Feasibility of an eDNA-based educational programme for high school students

Abstract Environmental education plays a crucial role in raising public awareness of ecosystem conservation. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is a promising environmental education tool because it enables easy and comprehensive biodiversity assessment through simple water sampling. Despite several citizen-based surveys using eDNA analysis, minimal attention has been paid to its educational effectiveness. In this study, we examined the educational feasibility of eDNA analysis by conducting an environmental education programme that incorporated eDNA-based local fish surveys in three high schools in Japan. In the programme, students proactively identified diverse fish species living in the survey area by simply collecting water. The detailed questionnaire survey results showed that student knowledge of and interest in biodiversity and ecosystem services increased after the programme. Students became aware of local fish diversity and expressed their motivation to engage in conservation activities. We confirmed the educational impact of the programme not only at the end but also immediately following the water sampling experience. These results provide the first empirical evidence of the positive effects of eDNA analysis on student environmental awareness and engagement. eDNA analysis can be applied to diverse target taxa that are unique to a given area, similar environmental education programmes can be conducted for various citizen groups worldwide. Our research suggested that eDNA-based environmental education was effective for younger generations with varying levels of interest and experience in nature, showing significant potential for addressing the extinction of natural experiences and motivating citizens to participate in ecosystem conservation activities.