Proposal

Narrative

The Florida Center for Environmental Studies (CES) has been managing extremely successful Environmental Education and Research Programs in partnership with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) at two field sites - Riverwoods Field Lab (Highlands County) and the DuPuis Nature Center (Martin County).  All of our programs outlined are externally funded. CES has designed Environmental STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Programs that reach hundreds of Pre-collegiate students from Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, Okeechobee and Highlands Counties. In addition, we offer Student Field Studies and Research Programs for FAU and other university students and classes. Our programs provide students with hands-on, experiential learning lessons using the outdoor classrooms in the Pine flatwoods (DuPuis) or on the Kissimmee River (Riverwoods) as living laboratories.

 We do an excellent job of providing the Science, Engineering and Math components of STEM, however, due to our remote location and independence from FAU, we need help to enhance our technologies for student education and research. This application outlines tech equipment that will enhance and expand CES programs and capabilities at the Riverwoods Field Lab and the DuPuis Nature Center. 

 Riverwoods Field Lab located on the Kissimmee River and supports the Restoration

 Pre-Collegiate

Students conduct field activities to test water quality, soils, identify native and exotic wetland plants, sample and identify aquatic invertebrates and fish, as well conduct diversity and abundance bird surveys. We take classes of 20 on our US Coast Guard certified pontoon boat, the Kissimmee Explorer II, to explore the river and learn about the world’s largest river restoration project. Our programs reach at minimum 500 pre-collegiate students annually and are an integral component to many schools including these listed, as well as many other schools.  

·       Okeechobee North Elementary School – all 4^th graders

·       Jupiter Independence Middle School – all 6^th grade science students

·       Pine Jog’s Summer Institute – 9^th graders

·       Jupiter Environmental Research and Field Studies Academy – all 10th graders

 Research by Dr. G. Liebermann in Closing the Achievement Gap demonstrates that introducing students to nature through environmental education programs improves self-confidence and esteem, interpersonal and social behavior, communication skills; promotes greater enthusiasm and engagement in learning, and enhances academic performance.

 Collegiate Education and Research

 CES scientists work with university students that are interested in conducting research on a component of the Kissimmee River Restoration Project. Riverwoods’ Director acts as field advisor for the students’ project and provides field and logistic support.  The student needs to have a faculty advisor to formalize the project at FAU or their home university. CES works with the SFWMD scientist to provide data and oversight of the student research. The types of student research that we support are:

• Directed Independent Study (DIS)
• Graduate research or thesis
• Academic Service Learning
• Environmental courses – class projects

Recently, we met with the ISENSE Director, Jason Halstrom, and Tara Root, Geosciences (Water quality and hydrology) who explored the Kissimmee and discussed opportunities to bring Intelligent River technologies to Riverwoods.  We decided to conduct a pilot project using the INSENSE water quality sensors to monitor the critical parameters on the Kissimmee River. The data will provide unlimited research opportunities for FAU faculty and students, as well as enhance the SFWMD’s existing data and collection techniques. We will potentially reach 200-300 Geoscience undergraduates and graduates students.  The premise of the pilot project is to deploy1 water quality sonde and mode stack that can collect GPS data. We plan to either attach it to an existing water monitoring station or to a construction barge that is traveling the river (transect data) with loads of sediment as part of the construction project. We are developing a very long list of potential INSENSE projects. I will be introducing Jason to decision makers at the SFWMD to learn more about collaborative opportunities.  Jason has agreed to provide an existing Hach water quality sonde ($15,000) and mode stack ($500) as in-kind to this project. 

DuPuis Nature Center located in the northern Everglades adjacent to Lake Okeechobee

Pre-Collegiate Education

Since 2004, CES has been working with Indiantown Middle School (IMS) offering environmental education programs for teachers and students. IMS is a Title 1 school with 250 students in grades 5 and 8 that are reached in this program.  The minority student population is 93% with 79% Hispanic and 14% African American. There are 99% of the students that are eligible for free lunch. The IMS students are scoring below average on their state-required science scores on the standardized Florida Comprehensive Assessment Tests (FCAT).  IMS Principal, asked to meet with the CES team to determine a strategy to help his students improve their science scores. It was determined that a new Science Enrichment Program taught by CES science-educators would help IMS meet their student learning objectives.  We have designed new 5^th and 8^th grade curriculum with hands-on, outdoor activities to help improve students understanding of Florida’s ecosystems, agriculture, history and the students’ role in protecting our natural resources.  We have received pilot funding from the FAU Foundation to implement this exciting program at DuPuis in the 2016-17 school year. We are requesting additional support to purchase environmental and chemistry testing probes to enhance the curriculum. IMS has a class set of laptops that will be dedicated to our program and used as in-kind for this project.  

