[KH01409]

Year; Open to grades 10-12; Prerequisite: Completion of Biology, Chemistry preferred but not required

• Fulfills 1.0 credit towards KHS science graduation requirement.

This undergraduate course is designed to introduce students to conservation biology: the nature of biodiversity, growing threats to biodiversity, and ecologically sound conservation and resource management practices designed to slow its loss. Special emphasis will be placed on conservation of biodiversity in Hawai‘i and the role of traditional Hawaiian ecological knowledge in local conservation efforts. Students will examine, through multidisciplinary perspectives, the inherent connection between natural, social and economic systems, and their dependence on biodiversity. Conservation Biology is a dual-credit, elective course offered in partnership with Hawai‘i Pacific University (HPU). The course satisfies the graduation requirements of Kamehameha Schools High School Science, as well as requirements for Biology 1500 (Conservation Biology) at Hawai‘i Pacific University. This change in our offering is mainly in response to our move to HPU, as conservation biology and ethnobotany have distinct student demographics (vs. plant identification and ethnobotany with UH). This will also allow us more time to engage in meaningful science that satisfies the HPU course requirements as well as KS’ E Ola standards.