USING COLLABORATIVE, INTERDISCIPLINARY SERVICE-LEARNING TO INVESTIGATE WATER QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA

This presentation will explore an innovative and interdisciplinary service-learning collaboration between the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP) and the non-profit organization Winyah Rivers Alliance (WRA). The goals of this ongoing collaboration are to 1) allow students to explore the interdisciplinary nature of environmental issues, 2) introduce students to pollution sources and environmental justice concerns, and 3) extend WRA’s capacity in the Lumber River watershed by actively engaging students as clean water stewards. Our collaboration is unique in that it involves two seemingly disparate fields (sociology and biology), leveraging expertise in both disciplines to help students appreciate the complexities of large-scale environmental issues. We challenge students to think critically about the relationship between society and the environment and the consequences of that relationship. In addition, students assist WRA in their mission through the collection of baseline water quality data, service/community events, and interviews evaluating the knowledge and motivations of current volunteers. Students gain practical skills useful to both biology/environmental science and sociology careers, develop relationships with community members, and learn more about working in the non-profit sector. This presentation will include how to align pedagogical goals with service-learning activities, describe the impacts of the collaboration thus far, and provide practical advice for those who are interested in developing similar projects within their own organizations.

Primary Presenter: Amber Rock, University of North Carolina - Pembroke (Amber.Rock@uncp.edu)

Authors:

Amber Rock, University of North Carolina at Pembroke  (Amber.Rock@uncp.edu)

Matthew Schneider, University of North Carolina Wilmington  (Matthew.Schneider@uncp.edu)

Debra Buffkin, Winyah Rivers Alliance  (executivedirector@winyahrivers.org)

Cara Schildtknecht, Coastal Carolina University  (Ceschildt@coastal.edu)