P.A.U.S.E. - Pollinators / Art / Urban Agriculture / Society / and the Environment
American Alliance of Museums and the United States Department of State
Museums Connect: Building Global Communities Grant 2012-2013
FACT SHEET
Background:
The St. Louis Zoo, noted for its research into the conservation of native pollinators, the National Museums of Kenya (Nairobi), working to preserve biodiversity and indigenous knowledge systems, and Tohono Chul (Tucson), demonstrating sustainable desert living, are each involved in the promotion of environmental awareness and community outreach. Their partnership in the P.A.U.S.E. Project allows each institution to contribute a distinctive and essential perspective on a global issue - the worldwide decline of pollinators. Linked to this issue is that of urban food systems requiring an emphasis on sustainable agricultural methods that respect the environment and support native pollinators.
Today we are witnessing a worldwide rise in food production costs coupled with an alarming global decline in native pollinators. More than 35% of the world’s food crops – one bite in three at the dinner table – rely on animal pollinators. At the same time, more and more people are living in urban areas (about 80% of the world’s population) without access to fresh and affordable produce.
For many urban populations, it is difficult to visualize open spaces as garden plots or pollinator habitat, creating oases that provide food for both people and pollinators. Many urbanites are disconnected from the natural world, losing their sense of place and the importance of their role in protecting and promoting a healthy environment. Since the food cycle from field and farm to market and table is poorly understood, so too is the role of native pollinators in assuring our food supply and the overwhelming threats they face from pesticides, pollution, disease and habitat destruction. While local food movements and urban garden projects are increasing in popularity, many urban areas remain disenfranchised. Recognizing the challenges facing urban populations in preserving wildlife habitat, agricultural practices and food resources, the P.A.U.S.E. Project seeks to facilitate Youth Teams from each city in an exploration of their “roots.”
The Project:
Three Youth Teams consisting of ten students will be recruited from each of the three urban centers, St. Louis, Tucson and Nairobi. The youth interact with Museum staff and community experts as they learn about native pollinators, urban gardening, heirloom crops, artistic expression, sculpture design and project promotion through a variety of media. Learning activities will take place in each city with teams linked electronically allowing for shared experiences and “cross-cultural pollination.” Finally, the Youth Teams work together to design and build gardens and pollinator habitats in each city, sharing all they have learned with their wider communities through social media and other methods.
Who are we looking for?
· Someone who is between the ages of 17 and 22
· Someone who has a high school or college diploma, GED or is a student in good standing in a secondary school, college or university
· Someone who is conversant in English; bilingual applicants are encouraged
· Someone who has a strong interest in gardening, animal/plant science (botany, entomology, zoology), landscape design/architecture or thevisual arts; previous studyin high school or college and/or work or volunteer experience in any of these areas is preferred
· Someone who is willing to commit a minimum of 16 hours each month from October 2012 to July 2013, including ten days in April 2013
· If you have your own transportation and valid driver’s license, that’s a plus
What will you be doing?
· Attending one or two meetings/work sessions per month
· Attending four day-long Learning Events – November 8, 2012, January 10, 2013, and April 3 and 9, 2013
o Learning Event 1 (November) – focuses on information technologies and their application in education. It is hosted by St. Louis Zoo staff (in St. Louis) and held via video-conferencing to all other cities. Following the day-long event, Youth Teams will develop a regular communications plan, set up a project Facebook page and discuss ideas for a project website. Students will also consider the development of web-based and other technologies, such as QR codes, and the use of social media for public education on natural environments, biodiversity, pollinator conservation and urban gardening. At the conclusion of the session, students will initiate regular communication with all other Teams, sharing learning experiences and insights.
o Learning Event 2 (January) – will also be held via video-conferencing. Conducted by St. Louis Zoo (in St. Louis) and the National Museums of Kenya (in Nairobi), the topic is pollinators, their habits and habitats. It will feature speakers covering the basics of biology and entomology as well the critical role of pollinators and the challenges they face today. Following the event, Youth Teams will continue their collaborations as they develop pollinator guides for their respective regions, research foods and their pollinator partners, discuss what a food map of their community might look like and where their food comes from.
o Learning Event 3 (April) – is the first of two events to be held in the United States. Four members of the Nairobi Youth Team will travel to the States for this Event and Event 4. Hosted in Tucson by Tohono Chul, with assistance from Gateway Greening (St. Louis) and Native Seeds SEARCH (Tucson), the program covers garden design and plant selection. There will also be opportunities for the Tucson and visiting Nairobi Youth Team members to visit a local seed bank, pollinator gardens, dry land farms growing traditional crops and an indigenous cultural museum. Long distance learning technologies will connect onsite teams with students in St. Louis and Nairobi.
o Learning Event 4 (April) – Hosted in St. Louis by St. Louis Zoo, this session explores the principles of design and fabrication for the construction of an outdoor pollinator habitat sculpture using reclaimed and recycled materials. There will also be opportunities for the St. Louis and Nairobi teams to visit urban gardens, local art museums or botanical gardens, and the Zoo’s Insectarium. Again, video-conferencing and internet technologies will connect the onsite teams with the students in Tucson and Nairobi.
· Participating in field trips and other learning activities April 2 to 12 2013
· Collaborating on the design and planting of an urban/community garden suitable for your region
· Collaborating on the design, fabrication and installation of a pollinator habitat sculpture
· Designing appropriate signage for the urban/community garden
· Developing and disseminating educational materials about the threats to native pollinator populations, the role of pollinators in our food systems, the benefits of locally sourced foodstuffs and how local communities can become involved in similar projects including internet technologies and social media
· Planning and executing a celebratory event in June 2013 to share with the community the success of the project
What will you get out of it?
· A firsthand cross-cultural exchange that provides Tucson and St. Louis Youth Teams valuable insights into the unique cultural and environmental perspectives of African students, while selected members of the Nairobi Youth Team experience two very different American natural and cultural environments – the arid Southwest and the temperate Midwest.
· Increased knowledge of and practice in sustainable urban gardening practices
· Hands-on experience in the visual arts through the creation of a permanent art installation
· Increased knowledge of native pollinators and their impact on local food systems
· Dialog with like-minded conservationists on topics relevant to pollinators, habitat loss and healthy living
· Valuable volunteer work experience
· Fulfilling community involvement
· And finally, as both incentive and reward for their commitment and participation, two members of the Tucson and St. Louis Youth Teams will have the opportunity to travel to Nairobi, Kenya in June 2013 to visit the Kenyan Youth Team, experiencing international travel and expanding your understanding of the world and the conservation issues faced by other countries
How do you apply?
Complete the following and send application packet, postmarked by October 15 2012 to:
Edward Spevak, Curator of Invertebrates
Saint Louis Zoo
One Government Drive
Saint Louis, MO 63110
P.A.U.S.E. Application Form
Recommendation Forms (two different references required)
Proof of Age (one of the following: copy of driver’s license, State identification card, Permanent Resident Card, passport, birth certificate)