Becoming a Science Activist: A Case Study of Students' Engagement in a Socioscientific Project

Complications arising from socioscientific issues (SSI) call for immediate and responsible action and warrant students' activism on science-related issues. These issues therefore provide a solid learning context for the advancement of responsible research and innovation (RRI) in science education. This study investigates the development of students' identities as activists as they participate in a high-school project aimed at resolving the problem of global hunger. Drawing from practice-linked identity theory, we present the narratives of two students to examine how they came to embrace the identity of activist. Findings indicate that the students' identities as activists were supported through participation in highly contextual and emotionally charged experiences and through the ability to fill roles that were perceived as integral and authentic to the students. We discuss the potential of a well-structured activity to assist students in deeply engaging with responsible actions.