Kelly L. O’Donnell
she/her
Director of Science Forward @ Macaulay Honors College
I am the Director of Science Forward. SF a framework for scientific literacy and an open educational resource. My background is in evolutionary ecology with an interest in invasive plants and plant response to the novel conditions of the urban environment. I am also very interested in improving undergraduate science education.
Contact
212-729-2924 · kelly.odonnell@mhc.cuny.edu
Website
Education
PhD: Stony Brook University, Ecology and Evolution, 2010
BS: Cornell University, Biology, 2004
Science Forward OER
The Science Forward Open Educational Resource (OER) is a video series and set of tools suitable for a variety of student audiences. The interdisciplinary series of science videos feature scientists talking about the skills they use when they do their work. Each video has suggested readings and activities. This OER can be modified to suit a variety of student audiences and we have sample syllabi available for honors and community college settings.
Participatory Science
Participatory science (aka citizen science) is a great way to engage students and the public and foster an understanding of how science works. As part of the Science Forward program at MHC, I co-direct a 24-hour species diversity survey (a BioBlitz) for our sophomores where both STEM and non-STEM students participate in the scientific process.
I also direct the NYC arm of the City Nature Challenge. This event is a 4-day, city-wide BioBlitz that is open to everyone! For general information, visit: http://www.citynaturechallenge.org For details about City Nature Challenge in NYC, visit: https://macaulay.cuny.edu/news-events/city-nature-challenge/
Academic Interests
- botany
- evolutionary ecology
- urban ecology
- scientific literacy pedagogy
- participatory science (aka citizen science)
Publications
O’Donnell KL & LA Brundage. 2023. It turned into a BioBlitz: urban data collection for building scientific literacy and environmental connection. In: Rivera Maulucci MS, Pfirman S, Callahan HS (eds) Transforming Education for Sustainability. Environmental Discourses in Science Education, vol 7. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13536-1_11
Hitchcock C, J Sullivan, K O’Donnell. 2021. Cultivating Bioliteracy, Biodiscovery, Data Literacy, and Ecological Monitoring in Undergraduate Courses with iNaturalist. Citizen Science: Theory and Practice. 6(1):26, pp. 1–13. DOI: 10.5334/cstp.439
Emery NC, E Crispo, SR Supp, KJ Farrell, AJ Kerkhoff, EK Bledsoe, KL O’Donnell, AC McCall, ME Aiello-Lammens. 2021. Data Science in Undergraduate Life Science Education: A Need for Instructor Skills Training. BioScience, 71(12):1274-1287. DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab107
Joyner JL & KL O’Donnell. 2021. Developing Data Literacy Skills and Connecting the Student Experience in the Classroom to the Community Through Biodiversity Projects. CourseSource. [link]
O’Donnell KL, LA Brundage, & J Ugoretz (executive producers). Science Forward Video Series and Open Education Resource. 2015. URL: http://cuny.is/scienceforward
O’Donnell KL & M Pigliucci. 2010. Selection dynamics in native and introduced Persicaria species. International Journal of Plant Sciences. 171(5):519-528. URL: https://doi.org/10.1086/652012
