Project Overview
Students become marine conservation scientists, investigating the complex relationships within coral reef ecosystems and designing innovative solutions to combat coral bleaching. This project combines marine biology, chemistry, and engineering to address one of the Caribbean's most pressing environmental challenges.
Week-by-Week Implementation
Week 1: Coral Biology and Ecosystem Study
- • Research coral anatomy and zooxanthellae symbiosis
- • Study Caribbean reef species and their roles
- • Investigate coral bleaching causes and effects
- • Create detailed ecosystem food webs
- • Interview marine biologists (virtual or in-person)
Week 2: Water Chemistry Laboratory
- • Test pH levels and their effects on coral models
- • Investigate temperature stress on coral health
- • Measure nutrient levels and pollution impacts
- • Create controlled experiments with different water conditions
- • Document chemical effects in laboratory notebooks
Week 3: Artificial Reef Design
- • Research existing artificial reef technologies
- • Design reef structures that promote coral growth
- • Build scale models using sustainable materials
- • Test structural stability and water flow
- • Optimize designs based on testing results
Week 4: Ecosystem Modeling
- • Create energy flow diagrams for healthy vs. bleached reefs
- • Model nutrient cycling in reef ecosystems
- • Simulate restoration scenarios and outcomes
- • Analyze cost-benefit of different restoration approaches
- • Develop comprehensive restoration action plan
Week 5: Expert Presentation and Peer Review
- • Prepare scientific reports with data and recommendations
- • Create visual presentations for marine biologists
- • Present findings to expert panel
- • Receive feedback and refine proposals
- • Share results with local conservation organizations
