By Kelly Lynn Mulvey, Ashley R. Deutsch, Caren Cooper, Rhianna Absher, Nhaturie Atkinson, Brandon Wilson, Jacqueline Cerda-Smith, Martha Batul, Lara L. Martens & Adam Hartstone-Rose

Image Caption: This is the logo for Solar Eclipse Safari.

This Plain Language Summary is published in advance of the paper discussed. Please check back soon for a link to the full paper.

Solar eclipses are amazing and rare natural phenomena. Both humans and animals react to these extraordinary occurrences. We were interested to learn how people respond when watching animals respond to a solar eclipse.

In our project, 528 people ranging from 8 years old to 80 years old observed the eclipse while also observing animals in their environment. We trained the participants in how to record the behavior of the animals before, during and after the eclipse. They also filled out a survey about their feelings during the eclipse. We were interested in awe, which is feeling vastness and connection to nature, as well as how connected to science they felt. Some people participated while observing the total solar eclipse, while others only viewed a partial solar eclipse. We found that people who were on the path of totality and therefore observed the total solar eclipse felt more awe than those who only observed a partial solar eclipse. Participants also felt more awe if they were observing an animal whose behavior changed during the eclipse as compared to animal who did not react. Awe was also really important in shaping feelings of connection to science. The more awe people felt, the more they felt science belonging and that they were scientists.  We found that how old people were did not matter: everyone could participate in observing animals and eclipses and feel awe and connection to science.

This study suggests just how powerful participating in scientific research in nature can be, especially when this experience involves an awe-inspiring event like a total solar eclipse.