This summer, the Matthes Lab, led by Dr. Jackie Matthes, will be hosting two K-12 teachers as part of a Research Experience for Teachers program sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The two Boston Public School teachers will be measuring and analyzing methane and carbon dioxide emissions from the Black Gum Swamp and upland forests as part of a large scale study measuring methane dynamics in temperate forests at the intersection of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
The opportunity provides valuable support to Harvard’s climate research in an experiential learning setting, offering an unmatched opportunity to advance K-12 professional development goals of area educators.
This year’s educators include Emily Coumbassa, a middle school science teacher at the Donald Mckay K-8 School (East Boston), and Diana Klimas, who teaches Biology at Madison Park Vocational School (Roxbury). Both new to the Schoolyard Ecology program, the two educators will use Harvard Forest data to develop new classroom-ready materials to share with K-12 classrooms this fall, which will be available freely to educators through the Data Nuggets program.
A workshop on Tuesday, August 19th will be held at Harvard Forest’s Fisher Museum for any interested educator looking to bring cutting-edge, hands-on climate data into their classroom. Register for our Summer Institute here.
Interested in supporting more work like this? Consider donating to our Schoolyard Ecology fund.
