Critical Thinking & Ethical Use of Live Animals in Education

From classroom pets to school visits to native habitats, live animals have been an effective educational tool for many years. But how can we ensure we are directing the narrative in a way that supports lack of biases such as anthropocentrism from becoming a hidden curricula? This short presentation will analyze current peer-reviewed data on effective and ethical live animal use for educational purposes. Presenter: Lauren Salick, Education & Public Outreach Coordinator, Nebraska Wildlife Rehab. Lauren Salick is an experienced animal husbandry caretaker and wildlife rehabilitation specialist who focuses her career goals on the intersections of wildlife and people. She holds a BS in Animal Science and an MA in Environmental Education.
This webinar is part of the Conservation Education Lunch & Learn Series. Education is an essential part of conservation. Understanding how people learn and what motivates conservation-based behavior changes are complex subjects that span across many scientific disciplines. This free virtual series dives into the science behind educational efforts and practices by learning from experts on a variety of science and educational topics. For questions about the series, contact Amber Schiltz, Fish & Wildlife Education Assistant Division Administrator at [e-mail]