Grants to fund science programs in schools

NEWPORT – With fewer American students pursing careers in science and technology, the Maine Department of Education hopes grants will help bridge the gap between the classroom and the real, hands-on world of scientific research.

“We really want our students to begin asking ‘Why?'” Derwin Emerson, science chairman at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport, said Wednesday.

The grant of $106,400 was received by the Acadia Learning Center in Winter Harbor and will be shared by high schools and technology centers in eastern Maine.

“This is very unusual,” ALC grant writer Bill Zoellick said Wednesday. “There are lots of projects where scientists dive into a classroom, put on a dog and pony show and then leave. This grant will allow us to have scientists engaged over the course of a full school year.”

Nokomis was one of the schools chosen to participate.

“They loved our campus,” Emerson said Wednesday. One of the largest high school campuses east of the Mississippi, Nokomis has a wide range of habitat: forest, pond, field and lake. Another parcel of 144 acres of ancient forest and hardwoods that borders Sebasticook Lake also was recently donated to SAD 48.

Two of the studies that will involve Nokomis science teachers and students are being conducted by scientists Sarah Nelson and Dianne Kopec of the ALC.

Nelson will be studying the effects of forest trees on the chemistry of snow, Emerson said, while Kopec will be investigating whether larger fish contain more mercury than small fish by measuring mercury levels in fish tissue.

“Yes, we will be bass fishing at Nokomis Pond,” Emerson said with a smile. “Someone has to do it.”

Emerson said the scientific studies under way at Nokomis will allow students several opportunities. “First they will be able to observe actual scientists at work,” Emerson said, which is a rare occurrence for high schoolers. “Secondly, they will also be able to conduct their own research.”

“The number one goal of the grant is to benefit us as science educators,” Emerson said. “But the kids are why we are here. Obviously we wanted them involved.”

The Nokomis math department also will get in on the research, helping with statistical analysis.

“This is new ground we are breaking,” Emerson said. “Our program will be unfolding as we go.”

Nokomis Principal Arnold Shorey said that professional development in teachers already considered “highly qualified” by federal standards is hard to measure and this program will help the teachers follow through on their progress.

But Emerson, Zoellick, and Shorey all agreed that the most important benefit of the partnership will be opening the door to science and technology careers for some students.

“This will give our kids a foot in the door, to experience a career in science, which can be a lucrative profession,” Shorey said.

“This grant is geared to helping teachers engage kids in asking more questions,” Zoellick said.

ALC’s grant cooperatively will involve Acadia Partners for Science Learning, Unity College, the University of Maine and the public schools.

Emerson said the ALC grant will mesh nicely with the district’s current Project Learning Tree study. Emerson explained that SAD 48 has eight Forestry Inventory Growth plots at Nokomis and students are already conducting scientific testing of soils and timbers. “We will marry the two programs,” he said.

Emerson said that Nokomis teachers are already teaching the scientific method as a way of investigating. “The kids will be able to see that this is true and apply it,” he said. “It will make the connection with actual scientists in the field.”

He said there will be emphasis on developing a research question, literature reviews, data collecting and publishing the results.

“This is the way education should be going,” Emerson said.

Zoellick said similar programs will be under way this year at Mt. View and Searsport high schools, Waldo and Tri-city technical centers and several larger middle schools.