by Suraida Nañez-James
Challenging … interdisciplinary … innovative … exciting! These are
just a few of the words that have been used to describe HRI’s Laguna
Outreach Project (LOP).
Since the start of the project in fall 2007, teachers and
ninth
graders from the Innovation Academy have collected
monthly research data on the flora and fauna surrounding the TAMU-CC
Laguna Madre Field Station. Teachers and students had the
opportunity to work one-on-one with the university's research faculty and are
beginning to comprehend how the research these professors are doing
affects their lives and environment.
The first professor to
participate in LOP was Dr. Patrick Larkin, a Professor of
Biochemistry with the TAMU-CC College of Science and Technology. Larkin
lectured on the biology and ecology of seagrasses, as well as its
vital importance to the Laguna Madre ecosystem. He shared his
thoughts with Channel 3 News about how LOP is impacting these
students.
Students carry samples back to shore for identification. Photo: Jeff Janko |
"I liked the fact that Dr. Larkin wanted to take the time to teach
us about his seagrass research," said ninth grader Michael Goynes,
adding, "I hope HRI will continue to have him come out and teach us,
so that future students can keep learning how animals and plants
live together in the Laguna Madre."
Dr. Rebekah
Thomas, HRI Research Associate and Associate Professor of
Physiology with the TAMU-CC College of |
|
Students use a refractometer and benthic sled to collect research data at the Laguna Madre Field Station. Photo: Jeff Janko |
Science and Technology, also
contributed her time to LOP and shared her expertise on fish
physiology. Thomas led the students in an activity demonstrating how
temperature affects fish ventilation. Students worked in small
groups and had to use the basic knowledge gained from the short
lecture and
from their high school classes in order to evaluate and analyze their experimental results. Ninth
grader Jonathan Arrevalos expressed how this process was not as easy
as it looked: "Dr. Thomas is intelligent and very committed to her
research. She taught me a variety of things about fish physiology
and really challenged me to think critically about the experiment we
were doing. It was difficult, but I enjoyed the experience.”
Thomas said, “As a professor, you expect higher level
thinking from your university students. Without saying so, I
expected the same from these ninth graders, and they delivered.”
Suraida Nañez-James, HRI Research Specialist and LOP Director, said
these lessons are a major step in bridging the gap between
scientific research and education outreach. “It is essential that
the community, especially our youth, is not only aware of the
research we are doing but that they understand the significance of
it. The Laguna Outreach Project is the first step towards this
understanding.” Future lessons will include lectures on water
quality and fish population dynamics plus others that will give the
students a chance to experience various marine
careers.
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