STEPS TO INCREASING MINORITY PARTICIPATION IN THE AQUATIC SCIENCES: CATCHING UP WITH SHIFTING DEMOGRAPHICS

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the knowledge andperception ofrural andurban inner-city students in two Midwestern states regarding agriculture, food, and natural resources. Since this study was apilot project, these two subgroups of the United States population were assessed to provide baseline data reflecting the knowledge andperceptions of United States residents regarding agriculture and thefood industry. Data were collectedfrom 1121 respondents but did not constitute a representative sample of students in the two Midwestern states. However, the results ofthis study may have implicationsfor other groups on apractical basis. Three objectives were specifiedfor this study asfollows: 1) to assess the level ofagricultural knowledge amongrural andurban inner-city high school students in a midwest; 2) to assess the level ofagriculturalperceptions amongrural and urban inner-city high school students in the midwest; and, 3) to compare the level ofagricultural knowledge andperception ofboth subgroups. Both groups of respondents were most knowledgeable aboutNatural Resources concepts whereas the Rural Students were least knowledgeable about the Plants in Agriculture concept area compared to the Urban Inner-City High School Student respondents who were least knowledgeable about the Policy concept area. Overall, respondents hadthe mostpositiveperception about the Natural Resources concept area andwere the least positive about the Agricultural Policy concept area.