On Thursday I was able to go back out to North Rock, but this
time with a new group: 3 Lehigh University students, 7 Newark Academy students, 2 chaperones, and one Ocean
Academy Bermudian student.
The Lehigh University and Newark Academy students are here as
part of a new collaborative program called “Lehigh in Bermuda.” Here’s a program description from Lehigh
University:
Lehigh in Bermuda is a unique, interdisciplinary program
offered
to high school students (rising Sophomores, Juniors and
Seniors)
during the summer of 2015 by Lehigh University in
conjunction with the
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) and an energy
company
called Eccosolution. Dates: 6/14/2015 - 6/20/2015.
Students will travel to Bermuda and stay at BIOS where they
will
receive an in depth education regarding sustainable
development and
wave energy. Lehigh students, and BIOS and Eccosolution
staff
members will teach the curriculum. Course topics include an
introduction to the island of Bermuda including its culture,
ecology and
geology, basic forms of energy (including renewable and
alternative),
integration of sustainability with public policy,
environmental
economics, and special lectures in wave energy. In addition,
activities
include snorkeling in the island’s coral reefs, boat trips
and dives to
gather data from wave energy converters, a geological hike
through
Bermuda’s unique cave system and hands on learning of the
energy
conversion systems.
Learn more here: http://www1.lehigh.edu/news/riding-waves
When not teaching, Mike explained that he helps to build a
wave energy converter prototype. I could
tell Mike was captivated by wave energy research by the excitement with which
he spoke about the program and his research.
He told me that creating energy using waves is a relatively new
technology that has not yet become widely commercialized like wind and solar,
but a technology that he feels has a lot of potential for future sustainable
energy.
The students were enjoying the wave energy course at BIOS
just as much as Mike was enjoying teaching it. BIOS was able to sponsor one
Ocean Academy student to participate in the week-long wave energy program
alongside the other students. Ocean
Academy (http://www.bios.edu/education)
is a K-12 educational program aimed at bringing ocean science into the
classroom, through hands-on learning experiences. BIOS sponsored CaVon, a Sophomore at Saltus
Grammar School in Bermuda, who is interested in engineering and technology. CaVon
explained that he had heard about the wave energy course and was excited to be
apart of it, “it’s really great. I love
it here. I love learning about the
water.”
Jasper and Charlie, two Newark Academy high school students,
both agreed that the trip was “amazing.”
Charlie reflected, “I was in New York 2 days ago and now I’m here… it’s
unreal… It’s cool to be out applying what we know, and start bringing
change.” Like CaVon, Jasper also has
enjoyed learning about the water, “I’ve always loved the ocean but never really
studied it so it’s great to be here.”
I also spoke to Lizzy, Megan, Elina, and Sanya from Newark
Academy about their experiences on the trip.
All four echoed what Jasper and Charlie said, and one commented, “it’s a
really good opportunity for high school students. Usually all the adults have the power so it’s
cool to be here.” The students emphasized
how much they loved a recent presentation at BIOS, the 5 Gyres presentation. One called it “outstanding and really inspiring.” Read more about the 5 Gyres project and how
they are determined to get plastics out of our oceans: http://www.5gyres.org/
The students also excitedly told me about shipwreck
snorkeling, viewing a model of a wave energy converter, and learning about
marine animals. The Newark Academy high
schoolers explained how much they enjoyed learning in the classroom and then going
out on trips to see exactly what they had been reading about in their
textbooks. Sonya explained, “it’s really
cool to go from the classroom to the real world. Sometimes you just need a hands on
experience,” and some other students told me, “it’s been really fun to see all
that we are learning in the lecture hall and coming out and seeing what’s actually
happening.”
The two chaperones from Newark Academy, Deb and Kristin,
also seemed to be really enjoying their time at BIOS. Deb Tavares, a science teacher who has been
at Newark Academy for 23 years, told me, “I was a marine biology major so I
love it (here at BIOS).” Kristin has
been at Newark Academy for 4 years, and works in the Dean of Students
Office. She came on the trip because she
has a Master’s in Marine Biology and is an advisor to the student-run Marine
Biology Club. “It’s been really fun to
be in the water with the kids, and imparting my wisdom and knowledge… I just
love seeing it through their eyes. Some
have never been snorkeling before.”
Kristin explained that she too is learning a lot through participating
in the program, “when I was in school, people were just beginning to talk about
sustainability.”
The two really could not say enough good things about the
program at BIOS. They did stress that
one of the best parts of the program was the way that it inspired the students
to bring back what they had learned to their home community in New Jersey. In this way, they saw how the benefits of the
program expand far beyond the 7 students who were able to attend. It seems that the students also are aware of
the potential of the program to reach other students, “when we return we plan
on spreading what we learn back at school.”