Program
Garden Mosaics is a youth and community education program that combines science learning with intergenerational mentoring, multicultural understanding, and community action. The initial idea for Garden Mosaics came from a realization that community gardens, because of their unusual blend of people, cultures, plants, and activism, offer unique sites for youth education within a community setting. Educators from non-profit organizations and universities, undergraduate and graduate students, community gardeners, and youth in cities across the US contributed to the development of the Garden Mosaics program. We currently are working with colleagues in South Africa and other countries to develop an international component for Garden Mosaics.

Garden Mosaics provides diverse learning opportunities for youth aged 10-18, educators, and gardeners. In addition, university students at all levels intern with Garden Mosaics in teaching and research positions.

Research
Garden Mosaics also encompasses a research and graduate education program based at Cornell University, which seeks to further our understanding of science learning within a community context.

Some broad questions our graduate research group is addressing include:

Can science education lead to civic participation?

Which of the following features of youth and community programs encourage engagement and learning:
• asking intriguing scientific questions and seeking their answers?
• interacting with elders?
• conducting activities that are situated within local culture and understandings?
• participating in community action?

How can we balance participation among educators in program development with broad-scale dissemination of an established program?

For papers published related to Garden Mosaics, click here.

Dr. Marianne Krasny, Professor of Natural Resources and Principal Investigator on the Garden Mosaics grant, provides leadership for the graduate research group.

Graduate students conducting research related to Garden Mosaics include:

Alexey Kudryavtsev. Role of computer technologies in networking among educators and program implementation in community based educational settings.

Tania Schusler. Youth environmental action programs as a means of integrating science education, civic participation, and youth development.

Jamila Simon. Role of after-school programs in motivating minority students to learn science.

Keith Tidball. Urban Greening, Environmental Security, and International Sustainable Development.

Garden Mosaics educational and research initiatives have received support through the National Science Foundation Informal Science Education program, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, Special Congressional Appropriations (Congressman Jose Serrano, South Bronx), Cornell Urban Scholars Program, Environment and Language Educational Trust, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Hatch Federal Formula Funds, Muskie Fellowship, SUNY Minority Fellowship, United Components, and the Weed Science Society of America. Visit our Support page.