 Collegiate Education and Research

We support the same student Education and Research opportunities at DuPuis as we do at Riverwoods. Currently, we are supporting a songbird population research study at DuPuis by Dr. Rindy Anderson. She is submitting a NSF research proposal that will reach approximately 200 FAU Environmental Science undergrads and 20 graduate students, as well as 250 of our Indiantown Middle school students. We are requesting 1 digital recorder and microphone set to support her song bird studies.  

How CES Programs support FAU‘s Strategic Plan  

CES’ Program at Riverwoods and DuPuis meet and complement FAU’s Strategic Plan in many ways. By enhancing our technological resources, we will be able to provide a higher level of education and research opportunities for FAU faculty and students.   

 

Goal I: Enrich the educational experience

CES’ Environmental Education and Research Programs at Riverwoods and DuPuis are field-based, hands-on, inquiry-driven student programs that enhance and enrich the traditional classroom learning experience for students from elementary through university levels. CES programs fit perfectly into FAU’s new Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) that is designed to improve undergraduate learning by expanding a culture of undergraduate research and inquiry across all disciplines.  This FAU initiative is identified as Distinction Through Discovery and is centered around 4 goals:

1) Enhanced Curriculum – working with CES, FAU faculty can expand and enhance their curriculum by participating in our Studies Field Studies, Service Learning or Research programs;

2) Expanded Student Opportunities - working with CES, FAU students can conduct real field research with scientists to earn volunteer, DIS or thesis credits;

3) Faculty and Student Support and Recognition - working with CES, FAU faculty and students can have support for field research on environmental science projects; 

4) Collaborative Infrastructure to Expand Culture - working with CES, FAU faculty and classes can utilize the SFWMD facilities and resources at Riverwoods and DuPuis to learn about Florida’s rich history and the rural and agricultural aspects of Florida’s culture.

 Goal II: Inspire research, scholarship and creative activity

One of our main goals is to link our programs and resources at Riverwoods and DuPuis more closely with FAU faculty and programs.  This year, we have hosted 4 Faculty Retreats (2 at each site) to help expand our student field studies, research and service learning opportunities for FAU faculty, undergraduate and graduate students. We provide a very unique opportunity for students to be involved in restoration ecology and environmental issues impacting Florida that will be greatly enhanced with the new technologies requested.

 CES’ Programs at Riverwoods and DuPuis fall under the FAU signature themes of:

Marine and Coastal – All of CES‘ programs are environmentally based and fall under this umbrella category - although Riverwoods focuses non wetlands and restoration ecology and DuPuis programs focus on upland habitats and issues.

Contemporary Societal Challenges – The greater Everglades Restoration projects include the Kissimmee River Restoration and DuPuis lands. These state-funded efforts are long term, interdisciplinary projects that integrate Florida’s history and policy with the science, social science, and engineering aspects of society.  Our educational efforts teach students about the challenges that agencies face in designing landscape scale restoration projects to solve Florida’s water supply, flood protection and ecological issues.  Our outreach efforts include programs that extend to decision makers and the general public, as well as underserved populations.    

Facilities

No facility funds will be requested. 

Hardware Requirements

No hardware funds requested. 

Software Requirements

No software funds requested. 

Personnel Costs

No personnel funds requested. 

Other Costs

Riverwoods Technology Proposed – Sub-Total = $2,700

Currently, our classroom has an old digital project and TV set up. In order to bring our classroom into the 21^st century, and enhance our Education and Research Program, we are requesting funds to purchase:

1.     Digital project to mount from ceiling – Epson with mount $500

2.     Large Flat screen TV (48-55 inches) - $500

3.     Digital microscope to project samples on TV screen  - $200

4.     Soil testing kit and probes - $500

5.     INSENSE – Cellular Network and misc. materials  - $1000 

DuPuis Technology Proposed – Sub-Total = $5000

 Currently, our DuPuis classroom has the same outdated digital projector and TV set up. We are requesting funds to enhance our Education and Research Program with this technology.  

1.     Digital projector to mount from ceiling – Epson with mount $500

2.     Large Flat screen TV  (48-55 inch) - $500

3.     Digital microscope to project samples on TV screen- $200

4.     Tascam digital recorder - $300

5.     Microphone system for each recorder - $500

6.     Soil testing kit and probes - $500

to    Wards Data Hub – Biology  & Chemistry - $500 each – requesting  5 for class of 20 IMS students = $2500   TOTAL REQUEST = $7,700 

Timeline

2016-17 school year 

Sustainability

The tech funds requested will provide equipment to enhance our existing programs. The equipment requested will serve a long lifespan and with careful and responsible use, will not need to be replaced for many years.  

Resource Matching

Implementing Organization

CES existing staff at Riverwoods and DuPuis will implement projects with assistance from the ISENSE team, SFWMD team (letter of support can be provided, if requested), as well as Dr. Root and Dr. Anderson and their students.