The Issue

Fieldwork and outdoor research are critical components of biology, environmental science and other related disciplines, and many students have opportunities to build these skills throughout their academic journey. However, it is crucial that these opportunities are accessible to all students because the experience a student gains during their undergraduate and graduate studies profoundly impacts their future opportunities post-graduation. Many biology students enter university with little to no outdoor experience and may not be aware that fieldwork is an option, or whether it interests them. Their first experience may be a field trip, field course, or working or volunteering in a lab that conducts fieldwork.  For many students, this first experience will set the tone for their interest and feeling of competency in outdoor research settings. A positive first experience is important as it may encourage students to pursue future opportunities in the field. However, there are a range of barriers to participation in outdoor activities that may prevent this positive experience.

Identifying Barriers

To get a better understanding of the barriers students were facing at Queen’s, we conducted a Barriers to Outdoor Participation Survey in the winter of 2020. The survey gathered feedback on perceived barriers to the outdoors, student experiences with outdoor learning, initiatives of interest, and methods to support equal access to outdoor opportunities. Some of the major barriers that were identified by the survey included financial barriers, limited outdoor experience, and a lack of awareness about fieldwork opportunities. To help tackle each of these barriers we aim to take a multi-faceted approach.

Financial Barriers

There are significant costs associated with fieldwork that can prevent student participation. Fees to participate in field trips and field courses are communicated upfront, but there are also hidden costs as students are responsible for ensuring they have appropriate apparel and equipment. If students do not already own this equipment, it can be quite costly to purchase everything they need, such as proper footwear, hiking apparel, camping equipment, etc. To help mitigate some of these costs, we have established a free lending library with a range of equipment and apparel available for students to borrow for any field work or outdoor research experience. Another goal of ours is to set aside funds that students can access to purchase their own equipment.

Outdoor Experience

Between 20-30% of survey respondents expressed discomfort with at least one component of navigating the outdoors, including limited outdoor knowledge, uncertainty in operating equipment, or a lack of childhood outdoor experience. We plan to put on a series of workshops and events to help students build outdoor and fieldwork skills. Additionally, we are working on compiling helpful resources on our website for students just getting started, or who want to build specific skills.

Raising Awareness

Almost 75% of survey respondents cited a lack of awareness about outdoor learning and fieldwork opportunities as one of the reasons they did not participate. This shows a clear need for better communication of opportunities, so students know what options are available to them. To help address this, we are compiling information about opportunities at Queen’s and beyond on our website, so it is all accessible and easy to find in one place.