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Natural Sciences Education publishes articles written by and for educators in the areas of natural resources, plant science, entomology, animal science, ecology, and the environment.
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Featured Article
Soil education has evolved over time to address the needs of an increasing variety of fields and increasingly complex issues. A range of tactics have been used to teach soil topics in the modern classroom, however the modern soil curriculum also needs to acknowledge the multifunctionality of soils and provide ways to connect traditional subdisciplines with other related areas. A variety of strategies are discussed in the article, “Soil science education: A multinational look at current perspectives“ by Brevik et al. Read more
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Issue Information
- 13 January 2025
Graphical Abstract
On the cover: Surveying large transgressive dunefields on the Younghusband Peninsula, South Australia. To learn how field studies are an essential part of higher education in the sciences, see the article, “The value of field studies on earth and environmental sciences: A review” by Chitty and Hesp, https://doi.org/10.1002/nse2.70004. Photo credit: Patrick Hesp, Flinders University, Australia.
Do “tortured phrases” in non‐entomological literature pose a risk to entomological literature? The case of insects represented by “creepy crawlies”
- 8 January 2025
Online programs: Attrition risks differ between environmental science and natural resource master's non-thesis students
- 29 December 2024
Core Ideas
- Most discontinuations for online non-thesis master's occurred within the first two semesters.
- Decreased time between degrees was associated with higher attrition risk.
- Attrition risks vary among similar online non-thesis programs, indicating program-specific retention factors.
- Institutional data inadequately explain early persistence in online graduate programs.
- Further research on early experiences, orientations, and student perspectives is crucial for improving retention.
The value of field studies in earth and environmental sciences: A review
- 17 December 2024
Core Ideas
- Field studies are shown to improve student academic achievement and performance, critical thinking, knowledge, writing and practical skills, and the emotional domain.
- Fieldwork accelerates personal development, leads to greater student engagement and retention, and improves resilience.
- The positive gains for students increase proportionally to the level of immersion in the field.
- Field skills are essential for graduate and postgraduate employment, as employers prefer hiring those who have practical field experience.
- Student numbers and retainment increase in universities that offer field courses and/or field trips as a part of the undergraduate curriculum.
Mycology in the agriscience classroom: A curriculum based on wild foraged mushroom certification
- 16 December 2024
Core Ideas
- Fungi can be used to teach students about ecology, food science, and renewable resources.
- Mycology lessons are linked to core competencies and science standards.
- Lesson plans include learning objectives, standards, pacing, Google Slides lectures, worksheets, and activities.
- Lessons were built to be flexible so that they can be adapted to different grade levels and class structures.
- Students can be engaged in hands-on learning about ecology, taxonomy, food safety, and economics using fungi.
Open access
Benefits and challenges of online teaching: Lessons and perspectives gained during the COVID‐19 pandemic
- Natural Sciences Education
- 7 April 2023
Core Ideas
- Rural, low-income, and minority students were disproportionately affected by the shift to online learning.
- Synchronous online courses were found to be more effective than asynchronous.
- Virtual laboratories and field exercises show promise for effective remote teaching in geosciences.
Open access
Literature circles promote accountability and student engagement with assigned reading in a soil science class
- Natural Sciences Education
- 3 February 2023
Core Ideas
- Students do more reading in preparation for a literature circle compared to lecture.
- Major benefits of literature circles are accountability and learning from peers.
- Topics students choose to discuss often differ from those selected for lecture.
- Achievement of learning objectives are similar for literature circles and lectures.
- Literature circles are equally effective for online and in-person classes.
Open access
Soil science education: A multinational look at current perspectives
- Natural Sciences Education
- 16 March 2022
Open access
Developing and Evaluating an ESRI Story Map as an Educational Tool
- Natural Sciences Education
- 1-9
- 19 July 2018
SPECIAL SECTION: NATURAL SCIENCES EDUCATION IN A COVID‐19 WORLD
Free to Read
Student and instructor perceptions of engagement after the rapid online transition of teaching due to COVID‐19
- Natural Sciences Education
- 12 January 2021
- 52
SPECIAL SECTION: NATURAL SCIENCES EDUCATION IN A COVID‐19 WORLD
Open access
Utilizing teaching technologies for higher education in a post‐COVID‐19 environment
- Natural Sciences Education
- 11 November 2020
- 10
SPECIAL SECTION: NATURAL SCIENCES EDUCATION IN A COVID‐19 WORLD
Open access
Practices and perceptions at the COVID‐19 transition in undergraduate animal science courses
- Natural Sciences Education
- 12 January 2021
- 16
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Open access
Plant blindness represents the loss of generational knowledge and cultural identity
- Natural Sciences Education
- 13 February 2023
- 6
SPECIAL SECTION: NATURAL SCIENCES EDUCATION IN A COVID‐19 WORLD
Open access
Insights into student participation in a soil physics course during COVID‐19 emergency online learning
- Natural Sciences Education
- 10 December 2020
- 10
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