An Evaluation of Best Practices in an Air Quality Student Science Project in Ethiopia

Johannes Dirk Dingemanse,Geertje Dingemanse-De Wit

doi:10.21601/aquademia/11828

Abstract

A science project as part of a student’s curriculum, which we call student science, might be the answer to two problems for a low-income country like Ethiopia: conventional science can be expensive and many students lack training in practical skills. Earlier studies have been conducted with respect to lay people (citizens or students) conducting (parts of) research (e.g. citizen science), but rarely in the context of a public university in a low-income country. A student science project at Arba Minch University (Ethiopia) has been evaluated in three steps. Firstly, best practices for student science projects are derived from the literature. Secondly, it is evaluated to what extent these best practices were executed in an air quality student science project executed by 33 groups of undergraduate students at Arba Minch University. Thirdly, the scientific contribution of the project is evaluated by assessing the quality of the data in comparison to studies in similar scenarios, as well as its relation to a knowledge gap and a problem for the community. We find that the best practices from earlier studies are feasible in the study context. Furthermore, we find a scientific contribution, as most of the students’ work resulted in quality data that relates to knowledge gaps which are a problem for the Arba Minch community. Student science at a public university in a low-income country is feasible and can, as such, serve both scientific and educational needs. It is recommended that public universities in low-income contexts implement part of their curriculum goals in such projects.

Highlights

A science project as part of a student’s curriculum, which we call student science, might be the answer to two problems for a low-income country like Ethiopia: conventional science can be expensive and many students lack training in practical skills
This study evaluated the feasibility and scientific contribution of a Student Science project on a public university in a low-income country
It is found that the best practices for successful student science’ (SS)-like projects, education and scientific-wise, could be executed in the case of Arba Minch University (Ethiopia)

Summary

Introduction

A science project as part of a student’s curriculum, which we call student science, might be the answer to two problems for a low-income country like Ethiopia: conventional science can be expensive and many students lack training in practical skills. 630), education must not just teach the basics and focus on knowledge accumulation, but education must make students gain thinking, working and reasoning skills (Silva, 2009) We encounter this idea in Ethiopia’s scientific community. The students get a real-life problemsolving situation which will encourage inquiry-based learning, preparing them for being useful employees This phenomenon, scientists and students working together to reach scientific and educational goals, is not new. To recognize that each of the different terms and related studies hold relevant aspects, not one of them is selected, but instead the term ‘student science’ (SS) is used This term is chosen in line with the term citizen science, stressing the value of both scientific and educational goals, and with the knowledge that practical skills are reached when students are in partnerships with, but really are the scientists

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Conclusion