USING FOREST ECOLOGY EXERCISES IN SCIENCE FAIRS TO INCREASE INTEREST IN FOREST RESOURCE EDUCATION: AN EXAMPLE FROM A STAND DEVELOPMENT STUDY Brian Roy Lockhart USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research Stoneville, MS Buddy Cronk Magallen Oil Company Knoxville, TN March 14, 2008, Corvallis, Oregon, Seventh Biennial University Education in Natural Resources

Presentation Outline enrollment recruitment science fairs example

Enrollment Declining why? forestry interests (timber biases) forestry programs dieing?

Enrollment Ways to Increase diversify program new program offerings Spatial Information Systems funding, faculty workload joint efforts between departments, schools, colleges, and universities coordination, credit, egos recruitment

Recruitment Outside Perspective visiting groups “okay” slide shows “okay” how many “hooked”? need to be in forests and touch trees, listen to sounds mentoring

Recruitment Mentoring one-to-one or few “NEFs” time commitment how many “hooked”?

Science Fairs Information to provide an opportunity for students to enhance their scientific and technical knowledge by conducting their own research studies meet other students strengthen communication skills

Science Fair Example Stand Development Buddy Cronk cousin 8 th grade interested in trees stand development on an upland hardwood site project title “Reconstruction of Tree Growth”

Science Fair Example Stand Development

Science Fair Example Stand Development

Southern U.S. Bottomland Hardwoods natural stand counterpart (clearcut winter )

Stand Development Southern U.S. Bottomland Hardwoods natural stand counterpart

Stand Development Southern U.S. Bottomland Hardwoods natural stand counterpart (age 48)

Science Fair Example Stand Development Question – “Is the largest tree always the oldest?” Question – “Does tree size indicate tree age?” larger trees are older trees

Science Fair Example Stand Development SpeciesAgeD.B.H. (in.) northern red oak white oak565.8 bitternut hickory455.3 eastern redbud494.5 flowering dogwood181.5

Science Fair Example Height Development

Science Fair Example Outcomes Jay High School Science Fair – disqualified another local science fair – 1 st place Oklahoma Northeast Regional Science Fair – 1 st place Oklahoma State Science Fair – disqualified

Conclusions Enrollment/Science Fairs potential identify students hands-on scientific method time operation simple questions, remember judges follow rules display

Thank You!