By Cynthia Toledo
This summer, high school teachers and students from across Miami-Dade County participated in a pilot education program conducting research at the International Center for Tropical Botany (ICTB) at The Kampong. In collaboration with faculty from Florida International University, teachers took part in one of two research projects. Dr. Alain Duran led a group studying the relative abundance of marine macroalgae species in various locations, including off the point at The Kampong. Dr. John Geiger led a group studying the relationship between plants and their pollinators by examining plant morphology and pollinator behavior. These teachers will use their experiences to craft curriculum to be implemented in their classrooms in the 2024-25 school year.
High school interns were mentored by staff from ICTB and The Kampong. Dr. Brian Sidoti, director of The Kampong, trained students in collecting data to model future populations of Florida state endangered bromeliads. Nina Jungman, operations manager, trained interns in designing and maintaining a food forest, cultivating fruit for collecting seeds and developing educational outreach materials to enhance public awareness of food forests. Lastly, Dr. Chris Baraloto, director of ICTB, and Dr. Nichole Tiernan, program director of ICTB, trained students in urban tree monitoring techniques and analyses related to ecological benefits, including carbon sequestration, as well as collecting and preparing samples for addition to the herbarium collection at ICTB.
Students and teachers have gained more than just practical research skills. The opportunity to work with real scientists on their research opens the door to what is often treated as a space for the few – programs like this afford participants the chance to see themselves as scientists, capable of contributing to our understanding of the natural world. More programs like this one are in the planning stages. This program was made possible through a generous contribution by the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust.
