTEREST IN FOREST FAIRS TO INCREASE INTEREST IN FOREST
RESOURCE EDUCATION:RESOURCE EDUCATION:
AN EXAMPLE FROM A STANDAN EXAMPLE FROM A STANDDEVELOPMENT STUDYDEVELOPMENT STUDY
Brian Roy LockhartUSDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station
Center for Bottomland Hardwoods ResearchStoneville, MS
Buddy CronkMagallen Oil Company
Knoxville, TN
March 14, 2008, Corvallis, Oregon, Seventh Biennial University Education in Natural Resources
PresentationOutline
enrollment
recruitment
science fairs
example
EnrollmentDeclining
why?
forestry interests (timber biases)
forestry programs dieing?
EnrollmentWays to Increase
diversify program
• new program offerings
• Spatial Information Systems• funding, faculty workload
• joint efforts
• between departments, schools, colleges, and universities• coordination, credit, egos
recruitment
RecruitmentOutside Perspective
visiting groups “okay”
slide shows “okay”
how many “hooked”?
need to be in forests andtouch trees, listen tosounds
mentoring
RecruitmentMentoring
one-to-one or few
“NEFs”
time commitment
how many “hooked”?
Science FairsInformation
to provide an opportunity for students to enhancetheir scientific and technical knowledge byconducting their own research studies
meet other students
strengthen communication skills
http://www.sciserv.org/isef/primer/rules.asp
Science Fair ExampleStand Development
Buddy Cronk
• cousin• 8th grade• interested in trees
stand development on an upland hardwood site
project title “Reconstruction of Tree Growth”
Science Fair ExampleStand Development
Science Fair ExampleStand Development
Stand DevelopmentSouthern U.S. Bottomland Hardwoods
natural stand counterpart (clearcut winter 1956-57)
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
3 6 9 15 18 23 29 37
age, in years
tree
s pe
r ac
re
Sweetgum Red Oak River Birch Bluebeech
Stand DevelopmentSouthern U.S. Bottomland Hardwoods
natural stand counterpart
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
18 23 29 37
age, in years
basa
l are
a, s
q ft
/ac
Sweetgum Red Oak River Birch Bluebeech
Stand DevelopmentSouthern U.S. Bottomland Hardwoods
natural stand counterpart (age 48)
Science Fair ExampleStand Development
Question – “Is the largest tree always theoldest?”
Question – “Does tree size indicate tree age?”
larger trees are older trees
Science Fair ExampleStand Development
Species Age D.B.H. (in.)
northern red oak 61 13.3
white oak 56 5.8
bitternut hickory 45 5.3
eastern redbud 49 4.5
flowering dogwood 18 1.5
Science Fair ExampleHeight Development
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Time
Hei
gh
t (f
eet)
northern red oak
white oak
bitternut hickory
eastern redbud
flowering dogwood
Science Fair ExampleOutcomes
Jay High School Science Fair – disqualified
another local science fair – 1st place
Oklahoma Northeast Regional Science Fair – 1st
place
Oklahoma State Science Fair – disqualified
ConclusionsEnrollment/Science Fairs
potential
• identify students
• hands-on scientific method
• time
operation
• simple questions, remember judges
• follow rules
• display
Thank You!