The Impact of the GLOBE Program on High-School Students' Awareness of the Natural Environment and Career Choices

Abstract

  The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program is an international hands-on environmental science and education program. Since its launch in 1995, over 37,600 schools across 125 countries have participated in the GLOBE program. In Japan, 281 schools and institutions have been involved in this program to date. This study examines how the GLOBE program, offering the experience of observing and analyzing data on the natural environment, affected students' awareness of the natural environment and their future career choices. The survey was conducted using questionnaires sent to 16 teachers and 108 students of high schools participating in GLOBE program (quantitative research), and interviews with ７ GLOBE alumni (qualitative research). The results show that the GLOBE program has enhanced students' interest in the natural environment and commitment to awareness of environmental conservation. Moreover, based on their approaches (e.g., enthusiastic guidance from teachers, continuous observation and data analysis, independent inquiry activities, experience in presenting research findings, interaction with other students and researchers, etc.), it was revealed that the program also influences students' career choices, such as choosing university or college courses on environmental or natural science and jobs related to nature, biology, and science.