Earthwatch Teach Live from The Bahamas

San Salvador Island, Bahamas — Coral reefs are at serious risk due to climate change, coastal development, over fishing, and other environmental stressors. One of the first signs that corals are in trouble is coral bleaching, when algae living within the reef organism fail during environmental stress, leaving the coral colorless and leaving area fish without nutrition. Prolonged bleaching kills coral, with drastic impacts on marine biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, and shore protection—and bleachings are on a dramatic rise worldwide. Coral diseases have also been increasing with alarming regularity, due perhaps in part to global warming, which may also be making making more and more severe storms, which can inflict their own damage on reefs.

Scientists John Rollino, Dr. Garriet Smith (University of South Carolina at Aiken) and Thomas McGrath (Corning Community College) have the longest-running experiment and data set on coral reefs in the world, with more than 15 years worth of information. While efforts to improve our understanding of the threats to reefs must continue, in recent years Dr. Rollino and his colleagues have also increased their emphasis on testing methods that might allow reefs to recover, from performing underwater “repairs” on some reefs to providing others with artificial materials that might save their underlying struture.

Find out more about this expedition.

RESOURCES

Earthwatch expedition briefing
Essential information for the expedition - daily schedule, research area details, project conditions etc.

Earthwatch Classroom Earth Case Study
A series of case studies that outline the background, field research methods, and outcomes of Earthwatch-supported projects throughout the world.

Photo gallery from the expedition.

Year on Earth. Video clip overview of environmental issues facing the coral reefs and various tools used to survey the reefs as told by three students volunteering on the Bahamian Reef Survey expedition.

General:
Climate Change resources
Education Resources from the EPA
The GLOBE Program - International Environmental/Science Education Program
Computer simiulations of GLobal CO2 Emisions
NOAA education resources
Center for Instruction, Staff Development and Education
North American Associate for Environmental Education

Research site specific:
Coral Reef Curriculum Resources provided by NOAA
Lesson plan looking at Coral Bleaching from Satellite data from NASA
Research Center

Follow our blogs as we experience our Earthwatch expedition Bahamian Reef Survey February 14-21, 2009.

The Live From the Field program and educator fellowships are made possible by generous funding from HSBC in the Community.

This site is the result of collaborative efforts from the members of this Earthwatch project and the support of Earthwatch Institute.

Meet the Teachers

I am Larry Grisanti and am relatively new to teaching. I have been teaching Biology and AP Biology to 9-12 students at East Aurora HS (outside of Buffalo NY) for the past 4 years. I worked as an arborist for the previous 20. I spent a week this past summer aboard the R/V Peter Wise Lake Guardian with 15 other educators collecting benthic organisms and analyzing data on Lake Ontario and evaluating the health of the sampling sites. I created several lessons and labs from my experiences on the Lake Guardian. It was by far the most enriching experience of my life. I look forward to learning from the scientists in the field again and bringing those lessons back to my students. This will provide them with first hand knowledge regarding the richness of ecosystems far from our own, and they can apply this knowledge to a more global concept of the biospheres’ health.

Blog: Earthwatch2.org/LFF/grisanti

Hi, my name is Daphne Rawlinson. I live in Houston, Texas and teach Science at J. Will Jones Elementary School. We are located in inner-city Houston and we service a diverse group of at-risk students who have excelled in their academics, and have greatly improved their standardized test scores over the past several years making our school “Recognized” by the Texas Education Agency.

I earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and a Master’s degree from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. My hobbies include ice skating and traveling. I have had the opportunity to travel to many places, including Antarctica! My goal is to travel to all seven continents. I am eagerly waiting for my trip to the Bahamas where I will be participating in the “Live From the Field” Bahamian Reef Survey Expedition with Earthwatch.

Blog: Earthwatch2.org/LFF/rawlinson

My name is Amy Buki and I teach 8th grade Physical Science and 9th grade Biology at Carver Junior High School, which is in Spartanburg, South Carolina. When I am not teaching, I enjoy traveling, outdoor activities and spending time with my family. Prior to becoming a teacher, I received my Bachelors degree in Marine Science. I am so excited to be able to join the Bahamian Reef Survey team and am looking forward to the many ways I will be able to share this experience with my students.

Blog: Earthwatch2.org/LFF/buki

Ann Brown has the honor of teaching science to 3rd-4th graders in Corte Madera, CA. Her childhood experiences in nature inspired her lifelong quest to explore and protect unique eco-systems. Sailing, snorkeling, and kayaking have led to a passion for the ocean and all its diverse life forms. This trip will be a fantastic way to help her students and their families develop their ocean passion! Ann is thrilled to get wet and access her mermaid self in the service of Coral Reefs and science research on this expedition. Off duty, she will be exploring the island on foot and bicycle, seeking the local music of the Bahamas and dancing on the beach.

Blog: Earthwatch2.org/LFF/brown

Meet the Scientist

John Rollino, is a Senior Ecologist with Earth Tech, Inc., one of the world’s largest consulting engineering firms. John has designed and implemented numerous ecological studies as well as co-authored countless environmental documents for public review. He did his graduate work at Montclair (NJ) State University, where he earned an M.S. in Geoscience and an M.A. in Environmental Studies. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Upsala College, also in New Jersey. John is a certified Advanced Open Water Diver with additional Rescue Diver Training. He oversees expedition logistics on the island, instruction, team assignments and supervision, training, lecturing and data analysis. John lives in New Jersey, though he was born and raised in New York In his free time John enjoys cooking, hiking and puns.

Nassau, The Bahamas

Earthwatch Expedition Briefing

Earthwatch Classroom Earth Case Study

Photographs from the expedition

Year on Earth. Video clip overview of environmental issues facing the coral reefs and various tools used to survey the reefs as told by three students volunteering on the Bahamian Reef Survey expedition.

Blogs from previous teams:

Heather Brown
Young Achievers Science and Math Pilot School
Jamaica Plain, MA
Blog: http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/brown/

Sherrill Dappan
Saint Helena Elementary School
Napa Valley, CA
Blog: http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/dappen/

Denise Deghi
San Mateo Park School
San Mateo, CA
Blog: http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/deghi/

Sarah Hahn
Community Academy of Science and Health
Hyde Park, MA
Blog: http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/boston/

Grace Hancock
Hanover Park High School
Florham Park, NJ
Blog: http://hornetunderwater.blogspot.com

Sarah Mitchell
Johnson Middle School
Bradenton, FL
Blog: http://xit.manatee.k12.fl.us/?blog=SMitchell

Shea Pickelner
City Academy
Salt Lake City, UT
Blog: http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/pickelner/

Karen Stein
Ridgedale Middle School
Florham Park, NJ
Blog: http://mrsstein.blogspot.com

Consuela Taylor
Charles R. Drew Charter School
Atlanta GA
Blog: http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/taylor/

Kristina Willmarth
Lydia Hawk Elementary School in
Lacey, WA
Blog: http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/willmarth/

Map

rollino map page