Understanding Barriers and Challenges for Women’s Access to Water in Northern Rwanda

Clean drinking water and sanitation have been acknowledged as basic human needs and rights by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. According to the UN, water must be sufficient, affordable, physically accessible, and safe in order to meet human needs. In this study, a survey and a Water Source Mapping participatory method were employed to investigate a sample of Rwandan women’s access to water. Two hundred and seven (207) women were surveyed regarding water use and access, and results were compared based on education levels and membership in income-earning cooperatives operated by a local organization, the Gorilla Guardians Village (GGV). In addition, 26 GGV cooperative members completed a Water Source Mapping activity that explored where women collected water and the challenges they faced in doing so. Descriptive analyses indicated that a majority of women reported insufficient water access, regardless of education level and membership in cooperatives. The Water Source Mapping indicated that women primarily use a free, GGV-operated tap for water, although water is not always available at the location due to breakages and other challenges. In those instances, women travel long distances and pay more money to collect water at other locations. The results of the study indicate that women’s access to water remains a challenge, even for women with high levels of education, opportunities to earn income, and access to a nearby water tap. We argue that strategies to provide reliable access to sufficient, affordable, physically accessible, and safe water must be thorough, taking into account infrastructure, women’s education, household income and other factors simultaneously to address the entire social-ecological system in which water is accessed in order to achieve desired outcomes

Taking stories: The ethics of cross-cultural community conservation research in Samburu, Kenya

Biodiversity is under threat at a global level, and many of the most biodiverse hotspots are in developing regions of the world. In many of these communities, livelihoods are often dependent on the same natural landscapes that support biodiversity. As a result, achieving global conservation and development goals is a priority in these regions, and therefore they attract the interest of both local and international researchers. However, research by outside, Western-based researchers can present ethical and practical challenges in these areas. Fortunately, community-based participatory research (CBPR), if managed well, can contribute to responsible conservation research in these regions. In this article, we investigate strategies to address ethical issues associated with cross-cultural conservation and development research. Our analysis draws on the experiences of a women’s village in northern Kenya and six Western researchers. Using qualitative methodologies, we identify common themes in ethical conservation and develop research including critical consciousness, relationship-building, reciprocity, and adaptive research processes. We discuss the implications for ethical CBPR and, specifically, the need for both researchers and funders to only conduct such research if they can devote the resources required to do so ethically.&nbsp

Identifying the motivations of environmental volunteers

The natural environment benefits greatly from the work of volunteers. However, little is known as to why people are willing to volunteer their time to such programs. The study participants were 401 volunteers from six natural resource organizations. The study identified and assessed motivations of volunteers within the conservation and natural resources arena. The results suggest that there are many volunteer motivations, although 'helping the environment' clearly emerged as most important. Second-tier motivations included 'improving areas that volunteers use for their own recreation', 'expressing their values', 'learning about the natural environment' and 'socializing with people with similar interests'. Managers need to consider these motivations, developing programs in order to provide volunteers with an experience that meets their motivations. By developing programs with volunteer motivations in mind, managers will better be able to recruit and retain volunteers within their organizations.

Engaging Latino Audiences in Out-of-School Programs About Science

Under-represented groups such as Latinos lack sufficient voice in important conversations about science topics. Yet we know that Latinos are under-represented in the profession. One path to careers in science is through early exposure during youth. This article describes research to identify how to engage Latino groups in science programs, such as Extension-sponsored youth programs. Based on focus groups with Latino parents in two communities, we examine interest levels, barriers to participation, and preferences for program formats. The results have implications for organizations that seek to engage more Latinos in their science programs

Teaching Natural Resources Courses Online

This panel will focus on the components and “best practices” of an online lesson “module” in a Natural Resources course. The presenters will address common assumptions about online courses, including the idea that online lessons are simply repositories of readings and assignments, or pre-recorded lectures. While online courses certainly include these elements, instructors may choose from a wealth of activities (including fieldwork and in-service assignments) and materials (video, interactive Flash animations) that encourage student engagement, concept application and synthesis, time-on-task, and critical thinking. This panel will be comprised of four parts: 1. A short presentation covering the elements of a lesson module for an online natural resources course; 2. A discussion of “best practices” and pedagogical research; 3. Informal comments by a Natural Resources faculty member who is currently teaching online; and, 4. An open forum for audience questions and comments

Effect of the EnvironMentors Program on Increasing Students’ Interest in Pursuing Science-Related College Majors and Careers

EnvironMentors is a national mentoring program in eight states and Washington, DC that prepares high school students from under-represented backgrounds for college majors in environmental and related science disciplines. The students, with the help of their mentor(s), conduct environmentally-related research projects over the course of the academic year at their local EnvironMentors chapter. Students then compete in chapter-level EnvironMentors science fairs for an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC. The top three students from each chapter earn the trip to Washington, DC and compete for college scholarships at the National Fair in May 2010 and May 2011. To examine whether Environmentors was preparing high school students for majors in environmental and related science disciplines, focus groups were conducted with National Fair participants in both 2010 and 2011 to capture their reflections on program process, particularly as it relates to their program expectations and future plans. In both years, students reported that the mentoring relationship experience, positive/rewarding program experiences, and project experiences and skill development contributed greatly to their success in EnvironMentors. Furthermore, students reported independent learning experiences, improved self-efficacy, enhanced college preparation, and increased awareness of graduate school. These student growth factors led some students to change their college/career plans to a science-related track as a result of EnvironMentors while others clarified their current college/career plans (whether those plans were science-related or not). Conversely, several students reported no change in their career plans, regardless of the influence of EnvironMentors. Given the varied results of the EnvironMentors program’s impact on influencing students’ attitudes toward pursuing environmental- and science-related college majors and careers, further emphasis is needed on presenting these disciplines to the students as desirable options