Grey Highlands Secondary School is going to be taking part in a pilot program for science students to study environmental DNA.
Science teacher Nicole Anthony had applied for a $15,000 grant from The Commonwell’s L.E.A.F Initiative to launch a program called H₂-Oh! What’s in the Water? – Engaging Secondary Students in Biodiversity Monitoring with Environmental DNA.
It all started with her own interest in tracking eDNA and trying to find a way where biodiversity can be taught at a high school level.
“Through that project, students will work with DNA collected from the environment and hopefully detect and identify organisms that can’t really easily be seen, and through that it will help them understand how molecular tools can be used to study biodiversity.”
The project is in a pilot phase, and Anthony is hoping to bring it to her Grade 12 students next semester.
The Learning Engagement Accelerator Fund (L.E.A.F) is run by the Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group, and this year has seen an unprecedented $6.96 million in funding requests.
“So far the reaction has been very positive and everyone’s excited,” she said. “I’m super excited, and we’re just in the planning phases right now.”
Grey Highlands Secondary School will also have educational support from Kathleen Nolan, who is a PhD candidate from the University of Guelph. Nolan’s focus is in microbiology and studying eDNA to track harmful algal blooms.
The Grey Sauble Conservation Authority will also be helping the school to find suitable sampling locations once the H₂-Oh! program is underway, in addition to helping teach about local watershed ecology.
(image via thecommonwell.ca)