City, Texas State partner for Science in the Parks program

Texas State University’s Department of Psychology and the City of San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department have partnered for Science in the Parks, a partnership designed to promote science outreach in local parks and at community events. 

Texas State’s Dr. Jennifer Clegg and Dr. Katherin Warnell created the child development research program, where children are invited to participate in studies to help them understand how children's social interactions with other change the older they become. 

According to the city, graduate and undergraduate students from the Texas State Pyschology Department share new science about child development by using games and studies with local families. 

The program launched in June and approximately 90 children have participated and more than a dozen of Texas State students have worked with local families.  

“Child development studies are often limited by a lack of diversity, but the participants in the Science in the Parks program have come from many backgrounds,” the city said in a statement. “This is integral for ensuring that child development science is representative of all children. The findings from some of the studies conducted this summer will be shared at the 2019 meeting of the Cognitive Development Society.”

The Science in the Park Program continues on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings through the end of 2019 at the San Marcos Children’s Park.