Analyzing these assets and needs in their institutional and social context means situating these issues in terms of broader power relations in the community, particularly those characterized by race, ethnicity, language, social class, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical and mental abilities, and religious background. The sciences lend themselves to service learning experiences. Traditionally, science instruction has been characterized as something that takes place in controlled classroom or laboratory environments, but in daily life, science does not exist in a vacuum. The ESSP Institute, in partnership with the Service Learning Institute and the community, strives to use real-world opportunities for teaching and learning scientific principles. Through Service Learning, students are able to apply their knowledge to authentic situations, and see the results, while they gain experience dealing with the problems and uncertainties of the real world.
Students have the added satisfaction of knowing their efforts are useful to the community.