"Green Laboratory" of Samara as social and educational environment for training biologists and ecologists
During the 70-80 years of the last century the basic principles of environmental education were formulated. They are interdisciplinary approach in forming ecological culture, regularity and continuity of environmental research, unity of intellectual and emotional in the process of studying and improving the natural environment, solving ecological problems in their combination at the world, national and local levels. Today environmental education is aimed at developing a person's environmental awareness. This task is based on three fundamental points: developing adequate environmental concepts, proper nature awareness, abilities, skills and technologies of interaction with nature. This research was to reveal the educational value of urban lakes, ponds and parks. The objectives of the research were to study the history of the water bodies, to highlight the ecological role of lakes and parks in urban conditions and to present the problem of poor ecological state of the water bodies in recent years. Knowledge of the history, environmental awareness and educational value of anthropogenic urban ecosystems will result in having an active living position, taking responsibility for their state, developing ecological culture and awareness. The article discusses the ways the city ponds and parks can be used as «green laboratories» for students to learn the features of their biota and estimate the influence of anthropogenic factor on ecosystems, and for teachers to appreciate their educational value.