Earthwatch Institute, Maynard, MA June 19, 2006 - As summer approaches many educators ask, "What can I do this summer break?" This year Barbara Bowden is doing something unique -participating in an Earthwatch research program, one of 350 teachers and students that receive career training and inspiration on expeditions all over the world every year.
Bowden, a high school life science teacher at Rockport High School in Rockport, MA, will be joining an Earthwatch Belize team for a fourteen-day trip to help monitor and protect the largest barrier reef ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere. The teachers is sponsored through generous grants given by Jane Phillips and the Ford Motor Company Fund.
From July 2nd to July 15th, Bowden will join other Earthwatch volunteers from across the United States to assist Dr. Les Kaufman and Burton Shank (both of Boston University), and Dr. James Crabbe (University of Luton). She will scuba-dive at sample sites to collect coral fragments, return them after experimental treatments, and monitor their recovery. Bowden and the Earthwatch team will also conduct surveys of corals, fish, and other organisms at study sites.
Belize is a tiny Central American country, about the size of Massachusetts, with a wealth of tropical biodiversity. Bejeweled by the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, second only to Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Belize retains 93% of its tropical forest, nearly half of it under legal protection. But despite having one of the lowest population densities in the world, Belize is not protected from immense environmental concerns. Coastal development, industrial growth, over-fishing, and tourism activities are changing the landscape. Bowden will be part of a multi-national initiative to monitor and protect the health of the Meso-American Barrier Reef ecosystem, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the communities that depend on it.
"What excites me most about participating in an Earthwatch expedition is the richness of experiences and knowledge that I will be able to share with my students, colleagues and community, " she said; "I will be developing a curriculum unit, an on-line journal, a web page on our school site and slide shows for the student body and faculty. I love science and learning about the natural world and am eager to share.
"Anyone who knows me knows my unbridled enthusiasm for teaching science. The key to keeping students engaged in the learning process is presenting material in a way that piques their natural curiosity. The best compliment for me is when students have told me that they learned so much without even realizing it. I design thoughtful and interesting projects that help students connect classroom material with their life experience; learning about the natural world becomes a discovery process. It is only through continually expanding my own knowledge and experience that I can keep creating new and exciting projects. Upon my return I will share with my students my experience, teach them the importance of conserving our environment, and let them know that teachers enjoy life-long learning. I am grateful to Earthwatch and my sponsors for this opportunity."
Earthwatch Institute is a world leader in the field of experiential education providing opportunities in the field and online for volunteers to broaden their understanding of sustainability and support conservation research. There is no experience necessary to be involved and hundreds of teams worldwide that need support. Visit www.earthwatch.org or call 800-776-0188 for more information.