title: Investigating Undergraduate Science Students' Conceptions and Misconceptions of Ocean Acidification.
abstract: Scientific research exploring ocean acidification has grown significantly in past decades. However, little science education research has investigated the extent to which undergraduate science students understand this topic. Of all undergraduate students, one might predict science students to be best able to understand ocean acidification. What conceptions and misconceptions of ocean acidification do these students hold? How does their awareness and knowledge compare across disciplines? Undergraduate biology, chemistry/biochemistry, and environmental studies students, and science faculty for comparison, were assessed on their awareness and understanding. Results revealed low awareness and understanding of ocean acidification among students compared with faculty. Compared with biology or chemistry/biochemistry students, more environmental studies students demonstrated awareness of ocean acidification and identified the key role of carbon dioxide. Novel misconceptions were also identified. These findings raise the question of whether undergraduate science students are prepared to navigate socioenvironmental issues such as ocean acidification.
authors.affiliation: SEPAL: The Science Education Partnership and Assessment Laboratory, Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94132 kdanielson2@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kathryn I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Danielson
authors.affiliation: SEPAL: The Science Education Partnership and Assessment Laboratory, Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94132.
authors.forename: Kimberly D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Tanner
mesh_terms: D001695:Biology / Q000193:education*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003625:Data Collection; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012106:Research / Q000193:education*; D013334:Students; D013696:Temperature; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide