Abstract
 The "Last Great Wild Places": A Project-Based Group Investigation Track: Designing Curriculum & Degree Programs Author(s): Jose Pareja, Bette Loiselle "Conservation efforts are often focused on two areas: (i) 'hotspots'--sites of unusual importance in terms of endemic species and overall richness that are in immediate threat (i.e., > 75% of habitat already altered) and (ii) large wilderness areas (i.e., areas that have, to date, undergone little direct or indirect impact from human activities). The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) in collaboration with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has hired your team of researchers to evaluate human influence and determine the "last great wild places" in the your assigned country.' This group investigation, adapted from Sanderson's, et al, (2002) Bioscience [52(10):891-904] paper: "The human footprint and last of the Wild", makes an excellent learning experience by empowering students on the idea that what they are doing is very close to something that could be real, plausible and publishable. Jose Pareja University of Missouri St. Louis Institute for Mathematics, Science Education and Learning Technologies One University Blvd IMSELT, RCEW Ste07 St. Louis , MO 63121-4499 US Phone: 314-5164541 E-mail: jipvw5@umsl.edu Bette Loiselle University of Missouri St. Louis Biology One University Blvd St. Louis , MO 63121-4499 US Phone: 314-5166224 E-mail: loiselle@umsl.edu |
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