Page 9 - Impact Report_2020

King Conservation Institute of Science Illinois Zoological and Aquatic
Leadership Academy* Teaching Excellence Animal Residency Program
Informal STEM education initiative that engages An intensive professional development program A partnership between the University of
children of all ages in nature and conservation— that combines out-of-school Next Generation Illinois, CZS, and the John G. Shedd Aquarium
particularly children who have limited access to Science Standards (NGSS)-focused workshops provides veterinarians with three years of training
wildlife, nature, and quality science education with virtual classroom mentoring and observation and education to become board-certified
1,538 children and family members 350 K-12 teachers were trained in specialists in zoological medicine
participated in virtual Early Learner professional development workshops 3 veterinary residents were enrolled
Programs for children and families from 61 PreK-12 teachers throughout Illinois 25 veterinary students were on clinical
six underserved Chicago-area communities participated in the Science Fellows program rotation at CZS in 2020; 331 veterinary

291 high school students participated students have been on rotation with CZS
in King Conservation Science Scholars, NatureStart™ over the past 15 years
including 53 new students who were Professional Development
admitted in 2020 A comprehensive early childhood initiative Punta San Juan Program, Peru
based on groundbreaking educational practices A comprehensive conservation program—
*Winner of the prestigious Association of first developed at the Hamill Family Play Zoo
Zoos and Aquariums’ Education Award involving researchers with CZS and partner
for Community Engagement in 2020 18 informal educators were trained in institutions—to protect Peru’s coastal
NatureStart professional development ecosystem and wildlife
workshops 13 interns (in-person and virtual)

Advanced Inquiry Program 2 students completed Master of Science
A conservation-focused learning experience degrees based on conservation work related
combining web-based graduate courses through to Punta San Juan
Miami University with virtual meetings and field 622 people live streamed online talks;
study at Brookfield Zoo many more viewed videos on Facebook
90 master’s degree students were active
in the program, including 37 new students Sarasota Dolphin
Research Program,
15 students graduated with master’s degrees Florida

Scientists with this world-famous,
Certified Interpretive CZS-supported program have conducted the
Guide Training world’s longest-running study of a wild dolphin
Professional training that enables participants to population and continue to make significant
engage in communication that forges connections contributions to dolphin research and conservation
between guests and resources, including zoos globally; SDRP has played a crucial role in
educating and training researchers and future
56 individuals received Certified conservation leaders
Interpretive Guide training through CZS
1 doctoral dissertation and 3 master’s

Engineering theses were completed in 2020
7 college seniors from Loyola’s Environ- 41 master’s and 50 doctoral students
mental Engineering and Computer have benefited from data collection opportu-
Engineering programs completed their nities, data, samples, or guidance to date
capstone design projects at Brookfield Zoo >400 undergraduate interns and
with mentoring from CZS’ environmental
quality manager international colleagues have received
multi-month training to date

>1,000 citizen scientists have participated
to date █

CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY | 2020 IMPACT REPORT 7