[Top] Ted Nuttall (far left), Professor of Biological Sciences, Lock Haven University of PA escorts SABN participants into the field to collect crayfish. Luckily, no invasive crayfish were found in this Susquehanna River Tributary near Towanda, Pa. but in many sections of the Susquehanna native crayfish are imperiled by invasive rusty crayfish.[Bottom] Bill Lellis (far right), Branch Chief, USGS Leetown Science Center, Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory, gives SABN teachers tips on the ecology and identification of the native mussels they found during their Susquehanna River collecting session. In the SABN program practicing scientists share their experience with science teachers. |
When scientists, educators and students collaborate they can tackle serious issues. One of these issues is the threat to the biodiversity of the Chesapeake Bay watershed from aquatic invasive species, AIS. Another is the lack of meaningful lab and field experiences for teachers and students that could equip them to help solve problems like those caused by AIS. Pennsylvania Sea Grant is sponsoring the Susquehanna Aquatic Biodiversity Network (SABN) to help check the spread of AIS and provide real-life science experiences for Chesapeake Bay middle and high school teachers and students. Funded by a grant from NOAA's Watershed Education and Training (B-Wet) Program, the goal of this program is to develop a network that could possibly provide early warning of AIS infestations and their effect on biodiversity. To reach that goal, SABN is engaging participating teachers and students in real-world monitoring to document locations of native crayfish, freshwater mussels, and 20 aquatic invasive species. SABN ensures that students become engaged in field activities by offering a package of teacher training, field trip instructional assistance, and field trip implementation grants. This program also provides teachers the opportunity to sharpen their scientific expertise, learn about new technologies, and integrate this knowledge into their lessons. Part of the professional development is devoted to exploring how the schools and students can take action when they find a problem in their local watershed. This service-learning approach sheds light on the social implication of biodiversity problems and how informed decisions lead to stewardship actions. "Our program approach acknowledges that teacher training alone does not always lead to classroom implementation, said Pennsylvania Sea Grant Associate Director and Education Specialist, Ann Faulds." Too often lack of teacher training and funding are barriers to meaningful field trips and activities that enhance watershed studies. This project strives to take away those barriers and promotes learning about AIS in the context of native biodiversity in local watersheds. It's designed to increase participants' academic performance and enthusiasm for activity-based learning that leads to stewardship," said Faulds. The Teacher Fellowship component helps teachers develop and implement lessons that use real-world environmental data while they meet state standards. Teacher stipends are available to cover the costs. Staff will disseminate teacher-developed and teacher-tested lessons to other teachers throughout the region via conferences and the Internet. At last count 300 students participated in fall field trips as a result of the training attended by ten teachers in August. Pennsylvania Sea Grant anticipates SABN will provide 60 teachers and approximately 1,800 students with significant watershed experiences over three years. "The program is valuable because of the opportunity teachers have to go out in the field with practicing biodiversity scientists," said Faulds. "The grant also provides many great resources like a hand-held GPS unit and transportation costs," she added. All teachers and their students are required to contribute to a common Google Earth Map as they continue to monitor for AIS. Staff will complete a first draft of the map early this year. The bonus of all this is that middle and high school students will gain content competencies in the Pennsylvania Science, Technology and Ecology and the Environment Academic Standards by experiencing real-life science.
For more information: : : Contact Ann Faulds at 215-806-0894 or afaulds@psu.edu. |