Ecology in the Field: Doing Inquiry-based  Projects as Service Learning in Science

Valparaiso University’s mission statement says that we prepare students to lead and serve in society.  Service learning may conjure images of social work students placed in social service agencies, education majors tutoring at-risk students, or future nurses volunteering at a health clinic.  But can we also accomplish service to the community in a science course where learning objectives focus on scientific content and process?  What kinds of community partners can benefit from the work of science students and what can our science students learn from their service experience about science in the real world?