This book discusses how we can inspire today's youth to engage in challenging and productive
discussions around the past present and future role of animals in science education. Animals
play a large role in the sciences and science education and yet they remain one of the least
visible topics in the educational literature. This book is intended to cultivate research
topics conversations and dispositions for the ethical use of animals in science and
education. This book explores the vital role of animals with in science education specimens
protected species and other associated issues with regards to the role of animals in science.
Topics explored include ethical curriculum and pedagogical dimensions involving invertebrates
engineering solutions that contribute to ecosystems the experiences of animals under our care
aesthetic and contemplative practices alongside science school-based ethical dialogue nature
study for promoting inquiry and sustainability the challenge of whether animals need to be
used for science whatsoever reconceptualizing museum specimens cultivating socioscientific
issues and epistemic practice cultural integrity and citizen science the care and nurturance
of gender-balanced curriculum choices for science education and theoretical conversations
around cultivating critical thinking skills and ethical dispositions. The diverse authors in
this book take on the logic of domination and symbolic violence embodied within the scientific
enterprise that has systematically subjugated animals and nature and emboldened the
anthropocentric and exploitative expressions for the future role of animals. At a time when
animals are getting excluded from classrooms (too dangerous! too many allergies! too dirty!)
this book is an important counterpoint. Interacting with animals helps students develop empathy
learn to care for living things engage with content. We need more animals in the science
curriculum not less. David Sobel Senior Faculty Education Department Antioch University New
England
