Environmental experimentation

Lauderdale students present findings at education symposium

New River Middle School science teacher Barbara Rapoza takes her students into the field to conduct environmental experiments and help with cleanups.

Another aspect to the Fort Lauderdale school’s science class: involvement in the annual Wheelabrator Symposium for Environment and Education, which has groups of students from around the nation tackling environmental issues.

Rapoza had her students start researching their projects in September and recently conducted a beach and waterway cleanup at John U. Lloyd Beach State Park in Dania Beach, as well as planting sea oats on the beach in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.

Classes also produced videos on ways to reduce trash on local beaches and are hoping to provide them to local associations to edu- cate residents on curbing waste.

“The little video that we made brought us a little bit of attention, and we’re not sure where it might end up, but it can only lead to good things,” Rapoza said. “The community is seeing the positive things that the kids are doing, and that’s always important.”

The students recently traveled to Baltimore to present their findings to a panel of educators, environmental experts and Wheelabrator employees at the annual symposium.

“Getting in the field and learning it firsthand really fosters that thought process and education ability to help create innovative solutions to become environmental leaders in their community,” said Peter Kendrigan, Wheelabrator Technologies’ regional vice president.

Rapoza’s students have also planted native sea grapes, trees and mangroves at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park in Fort Lauder- dale, analyzed turtle nesting trends, and built discarded fishing line collection bins at local piers.

Rapoza said the field experiments also help introduce students to the variety of career fields in marine science.

“The kids are becoming more aware of the environmental problems existing in their backyard,” she said. “And they’re learning that what they’re doing is really important.”