BIOSM 1620 - Marine Environmental Science

(PBS-AS, BIO-AS)

Summer. 3 credits. Student option grading.

Prerequisite: two, year-long high school courses in science, and completion of grades 10, 11 or 12. Offered in Maine at Shoals Marine Laboratory on Appledore Island.

M. Johnson, L. Jordan-Smith.

This course is aimed at high school students. This course focuses on issues in environmental science from a marine perspective. Basic scientific research methods, equipment, and group research projects are introduced. Laboratory exercises and fieldwork include work on Appledore Island’s intertidal zone and offshore oceanographic sampling exercises.

Outcome 1: Identify by characteristics, adaptations, and scientific names 25-30 intertidal organisms that will be included in later studies;

Outcome 2: Demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics and adaptations of the major phyla associated with the oceans-with in depth concentration on the phyla Mammalia and Aves;

Outcome 3: Develop the ability to gather data in the field with a number of types of equipment and in a number of different setting;

Outcome 4: Perform background research, develop a hypothesis, design an experiment, collect data for 7 days and demonstrate an understanding of the results. Each student will demonstrate this understanding by giving a presentation of their work to the class and by writing a technical paper that includes the full scientific method;

Outcome 5: Develop an understanding of local microhabitats by conducting a comparative study of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the protected and then exposed sides of Appledore island. They will demonstrate this understanding by writing a field report of their comparative study;

Outcome 6: Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the human impacts associated with a marine environment. Students will be concentrating on the causes, effects, and both global and personal solutions to these issues;

Outcome 7: Develop the ability to communicate the knowledge they have gained using through public speaking and writing.